| A | B |
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| Air Carbon Arc Cutting | A cutting process by which metals are melted by the heat of an arc using a carbon electrode. |
| Alternating Current | An electrical current that reverses its direction at regular intervals, such as 60 cycles alternating current (AC), or 60 hertz. |
| Amperage | The measurement of the amount of electricity flowing past a given point in a conductor per second. Current is another name for amperage. |
| Arc | The physical gap between the end of the electrode and the base metal. The physical gap causes heat due to resistance of current flow and arc rays. |
| Automatic Welding | Uses equipment which welds without the constant adjusting of controls by the welder or operator |
| Constant-Speed Wire Feeder | Feeder operates from 24 or 115 VAC supplied by the welding power source. |
| Constant Voltage (CV), Constant Potential (CP) Welding Machine | "Potential" and "voltage" are basically the same in meaning. This type of welding machine output maintains a relatively stable, consistent voltage regardless of the amperage output. |
| Current | Another name for amperage. The amount of electricity flowing past a point in a conductor every second. |
| Defect | One or more discontinuities that cause a testing failure in a weld. |
| Direct Current (DC) | Flows in one direction and does not reverse its direction of flow as does alternating current. |
| Direct Current Electrode Negative (DCEN) | The specific direction of current flow through a welding circuit when the electrode lead is connected to the negative terminal and the work lead is connected to the positive terminal of a DC welding machine. Also called direct current, straight polarity (DCSP). |
| Direct Current Electrode Positive (DCEP) | The specific direction of current flow through a welding circuit when the electrode lead is connected to a positive terminal and the work lead is connected to a negative terminal to a DC welding machine. Also called direct current, reverse polarity (DCRP). |
| Duty Cycle | The number of minutes out of a 10-minute time period an arc welding machine can be operated at maximum rated output. |
| Fan-On-Demand | Internal power source cooling system that only works when needed, keeping internal components cleaner. |
| Fixed Automation | Automated, electronically controlled welding system for simple, straight or circular welds. |
| Flexible Automation | Automated, robotically controlled welding system for complex shapes and applications where welding paths require torch-angle manipulation. |
| Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) | An arc welding process which melts and joins metals by heating them with an arc between a continuous, consumable electrode wire and the work. Shielding is obtained from a flux contained within the electrode core. |
| Ground Connection | A safety connection from a welding machine frame to the earth. |
| Ground Lead | When referring to the connection from the welding machine to the work |
| Hertz | "Cycles per second". In the United States, the frequency or directional change of alternating current is usually 60 hertz. |
| High Frequency | Covers the entire frequency spectrum above 50,000 Hz. Used in TIG welding for arc ignition and stabilization. |
| Inductance | Slows down the changes in current, changing the machine's rate of response and number of short circuits per second; helps limit the amount of spatter, and generally improves the wetting out of the weld puddle. |
| Inverter | Power source which increases the frequency of the incoming primary power, thus providing for a smaller size machine and improved electrical characteristics for welding, such as faster response time and more control for pulse welding. |
| KVA - Kilovolt-amperes. | The total volts times amps divided by 1,000, demanded by a welding power source from the primary power furnished by the utility company. |
| KW - Kilowatts | Primary KW is the actual power used by the power source when it is producing its rated output. Kilowatts are found by taking volts times amps divided by 1,000 and taking into account any power factor. |
| MIG (GMAW or Gas Metal Arc Welding) | An arc welding process which joins metals by heating them with an arc. The arc is between a continuously fed filler metal (consumable) electrode and the workpiece. Externally supplied gas or gas mixtures provide shielding. |
| Plasma Arc Cutting | An arc cutting process which severs metal by using a constricted arc to melt a small area of the work. This process can cut all metals that conduct electricity. |
| Pounds Per Square Inch (psi) | A measurement equal to a mass or weight applied to one square inch of surface area. |
| Power Efficiency | How well an electrical machine uses the incoming electrical power. |
| Pulsed MIG (MIG-P) | A modified spray transfer process that produces no spatter because the wire does not touch the weld puddle. |
| Pulsing | Sequencing and controlling the amount of current, the polarity, and the duration of the welding arc. |
| Semiautomatic Welding | The equipment controls only the electrode wire feeding. The welding gun movement is controlled by hand. |
| Shielding Gas | Protective gas used to prevent atmospheric contamination of the weld pool. |
| Single-Phase Circuit | An electrical circuit producing only one alternating cycle within a 360 degree time span |
| Spatter | The metal particles blown away from the welding arc. These particles do not become part of the completed weld. |
| Stick Welding (SMAW or Shielded Metal Arc) | An arc welding process which melts and joins metals by heating them with an arc, between a covered metal electrode and the work. Shielding gas is obtained from the electrode outer coating, often called flux. Filler metal is primarily obtained from the electrode core. |
| TIG Welding (GTAW or Gas Tungsten Arc) | Often called TIG welding (Tungsten Inert Gas), this welding process joins metals by heating them with a tungsten electrode which should not become part of the completed weld. Filler metal is sometimes used and argon inert gas or inert gas mixtures are used for shielding. Consumables: tungsten electrode, filler metal, shielding gas |
| Three-Phase Circuit | An electrical circuit delivering three cycles within a 360 degree time span, and the cycles are 120 electrical degrees apart. |
| Tungsten | Rare metallic element with extremely high melting point (3410o Celsius). Used in manufacturing TIG electrodes. |
| Voltage | The pressure or force that pushes the electrons through a conductor. |
| Voltage-Sensing Wire Feeder | Feeder operates from arc voltage generated by welding power source. |
| Volt-Amp Curve | Graph that shows the output characteristics of a welding power source. Shows voltage and amperage capabilities of a specific machine. |
| Weld Metal | The electrode and base metal that was melted while welding was taking place. This forms the welding bead. |
| Wire Feed Speed | Expressed in in/min or mm/s, and refers to the speed and amount of filler metal fed into a weld. Generally speaking the higher the wire feed speed, the higher the amperage. |
| Workpiece Connection | A means to fasten the work lead (work cable) to the work (metal to be welded on). Also, the point at which this connection is made |
