The MIG plug welds, or "puddle welds" should be made after drilling 8 mm (5/16 in) holes and should be staggered
12.5 mm (0.5 in) apart following the centerline of the lap and should be alternating above and below the centerline
9.5 mm (3/8 in.).
In the lap-jointed area, staggered MIG plug welds (1) are used to augment the joint and all edges of the lapped
panel seam (2) should be completely welded.
Types of Welding
Squeeze Type Resistant Spot Welding (STRSW)
• STRSW relies on the resistance of the material being welded to create heat as a current is passed through.
The materials being welded are squeezed together, and as current passes through, resistance causes heat
buildup. The force of the tips and the heat from the current allow the materials to fuse together. The current is
removed and the force from the welding tips is held during a cool down cycle. When the cool down cycle is
complete, the pressure is released and the next weld is positioned.
• Learning how to create weld coupons, refer to
Test Weld Coupon and then performing a destructive test using
these coupons, is the key to successfully using STRSW. FCA US LLC requires a physical test using test cou-
pons and the methods outlined in this document to test welds prior to making repairs.
• Tip condition is very important for producing proper welds. Inspect tips often and either dress or change per
equipment manufacturer recommendations.
• High-quality welding equipment must be used or welds may be inadequate. Also, the equipment must be able
to produce repeatable welds from the beginning of the repair to the end.
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) or (MIG(
• GMAW is an arc welding process where the electrode wire is fed through a weld gun and is surrounded by a
shielding gas. The term MIG comes from early uses on aluminum where argon was used as shielding gas and
Plug Weld Layout
1 - MIG PLUG WELDS
2 - MIG SEAM WELD
31 - 30 31 - Collision Information RU
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