Insights
October 5, 2025 · 5 min read · Materials
Dissimilar Thinking • Episode 4
Application Engineering
Your Industry-Specific Guide to Production-Ready Percussion Welding
📚 Series Recap: Ep1: Breaking Rules • Ep2: Material Matrix • Ep3: Inside the Arc
"This looks great in the lab. But will it pass FDA validation?"
That's the question every engineering manager asks when evaluating a new manufacturing process. And it's the right question—because the gap between "cool technology" and "production-qualified process" is where most innovations go to die.
We've spent three episodes explaining how percussion welding works. Now it's time to talk about where it works—and more importantly, how to make it work in YOUR specific industry.
Because here's the reality: A medical device engineer and an automotive production manager care about completely different things.
What This Episode Covers:
- Medical Devices
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Electronics
- Defense
- Advanced Electrical
Chapter 02 / 09
Medical Devices
When human lives depend on your welds, "pretty good" isn't good enough. Medical device manufacturing demands the highest levels of reliability, cleanliness, biocompatibility, and documentation.
Primary Medical Applications
Implantable Device Leads
Pacemaker electrodes, neurostimulator connections, cochlear implant wiring
Critical requirement: Biocompatible materials, fatigue resistance
Surgical Instruments
Endoscopic tool connections, robotic surgery components, minimally invasive device assemblies
Critical requirement: Sterilization compatibility, no crevices for contamination
Diagnostic Sensors
Blood glucose sensor electrodes, temperature probes, pressure transducers
Critical requirement: Electrical stability, body fluid resistance, minimal HAZ to preserve sensor characteristics
Medical Device Pre-Production Checklist
☐ Material biocompatibility certificates obtained ☐ Process FMEA completed ☐ IQ/OQ/PQ protocols written and approved ☐ Operator training program developed ☐ Destructive test methods validated ☐ Statistical process control (SPC) plan established ☐ Traceability system implemented (serial numbers/lot codes) ☐ Maintenance and calibration schedule created
Want to see it on your parts?
Send samples and we'll run test welds before you commit.
Chapter 03 / 09
Automotive
Automotive manufacturing is all about volume and speed.
Primary Automotive Applications
Temperature Sensors
Type K thermocouples (Chromel-Alumel), exhaust gas temperature sensors, coolant temp sensors
Battery Assembly
Aluminum-to-copper tabs for EV batteries, battery management system connections
Lighting Components
LED connection leads, headlight bulb assemblies, adaptive lighting actuators
ADAS Sensor Components
Radar sensor connections, camera module assemblies, LiDAR component joining
Requirement: Electrical stability, EMI resistance
Chapter 04 / 09
Aerospace
Percussion welding is used in aerospace applications. Ask us about your specific requirement.
Chapter 05 / 09
Evaluating Percussion Welding for Your Application
Schedule Application Engineering Consultation
Bring your specifications and we can run test samples on your materials.
Previous Episode
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Episode 5: Process Optimization & Production Scale-Up →
About Percussion Welder
Led by Collin Eidsness, MTI MicroWelding designs, manufactures and supports percussion welding equipment.
Want to see it on your parts?
Send samples and we'll run test welds before you commit.
Chapter 06 / 09
Electronics Manufacturing
Electronics manufacturing demands precision at micro-scale, thermal sensitivity for delicate components, and reliability over millions of cycles. Percussion welding's minimal heat input and sub-3-millisecond process times make it particularly well-suited for applications where traditional welding would damage surrounding electronics.
Primary Electronics Applications
Sensor Assemblies
Temperature sensors, pressure transducers, flow meters, position sensors
Battery Contacts & Terminals
Lithium battery tab welding, battery management system connections, power distribution terminals
Thermal Sensitivity Considerations
Percussion welding has a minimal heat-affected zone, but electronics may still contain components that can be damaged by heat.
⚠️ When NOT to Use Percussion Welding
While percussion welding has minimal thermal impact, it's not suitable for every electronics application. Avoid percussion welding when:
- Working with extremely fragile substrates (thin glass, brittle ceramics) where mechanical impact could cause damage
- Joining materials where even minimal heat input could cause problems (some adhesive-bonded assemblies, low-melting-point solder joints nearby)
- Applications requiring wire bonding-level precision
For guidance on your specific application, contact our application engineering team.
Chapter 07 / 09
Defense & Military
Defense applications demand reliability in the harshest environments, from desert heat to arctic cold, from high G-forces to electromagnetic pulses.
⚠️ Important Note on Defense Applications
This section provides general information about percussion welding in defense manufacturing. Specific military specifications, ITAR-controlled applications, and classified programs require specialized compliance support. We recommend working with your program's manufacturing engineering team and quality representatives to ensure all requirements are met. We can provide technical support for the welding process itself, but cannot provide guidance on program-specific military specifications or security requirements.
Common Defense Applications
Communication Systems
RF antenna connections, encrypted radio components, field-replaceable connectors
Typical requirement: Resistance to shock, vibration, temperature extremes, EMI hardening
Vehicle & Platform Electronics
Sensor systems, power distribution, battery management for military vehicles and aircraft
Power & Energy Systems
Battery assemblies, power converters, energy storage connections
Advantage: High conductivity joints, vibration resistance, no consumables to manage in field environments
Working with Defense Programs
If you're considering percussion welding for a defense application:
- Start with your program requirements — We can help you understand how percussion welding aligns with your specifications, but you'll need to validate compliance with your quality team.
- Run qualification samples early — We can provide test welds using your materials and proposed parameters.
- Plan for documentation needs — We can support with process documentation, but program-specific qualification plans should be developed with your team.
- Consider security requirements — For ITAR-controlled or classified programs, discuss any special requirements upfront.
We're here to support the welding process; your manufacturing engineering and quality teams are the experts on program requirements.
Chapter 08 / 09
Advanced Electrical Components
When electrical conductivity and resistance are critical specifications, percussion welding is a good candidate: it uses no filler, flux or solder, and the joint has low electrical resistance.
Primary Electrical Applications
Bus Bar Assemblies
Power distribution, switchgear connections, high-current pathways
Typical materials: Copper-to-copper, Aluminum-to-copper, Silver-plated copper
Electrical Contacts
Relay contacts, switch assemblies, circuit breaker components
Typical materials: Tungsten-to-copper
Requirement: Arc resistance, wear resistance, low and stable contact resistance
Grounding & Bonding
Grounding straps, EMI shielding connections, chassis bonds
Precision Instruments
Lab equipment connections, measurement device assemblies, calibration standards
Requirement: Dimensional stability, predictable resistance, minimal thermal drift
Getting Started with Electrical Applications
If you're evaluating percussion welding for electrical components:
1 Define your electrical requirements Maximum resistance, current capacity, voltage withstand, environmental conditions 2 Send us samples We'll run test welds on your materials 3 Validate in your application Test weld samples in your assembly, measure performance under operating conditions 4 Scale to production Once validated, move to production
Want to see it on your parts?
Send samples and we'll run test welds before you commit.
Chapter 09 / 09
Test Your Application
Bring us your materials, your specs, your toughest requirements. We'll show you what percussion welding can do. Then YOU can decide if it's the right solution to qualify for your production.
What You'll Get (No Charge):
✓ Test welds on YOUR materials
✓ Waveform data & parameters
✓ Samples for YOUR testing ✓ Technical specs documentation
✓ Honest assessment of fit
✓ Direct access to Collin
We sell welding equipment and provide technical support. You own your qualification process. Let's work together.
Part of: Dissimilar Metal Joining
More on dissimilar metal joining
Dissimilar Metals Guide →FAQ
What is percussion welding?
A heat-plus-impact process for joining metals.
An electric arc supplies the heat, then a rapid mechanical movement forces the two materials together, forming a full metallic bond with no filler.
Do I need filler metal, solder or flux?
No. There's no filler, solder or flux, and no electrodes to wear out.
That means cleaner joints, less waste, and no consumables to buy.
How do I know if my materials can be welded?
Start with the Parameter Finder or the weld schedules table.
If your pair isn't listed, tell us your weld challenge. We'll reply with a straight answer about whether percussion welding is a fit, and how.
Still have a question? Tell us your weld challenge and an engineer will reply.
Start here
Share what you're joining and what's going wrong. We'll tell you straight whether percussion welding is a fit.
Prefer to talk? Book a demo or call 303-536-7838
