An alternative way to join parts together instead of using nuts and bolts is welding.
A big part of most fabrication processes and one that requires considerable skill and expertise from a professional welder, welding can be vital when you need to fuse two parts.
However, there is also the process of soldering.
Soldering is the preferred fabrication method for smaller projects and is often used in the electronics and electrical arenas.
While both perform similar functions, they do have numerous differences, and it’s always good to be aware of these before embarking on your next project.
To learn more about the services our team offers, visit our sheet metal fabrication page, where we provide a host of information as well as some helpful hints and tips relating to metal fabrication and some of the more complex processes.
Comparing sheet metal soldering and welding
The process of metal fabrication will often entail the use of both soldering and welding, i.e., where metal pieces are joined together using heat.
However, there are some key differences between the two processes, for example:
Base metals are fused to form a robust joint during welding; in soldering, the filler substance creates the junction rather than the base metal.
Welding involves a much higher temperature in order to melt the base metals to form the join.
Weld joints, once cool, are strong enough to support the weight of the application load; this is not the same for soldering joints, which will not be able to support the load.
Welded joints can withstand high temperatures; soldering joints can’t.
When welding is performed as part of sheet metal fabrication, the workpiece will deform significantly, whereas deformation of the workpiece is low when soldering.
Fusing different metals can be challenging when welding compared to soldering, where you will find it fairly simple to join non-compatible materials.
Compared to soldering, it is also difficult for welders (not impossible, however) to weld thin sheet metals together.
A welded joint has incredible tensile strength, but a soldering joint does not. In addition, welding uses a lot more energy than soldering.
To find out more about CNC Turning: A Guide, click here.
Sheet metal welding
Welding involves applying high heat and pressure to melt two metal parts, allowing them to cool and then fuse together.
By applying heat to the base metals, you can change the workpiece’s properties, melting and fusing joints together, often used in conjunction with a filler material placed between the bonded items, to add extra metal to the joint and create a stronger connection.
Welding creates high-strength structural metal connections using MIG or TIG welding techniques that make a strong bond that can withstand extreme stress.
We can use various types of welding techniques, including gas welding, arc welding, and resilience welding.
Welding is a skilled sheet metal service area requiring a qualified and experienced team.
Supporting manufacturing and metal fabrication, welding is suitable for:
- Automotive sector
- Aerospace
- Construction
- Heavy machinery repairs
- Shipbuilding
Advantages of welding
- Superior to soldering
- Creates a permanent, solid connection
- There are various types of welding techniques to choose from so you can carry out high-quality welds on a range of applications
- Versatile
- Suitable for load-bearing and structural metal connections
Sheet metal soldering
Soldering involves fusing two objects together by melting and injecting a filler substance (solder) into the joint.
The solder is a soft metal alloy made of tin and copper. Holding lower melting points than base metals, soldering involves melting the solder, not the two pieces of metal that you are joining together.
It’s important to note that the filler substance used here will have a much lower melting point than what we use in welding, as the base metal does not melt during the soldering process.
Soldering can join brass, copper, iron, silver, and gold and is mainly used for non-structural metal connections.
You can create strong joints on electrical and electronic circuit boards using a small soldering iron tool.
The three different types of soldering techniques relate to the temperature at which you solder.
For example:
- Soft soldering – soldering takes place at temperatures ranging from 90 to 450 degrees Celsius.
- Hard soldering – soldering takes place at temperatures greater than 450 degrees Celsius.
- Brazing soldering – soldering takes place at temperatures over 450 degrees Celsius.
The soldering process is suitable for the electronic and electrical sectors.
Advantages of soldering
- Soldering doesn’t require a lot of experience
- Requires low temperatures
- You can melt the join again by soldering the material piece, allowing you to redo any mistakes
- It can join different metals together, even if they are of varying thicknesses
Sheet Metal Fabricators UK
When starting your project, it’s important to identify the fabrication processes and manufacturing procedures that will be required to ensure a high-quality final product. Factors that feed into this decision-making include joint strength, heat sensitivity, joint appearance, skill, and equipment requirement.
It’s also important to note that welding requires a professional team with expertise and experience in welding and various techniques suitable for different metals.
To see how we can help you with your upcoming project, call 0191 816 2718 or email info@morfabrication.com.