Welding in Contract Manufacturing: the Complete Overview
Knowledge · Topic overview
Which welding processes exist in contract manufacturing?
Four processes cover practically all of machine and steel construction. MAG welding is the economical standard for steel and load-bearing structures. MIG welding handles aluminium and non-ferrous metals. TIG welding delivers the cleanest seams for stainless, visible joints and root passes. Hand-held laser welding complements them on thin sheet and distortion-critical visible parts. How to decide is shown in the process comparison with decision table.
Which standards and certificates are mandatory?
For load-bearing steel components the rules are clear: the company needs EN 1090-1 certification and must execute to EN 1090-2; execution class EXC 2 is the usual standard in machine building. Welders qualify to EN ISO 9606-1, a qualified welding coordinator is responsible for procedures, and ISO 9001 documents the processes. Suppliers without these certificates may not deliver load-bearing parts; the question belongs in every supplier audit.
Why is distortion the central quality issue?
Welding creates distortion; that is physics. It becomes controllable through weld-friendly design, a planned sequence and machining of functional faces after welding. Details in welding distortion; material specifics in welding stainless steel and welding structural steel.
How do you source welding work properly?
With a complete data package and the right questions. The package: PDF drawing, STEP model, material, quantity, required seam quality (EN ISO 5817 level) and target date. The questions: which certificates, who coordinates welding, can functional faces be machined in-house after welding? The last point decides the accuracy of the finished assembly, because responsibility gets lost at the interface between weld shop and machine shop.
All articles in this topic area
| Article | Answers |
|---|---|
| Welding distortion | causes, countermeasures, straightening, annealing |
| Processes compared | MAG, MIG, TIG or laser? With decision table |
| MAG welding | the standard process for steel and EN 1090 |
| MIG welding | porosity-free aluminium joints |
| TIG welding | visible seams, root passes, stainless |
| Hand-held laser welding | low-distortion joining and its limits |
| Welding stainless steel | heat tint, pickling, avoiding rust film |
| Welding structural steel | S235/S355, weldability, EXC classes |
Frequently asked questions
What does outsourced welding cost?
Price follows seam length and volume, process, required quality, documentation and set-up effort. Throat thickness sized by statics and the right EN ISO 5817 level are the buyer\u2019s biggest savings levers.
From which quantity is outsourcing worthwhile?
From quantity one. Single parts, project assemblies and recurring series run through the same process: send data, feasibility check, quote, production.
Which process is the best?
There is no best process, only the right one for the part: MAG for steel structures, MIG for aluminium, TIG for visible seams and roots, laser for distortion-critical thin sheet. Serious manufacturers advise process-neutrally.
Why should welding and machining come from one source?
Because welded structures only become accurate through machining of their functional faces. One source means no interface where tolerances and responsibility get lost.