Drawn Arc Stud Welding: Crossing Over from Steel to Aluminum

摘要

To reduce vehicle weights, car manufacturers are exploring further use of aluminum, how to work with it and how to join it. This includes crossing over a staple joining method in the industry — stud welding — from steel to aluminum applications. Short-duration drawn arc stud welding (DASW) fastens a stud to sheet metal and then locks an engineered fastener onto the stud. In automotive applications, the engineered fastener retains designed parts such as brake lines, fuel lines and carpet insulation. The DASW method has proven efficient and reliable for decades in steel applications. Indeed, some three billion studs are welded onto steel parts annually in automotive assembly operations. Today's automobiles roll off the line with anywhere from 150 to 200 studs, and some cars even have as many as 350 studs.