Liidestada

Liidestada is the Estonian term for welding, the process of joining two or more pieces of metal by heating them to their melting point and often using a filler material to form a strong bond upon cooling. In this context, welding creates a metallurgical bond between parts, as opposed to mechanical fastening or brazing, which rely on different joining mechanisms.

Welding uses various methods to generate heat and form a joint. Common techniques include arc welding (such as shielded metal arc welding and gas metal arc welding), gas tungsten arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, and submerged arc welding, as well as resistance welding methods like spot welding. Protective atmospheres or fluxes are often used to shield the weld pool from contamination, and filler metals may be selected to match or complement the base metals.

Joint design and material considerations are important for weld quality. Typical joint types include butt and fillet joints, with lap joints and corner joints also used in some designs. Weldability depends on material composition, thickness, welding process, and heat treatment. Aluminum, stainless steel, and cast iron pose particular challenges, requiring appropriate process selection, preheating, post-weld heat treatment, and sometimes specialized filler materials to prevent cracking and porosity.

Safety, standards, and quality control are integral to liidestada. Welders must use appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure adequate ventilation due to fumes and glare. Weld quality is governed by international and national standards (for example ISO, EN, and AWS in some regions), and welds are inspected through visual, radiographic, ultrasonic, or other nondestructive testing methods to verify integrity and performance.