Aluminium Alloy Capacitor Discharge Weld Studs M3 x 16mm Length

Our experienced team has been supplying Aluminium Studs to the Engineering Sector Since the Nineteen-Eighties, when it comes to stud welding...
     ...we know our stuff🔥🔥🔥

Experts in aluminium Stud welding supplies, including aluminium alloy capacitor discharge weld studs, thin diameter aluminium alloy cd weld studs, like M4 threaded AA studs ... we even stock down to 3mm diameter and have M3 threaded weld studs, to the metric pitch specification of thread. We always have some M3 on the shelf ready to go straight out on our orders. As well as aluminium studs, we also sell CD welding equipment. The CD stands for Capacitor Discharge and this is the process most suited to welding metric threaded aluminium cd weld studs. The studs have a tendency to weld extremely fast when working with aluminium alloy, so there is an alternative method to the traditional 'contact' method of cd stud welding and this is called 'The Lift Gap Method'.

Aluminium Alloy CD Weld Studs MUST be "Headed" Correctly to ensure the timing of the Weld is Consistent. Stud Quality and Consistency is Paramount!

Aluminium Stud welding supplies, including aluminium alloy capacitor discharge weld studs, AKA aluminium alloy cd weld studs, some people just say aluminium studs, but aluminium on its own is too soft. We recommend Aluminium Alloy because when the spring pressure is taken up by the welding handtool, sometimes the soft pip on the end of the stud can be crushed and malformed. This sets off the timing of the whole weld. So with the addition of a strengthening alloy, we achieve a tougher stud and are able to more easily achieve consistent weld results. We also sell CD welding equipment. The CD stands for Capacitor Discharge and this is the process most suited to welding metric threaded aluminium cd weld studs. The studs have a tendency to weld extremely fast when working with aluminium alloy, so there is an alternative method to the traditional 'contact' method of cd stud welding and this is called 'The Lift Gap Method'. This innovative process attempts to make up for valuable milliseconds of time lost during the vaporisation of the aluminium allow pip and subsequent liquefaction of the aluminium in the head of the stud.

Mild Steel CD Weld Studs and Stainless Steel Capacitor Discharge Studs do not suffer from this problem. Steel material is obviously a LOT harder than light weight aluminium, and also because of its lower boiling / melting point, we are wanting to use more spring pressure in an Aluminium alloy stud welding to aluminium sheet application.

Welding Aluminium Alloy CD Weld Studs using the Lift Gap process

In aluminium CD weld stud welding using "Lift-Gap", the handtool that houses the aluminium stud within the copper chuck or collet has been modified so that just before the weld takes place the head retracts a little away from the surface. Then at the point of the weld ignition the aluminium stud itself is already moving at speed toward the surface of the job. Now the plasma weld pool can form with greater ease because we are not waiting for weld material to be donated by the stud. In the traditional contact setup the spring in the hand tool would have to be tuned much higher than for welding steel, in order to provide sufficient force to accelerate the body of the stud toward the job as the three degree cone tip leading from the pip which is there by design, is still struggling to bring the metal of the stud together with the surface of the job. This meant sometimes turning up the spring pressure so high that it would sometimes partially crush the comparatively delicate aluminium pip. And as you have probably heard me say before... the pip is critical to the timing of the weld. With the aluminium pip distorted, the entire welding rule-book is effectively thrown out of the window as inherent inconsistencies make it impossible to guarantee a repeatable result

In "The Lift Gap Method" there is no spring pressure because the stud itself is effectively set in motion at the time of the weld and it is this inertia that provides the necessary force which works especially well at the traditionally troublesome lower diameters. Aluminium has kind of got a bit of a bad rep, generally, in the welding industry. It's messy, it spits, it can be dangerous managing the weld with the more technically demanding processes like MIG and TIG. It is not dangerous at all when welded using Capacitor Discharge welding systems, but it can make a bit more of a bang, with more visible bright spatter. And achieving deep penetration into the parent material in order to have a successful weld, means toying around with the settings a bit more than with Steel.

Why would you choose to use aluminium instead of steel for cd stud welding in specific applications?

The several reasons why aluminium may be used instead of steel for capacitor discharge stud welding applications include, weight considerations, electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance and thermal expansion. But the main reason might just be compatibility, in that if you are trying to achieve a proper weld, (and not just a brazing of two different materials,) you have to use the same material or as close as possible to ensure an even join at the molecular level. A true weld should be stronger than the surrounding material on the job and the stud. This is because in the process of heating up, liquifying and then cooling back down, the crystalline lattice structure of the metal is allowed once again to re-distribute itself, improving its structural uniformity. This is apparent when we use destructive testing to test for weld quality. You would expect to see the stud fail or for it to pull a slug out of the parent sheet metal when exerting angular force on the completed weld. A good weld will never break at the point of contact between the stud flange and the plate.

Aluminium is a lightweight material compared to steel. In applications where weight reduction is important, such as in automotive or aerospace industries, aluminium studs can help reduce the overall weight of the structure without compromising strength or performance. Aluminium is an excellent conductor of electricity. In certain applications, such as electrical or electronic systems, aluminium studs can provide efficient electrical conductivity, ensuring reliable electrical connections. aluminium has high thermal conductivity, meaning it can quickly dissipate heat. This property is beneficial in CD stud welding, as it helps prevent excessive heat buildup during the welding process, reducing the risk of distortion or damage to the workpiece.

Q: What does a metal stud welding material have in common with precious stones?

A: Inherent stability and therefore shares some corrosion resistance properties. Aluminium naturally forms a protective oxide layer that provides good resistance against corrosion. This makes aluminium studs suitable for applications where they may be exposed to moisture or corrosive environments. In fact (Studfast Fun Fact) the slightly greenish hue of the oxide that forms is actually chemically identical to sapphire. The precious stones "Sapphire" are actually comprised of crystalline aluminium oxide. And just like the precious metals, aluminium, once oxidised, is very stable and naturally corrosion resistant. Unlike our friend mild steel which we virtually always copper-flash in an attempt to coat and protect the extremely rust-prone and comparatively un-stable mucky ruddy reddish brown quickly tarnishing surface of mild steel.

Whereas aluminium has a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion compared to steel. This can be a mixed bag of nuts when combining other materials, you want to account for this. For applications where differential expansion and contraction between the stud and the base material need to be minimised, this is advantageous, thereby reducing the risk of stress or cracking in the joint. When joining aluminium workpieces together, using aluminium studs ensures compatibility and avoids issues related to dissimilar metals. This can improve the overall performance and integrity of the welded joints. As always, for compatibility with aluminium base materials, you absolutely have to use aluminium studs. Otherwise as I've mentioned above, it's not really a 'weld' as such, but the best you can hope for is just a 'tacking on' of the stud. For some applications I've seen over the years believe it or not this has been adequate or 'fit-for-purpose', but if I'm honest, the very prospect of mis-matching materials sends a shiver down my spine and can cause me to break out in cold sweats : )