The most suitable stud welding process depends on the fastener, base material, sheet thickness and mechanical requirements of the joint. A.T.S. supplies equipment and components for drawn arc welding, gas-shielded arc welding and short arc welding, providing solutions for both structural applications and work on thinner sheet metal.
For demanding applications where a strong, high-strength joint is required, drawn arc stud welding with a ceramic ferrule is a well-established process. An electric arc melts the end of the stud and the surface of the workpiece, while the ceramic ferrule contains the molten pool and protects it from atmospheric contamination. It also helps control cooling before being removed after the welding cycle.
Where the use of a ferrule is not preferred, gas-shielded stud welding provides an alternative. An inert gas protects the weld pool by creating a controlled atmosphere around the welding area. Depending on the equipment configuration, the process can be used for studs up to 12 mm in diameter and can be particularly suitable where a cleaner process or integration into automated production is required.
For thinner sheet metal and fast production cycles, short arc stud welding provides a compact solution for studs up to M8. Compared with capacitor discharge welding, it can provide higher joint strength in applications exposed to mechanical loads. Depending on the process and fastener, arc welding systems can be used with mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium.
The A.T.S. range includes stud welding machines, manual welding guns, automatic welding heads, universal feeders and dedicated studs and pins for arc welding. A.T.S. also provides technical advice to manufacturers, engineers and production teams, helping them select the most suitable welding process, equipment and fastener for the specific application.
