Arc Welding (MIG / TIG): the route, the tolerances it holds, materials and design tips, with an indicative cost. One of 56 processes in the free finder.
JoiningFamily
5Route steps
146Parts in finder
Arc welding (MIG/TIG) melts and fuses metal with an electric arc, usually with filler, to join parts into a larger assembly.
At a glance
When to use it, and when not
Best for
Frames, structures, pressure vessels and any fabricated metal assembly.
Watch for
Heat distortion, residual stress and weld quality that depends on skill and process control.
Step by step
The typical route
Raw material to finished part. Steps vary with material, volume and tolerance; this is the free route from the finder.
Fit-up
Prep edges and fit in a fixture.
Tooling Fixture Tolerance - Lead -
Tack
Tack to hold alignment.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Weld
MIG/TIG weld to the procedure.
Tooling Welder Tolerance - Lead -
Dress
Grind/dress welds, check distortion.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Inspect
Visual plus NDT on structural welds.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Materials
Materials it suits
Grade
Why it suits this
Mild/structural steel
Cheap, weldable
Stainless 304/316
Corrosion, needs care
Aluminium 5xxx/6xxx
Light, TIG
Design
Design tips
A few general pointers for Arc Welding (MIG / TIG). The full, part-specific DFM list is in the dossier.
Over-welding (too much weld).Size welds to load.
Hard-to-reach joints.Open up access.
Cost
What it costs
Fabricated weldments; priced by weld metres, prep and fixturing. The design decides how much labour.
PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for your part at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$38 to 105per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER
Everything you need to quote and source it
The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on this process and buy it well:
Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
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Arc welding (MIG/TIG) melts and fuses metal with an electric arc, usually with filler, to join parts into a larger assembly. The typical route is: Fit-up; Tack; Weld; Dress; Inspect. Frames, structures, pressure vessels and any fabricated metal assembly.
What does Arc Welding (MIG / TIG) cost per part?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $38 to 105 per part at low volume and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. Model estimates, not quotes.
What tolerance can Arc Welding (MIG / TIG) hold?
It depends on the feature and the finishing operations used.
What materials suit Arc Welding (MIG / TIG)?
Common choices are Mild/structural steel (Cheap, weldable); Stainless 304/316 (Corrosion, needs care); Aluminium 5xxx/6xxx (Light, TIG).
See the exact route and should-cost for your part
The free finder maps your part to its process and full route. Pro adds should-cost at your volume, sourcing and an RFQ draft.
