Welding machines are used to permanently connect metal pieces with heat generated from electrical energy. They are available in a variety of sizes and output voltages, from a small hobby model with an 80-amp output to an industrial model with a 12,000-amp output for spot welding.
An electrode is a coated metal wire. It is made of materials similar to the metal being welded. ... In shield metal arc welding (SMAW) also known as stick, electrodes are consumable, which means that the electrode is consumed during its use and melts with the weld.