Welding is a fabrication process that joins common materials such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and others by melting the base material and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to become a strong joint. There are numerous welding processes, including Gas Metal Arc (GMAW or MIG), Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW), Shielded Metal Arc (SMAW or stick), Tungsten Inert Gas (GTAW or TIG), resistance (spot) welding, and others to cover the broad range of material and process applications.