PREFACE

Welding Processes, Part 1 is the second of the five volumes of the 9th edition of the Welding Handbook. The fifteen chapters of this volume provide updated information on the arc welding and cutting processes, oxyfuel gas welding and cutting, brazing, and soldering. Volume 3, Welding Processes, Part 2 will cover resistance, solid state, and other welding and cutting processes. Volumes 4 and 5 of the Welding Handbook will address welding materials and applications. These volumes represent the practical application of the principles discussed in the chapters of Volume 1, Welding Science and Technology, published in 2001.

This peer-reviewed volume of the Welding Handbook reflects a tremendous leap forward in welding technology. While many basics of the welding processes have remained substantially the same, the precise control of welding parameters, advanced techniques, complex applications and new materials discussed in this updated volume are dramatically changed from those described in previous editions. In particular, advancements in digital or computerized control of welding parameters have resulted in consistently high weld quality for manual and mechanized welding and the repeatability necessary for successful automated operations.

Chapter 1 of Welding Processes, Part 1 is a compilation of information on arc welding power sources. Subsequent chapters present specific information on shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux cored arc welding, submerged arc welding, plasma arc welding, electrogas welding, arc stud welding, electroslag welding, oxyfuel gas welding, brazing, soldering, oxygen cutting, and arc cutting and gouging.

Appendix A and B address safety issues. Appendix A reproduces the American Welding Society Lens Shade Selector. Appendix B is a list of national and international safety standards applicable to welding, cutting, and allied processes. Although each chapter in this volume has a section on safe practices as they pertain to the specific process, readers should refer to Chapter 17, “Safe Practices,” of Volume 1 and to the appropriate standards listed in Appendix B. Appendix C is a list of American Welding Society filler metal specifications and related documents.

An index of this volume and a major subject index of previous volumes are included.

This volume was compiled by the members the Welding Handbook Volume 2 Committee and the Chapter Committees, with oversight by the Welding Handbook Committee. Chapter committee chairs, chapter committee members, and oversight persons are recognized on the title pages of the chapters. An important contribution to this volume is the review of each chapter provided by members of the Technical Activities Committee and the Safety and Health Committee of the American Welding Society.