TIG Welding Basics

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to TIG welding, summarizing essential terms and their definitions.

TIG

Stands for Tungsten Inert Gas, also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW).

Tungsten electrode

A non-consumable electrode that delivers current to the welding arc in TIG welding.

Inert gas

A protective gas, typically argon, used in TIG welding to shield the weld from contamination.

Filler rod

A material added to the weld puddle to reinforce or build up welds in TIG welding.

Soft start and soft stop

Techniques in TIG welding that allow gradual control of heat application to prevent thermal shock.

Balance control

A TIG machine control that adjusts the cleaning versus penetration levels when welding aluminum.

Pulsed mode

A TIG machine setting that automatically varies the amperage to improve weld quality and reduce heat into the workpiece.

4043 alloy

A common filler rod used for welding aluminum.

5356 filler rod

A filler rod recommended for color matching welds on aluminum parts intended for anodizing.

AC vs DC polarity

Alternating Current (AC) is set for aluminum welding, while Direct Current (DC) is set for steel welding.

Collet holder

A part of the electric torch that holds the collet on one end and a ceramic cup on the other, allowing gas flow to prevent weld contamination.

Gas bottle

A container used to store the inert gas required for TIG welding.

Regulator

A device used to control the flow rate of the gas from the gas bottle.

Ceramic cup

A component of the TIG torch that helps to focus the shielding gas around the tungsten electrode.