This disclosure relates a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, composite material for use in friction stir welding. The PCBN composite material comprises tungsten (W), rhenium (Re) and aluminium (Al) in the binder matrix material.

An electrode unit for inert gas welding by means of a non-consumable. The electrode unit includes an electrode holder and an electrode held firmly and undetachably in the electrode holder and having an electrode tip at a front end. The electrode protrudes beyond the electrode holder by means of the electrode tip on a first longitudinal end of the electrode holder. A gas guide channel is formed in the electrode holder, with an inlet opening located toward a second longitudinal end of the electrode holder. At least one outlet opening is oriented transversely with respect to a longitudinal extent of the electrode holder and located offset from the inlet opening, when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal extent, toward the first longitudinal end. The electrode unit is able to be efficiently cooled during the welding operation and has a reduced tendency to jam or wedge due to thermal expansions.

Disclosed is an apparatus for arc welding, comprising: a torch body comprising a power supply line and a gas supply line; two or more metal segments movable relative to one another being sized and shaped to surround a seam between two elongated objects to be welded together, the two or more metal segments being in electrical communication with the power supply line; and a gas jacket attached to each of the metal segments.

This disclosure relates a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, composite material for use in friction stir welding. The PCBN composite material comprises tungsten (W), rhenium (Re) and aluminium (Al) in the binder matrix material.

An arc welding apparatus and corresponding method includes a torch, a non-consumable electrode and a consumable electrode both disposed within the torch, a wire feeder configured to feed the consumable electrode in a vicinity of the non-consumable electrode, a first power source and a second power source that provide independent current, respectively, to the non-consumable electrode and the consumable electrode, and a weld process controller to control outputs of the first power source and the second power source such that a concentrated arc is formed, as a heat source, between the non-consumable electrode and a workpiece, and an inter-electrode arc is formed between the consumable electrode and the non-consumable electrode to melt the consumable electrode. The approach is characterized by low heat input, low distortion, low spatter, and the relative high speed or high deposition of laser and laser-MIG hybrid and other forms of multi-wire/multi-electrode welding, cladding, and additive manufacturing.

The invention relates to a welding electrode for resistance welding, formed by a welding tool made of a metal, the welding tool having a contact surface that comes into contact with the workpiece to be welded. In order to avoid adhesion between the contact surface and a workpiece made, in particular of aluminum, it is suggested in the invention that the contact surface is made of diamond doped with boron.

Embodiments of a welding torch with an improved handle are provided. The welding torch may include an electrical conductor, an outer material layer disposed about the electrical conductor, and a sealed vacuum region disposed between the electrical conductor and the outer material layer.

A lead-free solder alloy includes Ag in an amount of 0.3 to 4.0% by mass, Cu in an amount of 0.1 to 2.0% by mass, Fe in an amount of 0.005 to 0.05% by mass, Ni in an amount of 0.01 to 0.5% by mass, Ga in an amount of 0.001 to 0.1% by mass, and Sn as the balance.

A hybrid electrode for resistance spot welding and a method of resistance welding are provided. The hybrid electrode comprises a pin and a collar member. The pin comprises an electrically conductive material and a pin contact surface. The collar member comprises a material that is at least one of less electrically conductive than the electrically conductive material of the pin and less thermally conductive than the electrically conductive material of the pin. The collar member comprises a collar member contact surface, and defines an inner cavity and a longitudinal axis. The pin is at least partially disposed in the inner cavity and the pin contact surface extends away from the collar member and is offset a distance along the longitudinal axis from the collar member contact surface.

A welding apparatus includes a welding electrode, where the welding electrode has a concavely formed end-face region and where the welding electrode has a magnet such that a spherical dome-shaped portion of a magnetically attractable ball which is located in an effective range of the magnet is drawable against the concavely formed end-face region.