Here’s What You Should Know About Welding Joint Types
Welders need more than just a working knowledge of the industry’s many practices and techniques. Part of this must-know information is welding joint types.
There are many different types of joints. Each is used for a different purpose and with a different material. Additionally, every type has its own characteristics and benefits.
What Is a Joint in the Context of Welding?
According to the American Welding Society (AWS), the textbook definition of a joint is “the manner in which materials fit together.”
Where the weld comes together is the joint. Joints in welding help the welder stay focused on something more than the next weld to be made.
Weld joint design is how metal pieces are aligned. Every joint’s design makes a difference in the job’s overall quality. Cost also gets factored in by that point.
AWS says that the most typically used joints in the industry are:
- Butt joints
- Corner joints
- Edge joints
- Lap joints
- Tee joints
Butt Joint Welding
Butt joints are the most commonly used type of joint in welding. These joints are typically used for fillet welds on structural steel and general construction projects.
There are three ways to make a butt joint: Bevel-to-bevel, flat-to-bevel and flat-to-flat.
Butt weld joints include, but are not limited to:
- Double J
- Double U Grooves
- Double Bevel
- Single J
- Single U
- Single Bevel
- Square
The faying surface then needs to be prepared for welding due to codes and standards, increased strength, metals, smooth appearance and deeper weld penetration.
Corner Joint Welding
A corner joint (also called a “corner lap joint”) is an arrangement between two pieces of material where they meet at a right angle but are not in direct contact with one another. It is one of the most common joints in welding, and it can be used in any position.
In order to weld a corner joint, the pieces must be at a 90-degree angle to one another. This means that the pieces should not be rotated even slightly.
The corner joint is easy to see when looking at a sheet of metal. When the sheet of metal is folded at a 90-degree angle, it can be clearly seen that a corner joint was used.
Edge Joint Writing
The edge joint is one of the more difficult joints in welding. It is used when welding thin sheets of metal together.
The pieces must have a joint at the edge to create a corner joint. In other words, when the two pieces meet, an edge joint needs to be there, or else there will not be a corner joint.
The edge joint is one of the best joints for working with thin pieces of metal because it does not leave a visible gap between the pieces.
Conclusion
One of the more complex crafts out there is welding. It requires creativity, a good eye for detail, patience and knowledge about the industry. Such as welding joint types, the most popular of which are the butt joint, corner joint and edge joint.
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