What is Resistance Seam Welding - RSEW - Definition

Resistance seam welding is a process similar to that of spot welding process, but instead of pointed electrodes, wheel-shaped electrodes roll along and often feed the workpiece, making it possible to make long continuous welds.

Resistance welding (ERW) is a welding process which involves the generation of heat from the flow of electrical current through the parts being joined. Small pools of molten metal are formed at the weld area as high current (1000–100,000 A) is passed through the metal. Electric resistance welding is widely used, for example, in manufacture of steel pipe and in assembly of bodies for automobiles. The vehicle manufacturing industry, among others, employs the resistance processes extensively in applications in which the product design specifies gauge thicknesses that are lapped. Fully automatic and robotic systems are used for many of these applications.

Commonly implemented resistance welding processes are:

resistance spot welding (RSW),
resistance seam welding (RSEW),
resistance projection welding (RPW)
resistance stud welding.

The main process variables associated with these resistance welding processes are welding current, welding time, electrode force or pressure, electrode material, and tip configuration. Resistance welding (RW) was invented in 1886 by Professor Elihu Thomson, and it is one of the simplest and most commonplace fusion welding processes.

Resistance Seam Welding – RSEW

Resistance seam welding is a process similar to that of spot welding process, but instead of pointed electrodes, wheel-shaped electrodes roll along and often feed the workpiece, making it possible to make long continuous welds. This produces a weld at the faying surfaces of two similar metals. The electrodes are often disc shaped and rotate as the material passes between them. The seam may be a butt joint or an overlap joint and is usually an automated process. The joint is normally gastight or liquidtight. A series of welds is made without retracting the electrode wheels or releasing the electrode force between spots, but the wheels may advance either intermittently or continuously.

Like spot welding, seam welding relies on two electrodes, usually made from copper, to apply pressure and current. Seam welding produces an extremely durable weld because the joint is forged due to the heat and pressure applied. A common use of seam welding is during the manufacture of round or rectangular steel tubing.

References:

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Welding

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