What is the purpose of arc brazing welding (ABW)?

Arc brazing welding (ABW) utilizes an electric arc as a heat source specifically to join metals. This welding process employs the arc to raise the temperature of the metal pieces being joined along with a filler material, enabling the metals to bond without completely melting the base materials. The intense heat generated by the electric arc allows for sufficient melt of the filler material, which then flows into the joint and solidifies to form a strong connection.

While other options mention aspects related to welding, they do not accurately describe the specific purpose of ABW. For instance, creating strong mechanical ties without melting the base metal pertains more to braze welding techniques generally, where the base metal is not melted, but this doesn't specifically encapsulate the use of an electric arc which is central to ABW. Additionally, combining two metals without any filler material would relate more to processes like solid-state welding, and cutting metal using electrical heat relates to processes like plasma cutting rather than brazing. Thus, the correct understanding of ABW centers on its unique application of electric arc as a heat source to facilitate the brazing process.