Electro-gas WeldingElectro-gas is an arc welding process that uses the heat generated by an arc struck between a consumable wire electrode and the workpiece to effect melting and fusion. The continuous wire electrode may be solid or flux-cored and an external gas shield is normally used. The process is usually used for welding in the vertical position. Water-cooled copper shoes are used to support the weld pool as the weld progresses upwards. Equipment requirements are a welding power source, wire feed unit, water-cooled shoes, gas and water supplies, fixing and manipulation equipment. Large electro-gas units tend to be bulky, heavy, and expensive. The features of the process are vertical welding of large, thick components in one pass, high deposition rates, sound welds, and little distortion. The process is used to weld steel and aluminium. With steel the consumables are either solid or flux-cored, with aluminium always solid. The shielding gas is normally argon. The main safety issues are electrical, radiation, hot metal, moving machinery, and welding fume.
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