Welding: In the welding process, two or more parts are heated
and melted or forced together, causing the joined parts to function as one.
In some welding methods a filler material is added to make the merging of
the materials easier. There are many different types of welding operations,
such as the various arc welding, resistance welding and oxyfuel gas welding
methods. These will not be covered in this introduction, however.
Brazing: During the brazing process a filler metal is melted
and distributed in between multiple solid metal components after they have
been heated to the proper temperature. The filler metal must have a melting
point that is above 840 degrees Fahrenheit but below the melting point of
the base metals and the metal must also have high fluidity and wettability.
No melting of the base metals occurs during brazing.
Soldering: Soldering is similar to brazing; the only real difference
being that in soldering the melting point of the filler metal is below 840
degrees Fahrenheit. Again, no melting of the base metals occurs, but the filler
metal wets and combines with the base metals to form a metallurgical bond.
Adhesive Bonding: In adhesive bonding a filler material,
called an adhesive, is used to hold multiple closely spaced parts together
through surface attachment. The adhesive is a nonmetallic substance; often
it is a polymer.
Mechanical Assembly: Various fastening methods are used
in mechanical assembly to mechanically attach two or more parts together.
Usually fasteners are used, being added on during the assembly operation.
Sometimes, however, fastening involves the shaping of one of the components
being assembled without the need of separate fasteners. Mechanical fastening
can be divided into methods that allow for easy disassembly, threaded fasteners,
and those that do not, rivets.
Please submit any questions or comments concerning this website to njsalamon@psu.edu.
© by Meghan Henty & N. J. Salamon 1999, 2000. All rights reserved.
Redesigned by William C. Chow 2000.