Posted by Robert Hernandez on Sep 24th 2026
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Abrasion | A condition of wear most often caused by rubbing together of two surfaces. |
| Abrasion resistance | The property of a material that allows it to resist abrasive wear. |
| AC | The accepted abbreviation for alternating current. |
| Active gases | Gases that will combine with the weld metal if given the chance. Carbon dioxide and oxygen are active gases. |
| Actuator | A device used to move part of a machine. Robots use electric and hydraulic actuators. |
| Air Carbon Arc Cutting (CAC-A) | This cutting process uses the heat of a carbon electrode arc to melt the metal, and uses forced air to remove the molten metal from the cut. For large cuts, use a welder that can use carbons of at least 3/8" in diameter. |
| Air cooled torch/gun | A MIG (GMAW) or TIG (GTAW) torch used for light duty work. These torches do not utilize water for cooling like heavy-duty torches. Air cooled TIG torches are generally limited to 200 amps at 60% duty cycle. Air cooled MIG guns are generally limited to 400 amps at 60% duty cycle. |
| Air pressure leak test | An inspection method used for pipelines and storage tanks. Welds are coated with a soap solution, then the vessel is filled with gas under pressure. Bubbles show any leaks due to defective welds. |
| Alloy | A mixture of two or more metals to achieve specific qualities such as hardness, ductility, etc. |
| Alternating Current (AC) | Electrical charges which flows in one direction then the other at regular intervals such as 60 cycles per second (50 cycles per second in Europe). |
| Ammeter | An instrument used to measure electrical current flow in amperes. |
| Ampere | A unit of measure of electrical current. One ampere of current will flow through a conductor of one ohm at a potential (electrical pressure) of one volt. |
| Amperage | Also referred to as current, it is the amount of electricity flowing per second, past a particular point in a conductor. |
| Amplify Tungsten Electrodes | Amplify™ brand, highest-quality tungsten electrodes for welding. For improved weld consistency, less rejects and lower costs, choose Amplify™ tungsten electrodes. Available in sizes from .020" (0.5mm) to 1/4" (6.3mm) and popular blends including 1.5% Lanthanated (Gold), 2% Lanthanated (Blue), 2% Ceriated (Orange), 2% Thoriated (Red), Zirconiated (Brown) and Pure (Green). |
| Annealing | The softening of metals by heat treatment. This process typically involves heating the metals up to critical temperature and then cooling them slowly. |
| Anode | The positive terminal of an electrical circuit. |
| ANSI | An abbreviation for the American National Standards Institute. |
| Arc | The flow of electricity through a gaseous space or gap. |
| Arc blow | The wandering of an electric arc from its normal path due to magnetic forces. |
| Arc cutting | A group of cutting processes wherein the severing or removal of metals is accomplished by melting with the heat from an arc between an electrode and the parent material. |
| Arc force | Provides variable additional amperage to a power source during low voltage conditions. This avoids sticking when a short arc is used. |
| Arc length | The distance between the electrode and the base metal. In SMAW, this distance should be approximately equal to the electrode diameter. |
| Arc-Seam weld | A weld bead with an arc welding unit. |
| Arc-Spot weld | A spot weld made by an arc welding process. |
| Arc spraying | A surfacing process using an electric arc between two electrodes of surfacing material and a pressurized gas to propel the vaporized material onto the base surface. |
| Arc Saber | Arc Saber tungsten storage container. ArcSaber's features a threaded-on cap with o-ring seal, 12.5lbs pull rated Neodymium (rare-earth) magnet located in the base, and includes a wood strip to minimize atmosphere and moisture contamination. The ArcSaber also features a handy sticker on top, illustrating 22° and 45° tungsten tapers for quick reference! |
| ArcTime Tungsten Electrodes | ArcTime™ hybrid non-radioactive tungsten electrodes. Formulated to improve weld-quality, lower tungsten inventory costs and minimize weld defects. What started as a "cult product" designed to solve tungsten electrode performance problems for a select group of manufacturers using new inverter welding machines has grown into the tungsten electrode material of choice for professional fabricators. ArcTime™ brand hybrid tungsten electrodes with the distinctive "Sky Blue" tip. ArcTime™ — One Tungsten, No Limits — |
| Autogenous weld | A fusion weld made without the addition of filler metal. |
| Arc voltage | The electrical potential across an arc. The pressure or voltage of an arc. |
| AWS | The abbreviation for the American Welding Society. |
| AWS Electrode Specifications | Strict manufacturing specifications developed by the American Welding Society for electrodes. AWS electrode specifications are published and revised every five years. |
| Arc welding | A group of welding processes used to melt and weld metal using the heat of an electric arc, with or without filler metal. |
| Arc-Zone.com | Pro Welding & Metal Fabrication Tools. The premier online store dedicated to quality tools & technical service since 1998! |
| Argon | An inert gas found in the atmosphere and used as a shielding gas in some welding operations, primarily TIG. |
| Automatic welding | Equipment which uses sensing devices to control joint alignment. Most commonly some type of arc welding wherein all welding operations are controlled and initiated by automated means. |
| Axis of weld | An imaginary line along the center of gravity of the weld metal and perpendicular to a cross section of the weld metal from the beginning to the end of the weld. |
