Which welding machine is suitable for continuous welding?

When metal fabrication lines demand speed and consistency, choosing the wrong welding machine can cause costly delays and poor results. But with the right technology, continuous welding becomes seamless and efficient.

The best welding machine for continuous welding is a fiber laser welding machine with continuous-wave (CW) operation. It delivers stable, precise, and high-speed welds that traditional methods struggle to match.

If you're in high-volume manufacturing or precision fabrication, and you want consistent, clean welds with minimal rework, keep reading. The solution may be simpler—and more powerful—than you think.

Which type of welding is best for long continuous welds and is the most common type of industrial welding?

Long welds across thin metals, especially in automotive and appliance industries, often crack or distort when done with arc welding. This results in waste and rework. The solution? Shift to a more advanced, stable process that can handle long runs without overheating or inconsistencies.

For long continuous welds, fiber laser welding using continuous-wave technology is ideal. In industrial settings, it’s fast becoming the preferred method over arc welding, especially where quality and speed matter.

Why Fiber Laser is Replacing Traditional Welding in Industry

Fiber laser welding offers unmatched precision and speed. Unlike SMAW or MIG, fiber laser creates a narrower heat-affected zone (HAZ), which reduces thermal stress and deformation.

Comparison Table

In our work at Kirin Laser, we’ve helped many clients in industrial automation³ move from MIG or TIG to fiber laser. The improvement in productivity alone often justifies the investment.

Why can't most SMA welding machines be used continuously?

Stick welders (SMAW) are widely used for their simplicity, but they come with major limitations in long-run welding. The rod-based system and downtime between electrode changes make them inefficient for continuous production.

SMA welding machines aren’t ideal for continuous welding because of rod consumption, slag removal, and frequent stops, making them too slow and inconsistent for industrial production.

Understanding SMAW's Core Limitations

SMAW⁴ uses consumable electrodes that burn away as you weld. That means frequent stops to replace rods. For operations requiring long, uninterrupted seams—like automotive frames or stainless steel pipes—this is unacceptable.

Issues with SMAW for Continuous Welds

• Interruptions: Electrodes last only a few inches of weld, needing replacement.
• Slag buildup: Slag needs to be cleaned manually after every run.
• Operator fatigue: Manual handling reduces consistency across shifts.
• Thermal variation: Hard to maintain uniform penetration and bead quality.

We’ve seen manufacturers try to scale with SMAW, only to hit a wall when consistency and speed matter. One client producing metal containers faced delays and defects using stick welders. After transitioning to a fiber laser welding⁵ setup, their line throughput improved by over 60%.

Which type of welding is known for using a continuously fed wire electrode?

Wire-fed welding systems are better suited for automation and long runs. Among them, MIG welding stands out for general fabrication. But even MIG has limits in precision and weld quality, especially on thinner metals.

MIG welding is known for using a continuously fed wire electrode. It allows more continuous operation than SMAW but still falls short compared to fiber laser welding in precision and long-term cost-efficiency.

MIG vs. Fiber Laser for Continuous Welding

MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding feeds a consumable wire to the weld pool while protecting it with gas. It’s widely used in assembly lines. However, MIG⁶ produces spatter, requires post-cleaning, and struggles with thinner materials.

Where MIG Falls Short

At Kirin Laser, we often guide clients transitioning from MIG to fiber laser for exactly these reasons. The difference in quality and automation is immediate. A client in kitchenware manufacturing reduced post-weld grinding labor by 80% after switching.

Should I learn TIG or MIG welding?

If you’re getting into welding or scaling your production, your learning path depends on the materials, volume, and finish quality. MIG is easier to learn and good for general jobs. TIG is more precise but harder to master. But what if your goal is industrial automation or OEM production?

For manual skills, start with MIG for simplicity. But if your goal is scalable, high-quality production, laser welding knowledge—especially fiber laser—is more valuable long term.

The Manual vs. Automated Divide

Welding education often emphasizes manual skills. But the industry is moving toward automation. At Kirin Laser, we see this shift every day—factories replacing TIG welders⁹ with fiber laser¹⁰ stations that reduce human error.

Summary of Learning Path Decision

Learning TIG or MIG¹¹ is useful for understanding the fundamentals. But if I were starting again with today’s technology, I’d focus on laser welding systems. They’re faster to learn with the right interface, and they match the needs of precision manufacturing.

Conclusion

Continuous welding demands more than just a strong arc—it requires precision, speed, and repeatability. While traditional methods like SMAW and MIG have their place, they fall short in modern production. Fiber laser welding machines¹², especially those using continuous-wave technology, offer a cleaner, faster, and more consistent alternative. At Kirin Laser, we’ve seen our partners improve quality and throughput by upgrading to fiber laser systems. If you’re looking to future-proof your welding capabilities, this is the path forward.