Conventional TIG Welding

Conventional TIG welding, formally named Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), employs a high-melting tungsten alloy electrode to sustain an electric arc. Under the shielding of inert gas (typically argon, Ar), the base metal melts to form a molten pool. Filler metal, if required, is fed manually or automatically as a separate wire.

Classification

Direct Current Electrode Negative (DCEN):The tungsten electrode is connected to the negative pole and the workpiece to the positive pole. It features stable arc and large penetration depth, mainly used for welding stainless steel, carbon steel, copper and titanium.

Alternating Current TIG (AC-TIG):Alternating positive and negative half-cycles produce the "cathodic cleaning" effect to remove oxide films on aluminum and magnesium surfaces. It is primarily applied to aluminum alloy and magnesium alloy welding.

Advantages of GTAW

High-quality welds with attractive appearance, little or no slag formation

Controllable heat input, suitable for thin plates and precision components

Applicable to a wide range of metals (carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, titanium, etc.)

Independent adjustment of arc length and welding current for flexible operation

Limitations of GTAW

Strict requirements for pre-weld cleaning (grease and oxide films must be removed)

Low welding speed, lower efficiency compared with MIG/MAG welding

Manual welding demands high operator skills (manual filler feeding and consistent arc length maintenance)

Relatively higher equipment cost