Which process uses a continuous wire electrode through a welding gun?

Which process uses a continuous wire electrode through a welding gun?

• A. SMAW
• B. GTAW
• C. FCAW
• D. GMAW

Answer: (D)

A continuous wire electrode fed through the welding gun is a hallmark of GMAW, also known as MIG welding. In this process, a spool of filler wire is continuously fed through the contact tip into the arc, so the wire itself serves as the electrode and filler metal as you weld. Shielding gas flows from the gun to protect the weld pool from the atmosphere, allowing for steady, quick welds with minimal interruption to change electrodes. This setup distinguishes it from other processes: SMAW uses a stick electrode that's not fed through a gun; GTAW uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with separate filler metal (often fed manually); FCAW can also use a continuous wire but relies on a flux core for shielding, sometimes without external gas. The combination of a continuous wire through the gun plus external shielding gas is what identifies GMAW.

A continuous wire electrode fed through the welding gun is a hallmark of GMAW, also known as MIG welding. In this process, a spool of filler wire is continuously fed through the contact tip into the arc, so the wire itself serves as the electrode and filler metal as you weld. Shielding gas flows from the gun to protect the weld pool from the atmosphere, allowing for steady, quick welds with minimal interruption to change electrodes. This setup distinguishes it from other processes: SMAW uses a stick electrode that's not fed through a gun; GTAW uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with separate filler metal (often fed manually); FCAW can also use a continuous wire but relies on a flux core for shielding, sometimes without external gas. The combination of a continuous wire through the gun plus external shielding gas is what identifies GMAW.