The Welding Society √

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The Sad Story..

GMAW wire classification:

ERXXS-Y

ER = Electrode or rod
XX = Tensile in 1,000
S = Solid wire
Y = Chemical composition

FCAW wire classification:

EXXT-XX-JXHX

E = Electrode
X = Tensile in 10,000
X = Welding position
T = Tubular wire
X = Usability (polarity)
X = Shielding gas type

The JXHX usually does not concern welders.

In welding; the electrode is part of the electrical circuit. It can be consumable or non consumable. GMAW, FCAW, and SMAW use consumable electrodes. GTAW uses an non consumable electrode (tungsten). In SMAW, the electrode is coated with a flux that provides a shield from the atmosphere, helps to stabilize the arc, burn off rate, adds alloys to the weld, and provides slag to cover the weld and slow the cooling rate. In FCAW, the flux is placed inside a tubular wire (electrode) and may be supplemented by an external gas shield. In GMAW the electrode is a consumable solid wire and the shield is provided by an external source. In GTAW the electrode the electrode is non consumable and the shield is supplied by an external source.
So....the electrode and shield pretty much determines the type of process. And, the size of electrode is determined (usually) by the thickness of steel to be welded.
AWS has an electrode classification for all electrodes. I will leave that up to others to provide the classification system for electrodes in GMAW, SMAW, GTAW, and FCAW.