Heliarc welding, also known as TIG or GTAW, uses helium gas and an arc generated by a tungsten electrode to fuse metals together. It is a slow and precise process that creates a stronger bond than other welding methods. The use of filler material is often not necessary, making it versatile and durable.
Heliarc® welding is a form of welding introduced and perfected in the 1940s. The reason why the welding process is referred to by this name is because the welding process requires the presence of two substances. These substances are helium, an inert gas which is used for welding shielding, and an arc which is generated through the implementation of a tungsten electrode. The electrode receives a constant power signal from the welding machine.
The process by which gas was used in conjunction with an electric current to create an arc through two materials was first introduced in the 1930s. While primitive, gas welding proved to be an effective means of fusing two metal objects together. It created a much stronger bond than most fastening or linking methods of the time.
The Heliarc® welding process is also widely referred to as TIG, tungsten inert gas, or GTAW, gas tungsten arc welding. The original process had its problems, but over time it has been refined as the primary means of joining metals. Today, this style of welding is the most common method of welding used when the materials being fused together are hardened ones, such as stainless steel.
The use of helium gas in Heliarc® welding is done to shield the weld area. This is necessary to keep both the electrode and the arc compressed into a point of direct contact. This creates intense heat.
In some cases, a filler material is used to fill the open spaces between the materials to be welded together. However, Heliarc® welding equipment has come a long way since its inception and, due to advances made, often does not require any form of filler. As a result, the process in which TIG welding is done is a slower and more precise process than most other forms of welding. The technique behind the process takes much longer for some welders to learn.
The versatility of the Heliarc® welding process is one of the major contributors to the popularity of that specific welding process. The quality and durability of the weld compared to others is another. Because Heliarc® welding fuses two materials together without the use of a filler material in most cases, the bond between the two materials joined through this welding method is stronger than the bond most other welds can produce .
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