Chapter 9: Flux Cored Arc Welding with Gas & Self-Shielded (FCAW-G & FCAW-S)

Skyscrapers in Manhattan with the sun setting behind them
High-Rise Buildings Of Manhattan During Sunset / Photo Credit: Ben o’bro, CC0

Overview

When was the last time you were in a large steel framed building, like a skyscraper? Or crossed a steel bridge? Passed by a crane or excavator on a construction site? Or saw a large steel ship sailing the ocean blue? These things are all very different, but they share one thing in common; they were all likely welded using the flux cored arc welding process.

Flux cored arc welding (FCAW) is a widely employed process that sees use in a variety of heavy industries, including the steel frames of buildings and bridges, shipbuilding, and heavy equipment manufacturing. This chapter will introduce the reader to the equipment, consumables, industrial applications, and fundamental techniques involved in the process.

Objectives

After completing this chapter, students will be able to:

  • List the uses of FCAW-G & FCAW-S in industry
  • Describe the advantages and limitations of FCAW
  • Identify equipment associated with FCAW
  • Explain the fundamentals of FCAW welding techniques
  • Classify electrodes and shielding gasses used for FCAW

Key Terms

  • Constant voltage
  • Electrical stickout
  • FCAW-G
  • FCAW-S
  • Semi-Automatic
  • Mechanized
  • Automatic
  • Shielding gas

Attributions

  1. Chapter opening image: High-rise buildings of Manhattan during sunset by Ben o’bro is released under CC0

License

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Introduction to Welding Copyright © by Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.