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May 2026
Feature Articles
Mastering Armor Steel Welding for Combat Vehicles
Modern ground combat vehicles are being redesigned for a battlefield that demands lighter, smarter, and tougher platforms. This shift has accelerated the use of high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) quenched-and-tempered armor steels, such as MIL-DTL-12560 rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) and MIL-DTL-46100 high hardness armor (HHA).
see moreWelding Aluminum for the Aerospace Industry
Welding aluminum is challenging. Welding it for aerospace? Even more so. Meeting quality requirements and specifications is more difficult than in most other industries. The aerospace industry only resorts to welding when other options are unfeasible.
see morePrecision Aluminum Welding: Tips and Tricks for Micro Applications
Aluminum is widely used in manufacturing because of its strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. But the characteristics that make it so desirable also make it notoriously difficult to weld, particularly at micro scales (<1 mm in joint penetration and weld width).
see moreA First Look at AWS D1.2/D1.2M:2026, Structural Welding Code — Aluminum
As material science has advanced, aluminum is increasingly being used in applications once dominated by steel or wood. Aluminum weighs about one-third as much as steel, making it easier to transport, lift, and install. At the same time, modern aluminum alloys offer high strength-to-weight ratios, enabling their use in buildings, bridges, roofs, and other structures.
see moreEducation 411
Jabil Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla., a global engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions provider, will donate $1.1 million over three years to St. Petersburg College (SPC) in Florida to support the development of its advanced manufacturing training programs.
see more4943 Filler Metal: A Fresh Beginning
For more than half a century, 4043 aluminum has been one of the most commonly used filler metals in the industry. Many consider it a true workhorse, valued for its smooth weld pool, clean appearance, and excellent resistance to hot cracking.
see moreStainless Q&A
Q: In Certified Welding Inspector training, I’m often asked what weathering steel is and whether it is a type of stainless steel. Should it be welded with typical stainless steel filler metals, such as ER308?
see moreConnecting Past Lessons to Future Success at the Welding Automation Expo and Conference
“It works!” exclaimed Dave, a senior welding engineer from a large equipment manufacturer, as he watched the runoff of his company’s million‑dollar robotic welding system at Wolf Robotics in 2011. He was excited and relieved because he had lived the nightmare of a failed robotic welding system 26 years before.
see moreNews and Updates
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see moreNews of the Inudstry
After winning the AWS WorldSkills USA Weld-Off Competition, Mikala Sposito will be the first woman to represent the United States in the welding competition at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, to be held September 22–27 in Shanghai, China.
see morePublication Archive
View past issues of our magazines, including Welding Journal Research Supplement in PDF format.