REFLECTION: Reading this article about Submerged Arc Welding by Xometry helped give me a lot more specific details on how this process of welding works. To begin the article gives you the history, which I think it helps when things are explained in chronological order. Throughout the history it explains how it was used during wartimes and that is how it started to become more popular, and people started making it better, primarily by changing the flux. They also make a point to say that is primarily used for large structural welds. I also appreciate the detail the give for the tools and materials you would need to complete these weld process. This article helps someone new to SAW get a good idea of what the process actually is.

CITATION: “Submerged Arc Welding (SAW): Definition, Purpose, and How It Works.” Xometrys RSS, Xometry, 5 June 2025, www.xometry.com/resources/sheet/submerged-arc-welding-saw/.

Last accessed article 3:00 PM 30 Sep. 2025

REFLECTION: In this article, by Simm Sild, he gives a very detailed summarization on SAW while also giving the basic definition at first, which I think is very helpful. He explains that SAW utilizes a layer of flux powered that provides shielding and slag, resulting in a clean and smooth weld, and then elaborates further on how different fluxes produce clean welds. He also goes over how they choose electrode wire, or filler metal, based on size and the type of metal. Sild also describes the metals than can be used with this weld process. I also appreciate that he added that SAW is limited to a flat position, fitting better or geometric objects, one's with straight lines.

CITATION: Sild, Simm. “Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) Explained.” Fractory, 9 Aug. 2024, fractory.com/submerged-arc-welding-explained/.

Last accessed 7:29 PM 3 Oct. 2025

REFLECTION: In my opinion, Jeff Grill does an amazing job describing the full process of SAW. In the beginning of the article he has a video of the SAW process, which I think really helps draw someone in who hasn't read about this subject before. I also like how he sorted the rest of the article because most things go into the next. I also believe he put the most important information on the top as well and I think that helps a lot as well. The pictures and diagrams being used also played a huge part in keeping me engaged with all of the detailed information Grill added to his article.

CITATION: Chattopadhyaya, Somnath. “Submerged Arc Welding (SAW).” Weld Guru, 22 Jan. 2024, weldguru.com/submerged-arc-welding/.

Last accessed 8:24 PM 3 Oct. 2025

REFLECTION: This article, written by Kristi R. Britt gives an overview of how the SAW process improved the production time at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. She interviews several employees as well to further prove her point. Code 138.2 Weld Engineer Rick Gorman made a point to say that the SAW system helped them in 3 main ways, better, cleaner welds, safety for the employees, and production time. Britt clearly describes how they would have 7 employees in one shift using their old method and I think that paints a very good picture when she explains that they only take 2 employees to use SAW. She also talked to Gorman about cleaning the weld with the last process, and I think them highlighting that cleaning is one of the longest parts of the welding process, not just pulling the weld. I also appreciate that they acknowledged the safety benefits to their employees as a part in their decision to use SAW

CITATION: Britt, Kristi R. “Norfolk Naval Shipyard Implements Use of Submerged Arc Welding for Shafting Repairs.” DVIDS, 1 Aug. 2025, www.dvidshub.net/news/544520/norfolk-naval-shipyard-implements-use-submerged-arc-welding-shafting-repairs.

Last accessed article: 7:12 PM 3 Oct. 2025

REFLECTION: The video begins with the interview with Jason Becker. He goes over some personal information to show students that what you plan to do with your life can always change. In my opinion, this is smart to talk about so teens and young adults don't think they are stuck forever. He begins to talk about how he got into welding, and then eventually SAW. Jason then goes over the control panel, explaining that each knob does something different and that there is a lot more to program than a normal welder, which is good to add. An important point they briefly talk about is the chemistry behind flux and the electrode wire. Jason also mentions Semi-Automatic Submerged Arc Welders that are hand held SAWs that are also used.They proceed to show a full weld and how the slag falls right off, which means the weld settings are perfect. Jason then covers several different things that the welder can also do to close the video, which I think is very smart because it makes the viewer want to learn more on the subject.

CITATION: Weld.com. “Sub Arc Welding.” YouTube, Weld.com & YouTube, 18 Jan. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cmhZ992twY.

REFLECTION: In the beginning of the video LJ Welding lists some of the major advantages of the SAW including the quicker cycle times, high deposition rates, and that it is significantly safer. He then goes over the different power sources/machines that will run SAW including Lincoln, Miller, and ESAB. LJ Welding then shows a diagram of a SAW machine with labels. After that he goes over the types of subarc heads and the storage for the wire to go. He proceeds to go over the different flux compartments you can add to the machine and the potential to add a camera. He then goes over all of the different laser features you can to the machine to help with productivity. He then goes over the different control panels and chassis as well. He included several pictures and video clips to help explain what machine parts he was talking about which helped.

CITATION: Automation, LJ Welding. “Submerged Arc Welding Systems With Advanced Weldability Features.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 June 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=27kIWGzwsDI.

REFLECTION: In the beginning of the video, Modi Mechanical shows a diagram of SAW and explains what everything is. This allows the viewer to follow along with what explanation goes to which item on the diagram. He proceeds to give a definition of what SAW is with the diagram, making it easier to understand. He proceeds to explain how the arc in SAW is struck beneath a thick, granulated, flux coating trapping the molten weld pool under the flux and not allowing any contaminants from the atmosphere. He then gives a description of how the machine works, like the flux tube being ahead of the electrode, the flux shielding the weld, and that the wire is bare, or uncoated. Then he begins to describe what is needed to operate the SAW process, like preparing the edge of the work metal, a better description of what happens during the process to the weld pool, that slag is created from the weld pool and flux and comes to the top, and that the unused flux gets sucked back into the machine with a vacuum to be reused. He then closes the video going over his opinion to the advantages and disadvantages of this welding process. In my opinion giving a full description makes this a very good beginner video.

CITATION: Engineering Tutorials, Modi Mechanical. “Submerged Arc Welding (Understand Easily) | Submerged Arc Welding Explained | Process | Principle.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 Sept. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOwmi-GcvwA.

REFLECTION: In this blog post, Marc gives an explanation of what the SAW welding process is, and what he sees as advantages and disadvantages to the process. In the very beginning her gives a table of contents for all of the headings in his blog post, which I think is very smart and makes it easy to navigate to what you are trying to read. Marc provides pictures, diagrams, and bullet points to explain what SAW is, it is brief but straight to the point because the article is not about what it is, but the advantages and disadvantages to the process. In the advantages he goes over the details of the of the high efficiency rates, the thick metal it can quickly work on, and how much safer it is. In the disadvantages he goes over the low versatility in position, the high initial investment of the product, and the immense training and safety you need to learn to use this welding process. He closes the blog post by saying that no other weld process can compare to SAW with its efficiency rates with thick metal.

CITATION: Marc. “Submerged Arc Welding Advantages and Disadvantages.” SENLISWELD, 27 Nov. 2024, www.senlisweld.com/submerged-arc-welding-advantages-and-disadvantages/.