Estimating the costs of depositing weld metal can be a difficult task because of the many variables involved. Design engineers must specify the type and size of weld joint to withstand the loads that the weldment must bear. The welding engineer must select the welding process, and type of filler metal that will provide the required welds at the least possible cost. With the cost of operations rising, selection of the process that deposits weld metal most expediently must be carefully considered. Labor and overhead account for approximately 85% of the total welding cost. Power costs usually account for less than 1%; therefore, approximately 14% of the cost of the job is related to the welding process selected.

Topics: Cost of Shielded Metal Arc Welding Cost of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Cost of Gas Metal Arc Welding Cost of Flux Cored Arc Welding Labor, Power, and Overhead Costs Electrode, Filler Metal, Shielding Gas Costs Various Cost Comparisons Manual vs. Automatic welding.

Intended Audience: This course is intended for Mechanical, Civil, Water Resources, Project Managers, Cost Estimators, Quality Control Engineers, and other engineers whose job description may require a basic knowledge of welding cost estimation methods. Publication Source: US Navy (NAVEDTRA)