What are the three basic types of arc welding equipment? Describe each one of them.

The three basic types of arc welding equipment are: 1. Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW): Also known as stick welding, SMAW uses a consumable electrode coated with flux. The electrode is manually held and melted to create the weld joint. The flux coating provides a shielding gas to protect the weld from atmospheric contamination. 2. Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW): Commonly known as MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding, GMAW uses a continuous wire electrode that is fed through a welding gun. A shielding gas, such as argon or a mixture of gases, is also used to protect the weld from oxidation. GMAW is versatile and widely used in various applications. 3. Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW): Also known as TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, GTAW uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to create the weld joint. A separate filler metal may be used if needed. A shielding gas, typically argon, is used to protect the weld from contamination. GTAW produces high-quality welds and is commonly used for precision welding. These are the three basic types of arc welding equipment commonly used in various industries and applications.