Fundamentals – Welding Power Supply Design

So far in this series, we have reviewed the fundamentals of weld cracks (Summer Edition, 2025), weld metal porosity (Fall Edition, 2025), surface discontinuities (Winter Edition, 2025), and the fundamentals of mechanical properties in welds - Charpy V-Notch (CVN) properties (Spring Edition, 2026).

While the previous articles addressed metallurgy and welding defects, this article will focus on welding machine differences and designs. Particular emphasis will be placed on generational differences among power sources and how modern technologies have expanded process capabilities.