TIG tungsten argon arc welding, MIG consumable inert gas shielded welding, MAG consumable active gas shielded welding. TIG welding is generally a manual welding process with one handheld welding gun and the other handheld welding wire, suitable for small-scale operations and repairs. MIG and MAG, the welding wire is sent out from the welding gun through an automatic wire feeding mechanism, suitable for automatic welding.

Comparison of MIG welding, MAG welding, and TIG welding

1. The main difference between MIG and MAG is in the shielding gas. The equipment is similar, but the former is generally protected by argon gas, suitable for welding non-ferrous metals; The latter is generally mixed with carbon dioxide active gas in argon gas, which is suitable for welding high-strength steel and high alloy steel.

2. TIG and MIG are both inert gas shielded welding, commonly known as argon arc welding. Inert gas can be argon or helium, but argon is commonly used because it is cheap, so inert gas arc welding is generally referred to as argon arc welding.

3. MIG welding is a consumable inert gas shielded welding. MAG welding is a fusion electrode active gas shielded welding. And gas shielded welding belongs to MIG welding or MAG welding according to the type of protective gas.

Main differences

1. Both MIG welding and MAG welding are consumable argon arc welding, with the main difference being the use of different shielding gases. The shielding gas used in MIG welding is Ar or Ar+He, while the shielding gas used in MAG welding is inert gas with a small amount of oxidizing gas. To further improve arc stability without changing the basic characteristics of inert gas arc.

2. According to the different welding wires and welding specifications used, MIG welding can adopt short circuit transfer, large droplet transfer, jet transfer, sub jet transfer, and pulse jet transfer. The production efficiency is higher than TIG welding, the welding deformation is smaller than TIG welding, the base metal melting depth is greater, the filling metal deposition speed is faster, and it is easy to achieve automation. 

The arc combustion is stable, the droplet transfer is stable, and there is no severe splashing. Throughout the entire arc combustion process, the welding wires are continuously fed at a constant speed. It can weld all metals, such as carbon steel and low alloy steel, especially suitable for welding aluminum and aluminum alloys, magnesium and magnesium alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, copper and copper alloys, and stainless steel. 

The thinnest thickness of the plate is 1mm, which is also suitable for welding medium and thick plates, and can be welded in all positions.

3. MAG welding can adopt short-circuit transfer, spray transfer, and pulse spray transfer, which can improve the stability of droplet transfer, stabilize cathode spots, improve the stability of arc combustion, increase arc thermal power, reduce welding defects and reduce welding costs, and obtain excellent weld quality. Suitable for welding of carbon steel, low alloy steel, and stainless steel. Suitable for all position welding.

4. TIG welding, also known as non melting inert gas tungsten arc welding. Whether it is manual welding or automatic welding of stainless steel with a thickness of 0.5-4.0mm, TIG welding is the most commonly used welding method. The method of adding filler wire to TIG welding is commonly used for backing welding of pressure vessels, because the good airtightness of TIG welding can reduce the porosity of the weld seam during pressure vessel welding

5. The heat source for TIG welding is a DC arc, with a working voltage of 10-95 volts, but a current of up to 600 amperes. The correct connection method for welding machines is to connect the workpiece to the positive pole of the power supply.