Stud welding is a welding process that attaches threaded studs, pins (such as insulation nails), or washers (such as grounding terminals) to metal plates using an arc that requires no additional materials.
The term *arc requiring no additional materials* means the welding arc ignites and discharges without the assistance of other ignition mediums.
However, in some cases, protective media may be needed to improve molten pool formation. For example, gas-shielded stud welding requires inert gas to shield the arc from air, while ceramic ferrule stud welding uses a ceramic ring to shape the molten pool.
Stud welding can be divided into two main categories: *capacitor discharge stud welding* and *drawn arc stud welding*.
