Semiautomatic welding is one of the varieties of arc welding, where the welding process occurs due to the electrode wire supplied to the work area. Semi-automatic welding can be carried out not only in the environment of protective gases, but also by means of a special flux wire, without the use of active or inert gas. Gas protection during work is required from the negative effects of air on molten and heated electrode and base metals.
A promising direction in carrying out welding work today is considered to be a semi-automatic welding without the use of inert or active gas using a special welding flux-cored or flux-cored wire. This is a steel tube containing flux or, in other words, welding powder, similar in composition to the coating layer of an ordinary electrode. Under the influence of temperature, the flux burns out, creating a protective gas cloud in the zone of welding.
By the principle of operation, such welding resembles a welding process using a simple electrode. Advantages of welding a semiautomatic device of this type is a wide selection of welding wire having a different chemical composition, with the help of which the formation of the characteristics of the seam and the properties of the arc occurs, while there is no need to use gas cylinders. The disadvantages include the ingress of slag into the area of work, which requires the imposition of an additional seam for high-quality and reliable connection of the welded parts.
Welding a semiautomatic device in the environment of protective gases has become widespread in the last 20 years. This type of welding can be performed using two technologies - when welding is performed using inert gas (argon, helium or another type of gas mixture) and using active or carbon dioxide. The first technology was called MIG (Metal Inert Gas), the second - MAG (Metal Active Gas).
The mandatory presence of a gas cylinder reduces the possibility of using this type of welding in open spaces, but when carrying out stationary welding work, there are no analogues to this type in terms of productivity. Semi-automatic welding using a welding or electrode wire that contains manganese or silicon is carried out with its constant supply to the place of work. At the same time, active or inert gas is supplied to protect it from the negative effects of atmospheric air.
Today, welding is a semiautomatic device, the price of which can differ significantly in various trading organizations and online stores, sold in a large assortment. Pricing is primarily influenced by the popularity of the manufacturer, the quality and technical characteristics of the devices, the reliability and safety in use. Do-it-yourself welding is a semiautomatic device, when all the necessary schemes and instructions can be easily found on the Internet, which saves considerable money on its purchase. As practice shows, home-made welding machines in terms of reliability and quality of the weld are almost in no way inferior to factory-assembled models.