Final answer:
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), and Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) are welding processes that use a constant voltage power source. Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) instead uses a constant current power source.
Step-by-step explanation:
Welding is a process that involves joining metal materials with solder and heat. There are several welding processes, and each may use a different type of power source. When it comes to using a constant voltage power source, certain welding methods require this type of power source to operate effectively.
The welding processes that use a constant voltage power source include:
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), also known as MIG welding, uses a constant voltage and a continuous wire feed. This process is commonly used because it provides speed and efficiency in the welding operation.
- Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) similarly uses a constant voltage with a continuous wire feed, but differs from GMAW because it does not necessarily need a shielding gas due to the use of a flux-cored wire.
- Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) uses a granular flux that creates a protective environment and prevents spatter, making it an ideal process for large, thick materials and it also operates on a constant voltage.
While Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is another common welding process, it typically uses a constant current power source instead of a constant voltage. This is due to the way SMAW is typically manually operated, which requires a steady current to maintain the arc length despite variations in the distance between the electrode and workpiece.