Many individuals may not understand the elemental differences of various welding/micro-joining technologies that exist in the market, including the strengths and weaknesses of each technology as they interact with a variety of metals. The purpose of this paper is to discuss in detail four major welding technologies (laser, pulse-arc, resistance, and solder) and how they join various metals at a fundamental level. By better understanding these welding principles and how metal-specific weld properties are generated, organizations and individuals in the jewelry industry will be better prepared to make the best decision for their micro-joining needs. They may discover that having more than one technology is best.

Author: Dr. Aaron Astle