Manual Metal Arc (MMA) Welding
Shielded metal arc welding
It is used on a daily basis by DIYers, tradesmen, security metalwork specialists and metal fabricators, as well as on pipe laying work sites. MMA welding consists of creating a high-intensity electric arc between a shielded metal-cored electrode and the metals to be joined.
Oerlikon can provide a wide range of MMA welding power sources such as MINIARC and CITOARC. Our offer of non-alloyed (SPEZIAL, OVERCORD...) or high alloyed steel coated electrodes, as our last innovation CLEARINOX, will surely answer your most demanding applications.
Principle of the process
The filler metal is transferred by an electric arc between gushing soul of the coated electrode and the workpiece.
The heat generated by the electric arc simultaneously melts the base metal (workpiece), the metal core and the coating of the electrode, creating the melt which collects drops of filler metal and molten slag transferred into the plasma of this arc.
Part of electrode components is volatilized, helping to create the atmosphere in which the arc is struck. The molten coating, low-density covers the melt forming the slag which protects the weld metal during and after solidification.
The transfer of metal coated electrode
Scheme of a manual installation for welding with coated electrode
