Arc welding is a type of
welding that uses a
welding power supply to create an
electric arc between an electrode and the base material to melt the metals at the welding point. They can use either
direct (DC) or
alternating (AC) current, and consumable or non-consumable
electrodes. The welding region is usually protected by some type of
shielding gas, vapor, or slag. Arc welding processes may be manual, semi-automatic, or fully automated. First developed in the late part of the 19th century, arc welding became commercially important in shipbuilding during the Second World War. Today it remains an important process for the fabrication of steel structures and vehicles.