Patent ID: 8129649

Claim:
A method for welding two metallic workpieces wherein at least one of the workpieces to be welded has an open cross-section, comprising the steps of: moving the two workpieces together wherein the open cross-section of the at least one workpiece is bridged by a metallic auxiliary part to form a conducting closed region; activating a magnetic field of a magnet coil system and obtaining a current required for welding; placing the two workpieces with a defined spacing and igniting an electric arc wherein the magnetic field of the magnet coil system sets the electric arc in rotation, and end surfaces of the two workpieces to be welded are uniformly heated; and thereafter pressing the end surfaces of the two workpieces against one another, wherein an open surface region of the metallic auxiliary part is not pressed, or pressed only very lightly, against an opposite surface of the one workpiece having an open cross-section.