Joints

Lap Joints
A lap joint is formed by overlapping two plates and welding them either in the joint where they meet, as is done in GTAW and PAW, or through the top plate and into the bottom plate. This is usually done using either an electron beam or laser welder.

Tee Joints
Tee joints are used when one part must be joined to the center of another part forming a "T". Like the other types of weld, there are several ways that this joint can be prepared and welded, each with their own benefits and disadvantages.

Corner Joints
As its name implies, this joint is used to connect two parts together to form a corner. This weld type is extremely useful and can be preformed with either a high or low energy density welder. There are a total of four common sub types of corner joint, each, as usual, with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Butt Joint
One of the most common types of weld joints in manufacturing is the butt joint. This joint is formed when the two pieces to be welded are simply placed face to face and the welding head run over it.

Flange Joints
When very thin plates, foils or diaphragms need to be welded, it is often unfeasible to use either a butt joint or even a lap joint, on the grounds that even a minimal amount of power would burn through the pieces. In this case, a flange joint is employed.