MMA Method

Manual arc welding from English Manual Metal Arc. It is the oldest method, the advantage of which is the great flexibility of welding in all positions and the availability of cheap welding sources and additional material. The additional material is metal melting electrodes with different types of packaging, for example:

• basic,
• rutile,
• cellulose

The interesting thing is that basically every welding machine that can use the MMA method can also be used for the TIG method.

It’s just an impractical solution, because it is necessary to buy an additional torch for the tungsten electrode, the gas must be supplied and released separately outside the control of the welding machine, and the material must be cut to ignite the arc.

Industrial machines

Welding inverters intended for industry usually have higher performance and can combine several methods at once. Our top aXe 502 DOUBLE PULSE HSL AC/DC HF COMPACT H2O can do everything from MMA to MIG/MAG to TIG. DOUBLE PULSE and other improved functions are a matter of course in a welding machine of this performance.

TIG Method

Manual arc welding with an electric arc with a non-melting electrode in a protective atmosphere of inert gas. It is mainly used for welding aluminum and magnesium and their alloys, stainless steels and other materials. The TIG method requires very skilled welders. If the technological procedure is followed, high quality welds can be obtained.

The main difference against the MMA method is:

• the use of non-melting tungsten electrodes, which are made of pure tungsten or selected alloys are added to tungsten
• the use of inert gases that protect the weld pool as well as the electrodes themselves. In some applications, hydrogen or nitrogen are used in addition to argon or helium.

We recommend a universal purple tungsten electrode for our welding machines. In Europe and the Czech Republic, the method is most often referred to by the abbreviation TIG or WIG. In the US, it is customary to call it GTAW.

Important for the comfort of the machine is the method of igniting the arc.

1. The most user-friendly is contactless ignition of the arc using HF,
2. ignition is possible by touching the electrode with the so-called LIFTARC material
3. the least comfortable is the so-called scratch ignition, i.e. the electrode must scratch the material and pull out the arc, similar to the MMA method.

MIG/MAG/MOG Method

It is arc welding with a melting electrode in a protective atmosphere. It was originally developed for welding magnesium and aluminum alloys. Gradual development made it possible to use it also for welding non-alloyed steels while maintaining high performance. In Europe, the designation MIG/MAG is used.

Welding wires are used either solid or so-called tubular, filled with either flux or metal powder. Some flux-filled welding wires have been developed for welding even without an externally supplied shielding gas atmosphere (INNERSHIELD, MOG designation (Metal no Gas)).

The MIG/MAG method is one of the most widespread welding methods in the production of construction steel structures, machinery, pressure vessels and pipelines.

Welding machines are distinguished according to control into inverter and branch welding. The main advantage of welding inverters is comfortable, precise control and low weight. Tap welders contain a transformer that controls the output using a tap in that winding. This gives their main advantages, such as ease of use, but also their main disadvantages, which is weight.