# Welding Settings API
> Welding settings and consumables maths as an API, computed locally and deterministically — the amperage, wire and gas numbers a welder or fabricator dials a machine in with. (For joint strength, that is a separate weld-strength calculation.) The amperage endpoint gives a starting current from material thickness using the mild-steel rule of thumb of about one amp per 0.001 inch — so an eighth-inch plate runs around 125 A, give or take ten percent — and suggests an electrode or wire size to match. The deposition endpoint does the MIG arithmetic exactly: deposition rate (lb/hr) = wire feed speed × the wire’s weight per inch × 60 × efficiency, where weight per inch = (π/4 · d²) × 0.284 lb/in³ for steel, so 0.035-inch wire at 300 in/min lays down about 4.9 lb/hr fed, 4.8 deposited at 98 % — and from a target deposit it returns the arc time and the pounds of wire to buy. The gas endpoint sizes shielding gas: gas used (ft³) = flow in CFH × arc time in hours, and a cylinder’s arc-time duration, so 35 CFH empties an 80 ft³ bottle in about 2.3 hours of actual arc time. Everything is computed locally and deterministically, so it is instant and private. Ideal for welding, metal-fabrication, manufacturing and shop-management app developers, job-costing and consumable-planning tools, and welding-education software. Pure local computation — no key, no third-party service, instant. Machine settings, not joint strength. Live, nothing stored. 3 compute endpoints.

## Authentication
All requests require your oanor API key in the `x-oanor-key` header. Get one at https://www.oanor.com/developer/keys.

```bash
curl -H "x-oanor-key: oanor_live_…" "https://api.oanor.com/welding-api/..."
```

## Pricing
- **Free** (Free) — 6,600 calls/Mo, 2 req/s
- **Starter** ($4/Mo) — 52,800 calls/Mo, 6 req/s
- **Pro** ($12/Mo) — 218,500 calls/Mo, 15 req/s
- **Mega** ($39/Mo) — 1,290,000 calls/Mo, 40 req/s

## Endpoints

### Welding

#### `GET /v1/amperage` — Amperage from thickness

**Parameters:**
- `thickness` (query, required, string) — Material thickness Example: `0.125`
- `unit` (query, optional, string) — in or mm (default in) Example: `in`

**Example:**
```bash
curl -H "x-oanor-key: $KEY" \
  "https://api.oanor.com/welding-api/v1/amperage?thickness=0.125&unit=in"
```

**Response:**
```json
{
    "data": {
        "note": "Mild-steel rule of thumb: about 1 amp per 0.001\" of thickness (so 1/8\" ≈ 125 A), ±10 %. Match electrode/wire size to thickness up to ~1/8\". Thick sections need multiple passes; aluminium and stainless run differently. A starting point — tune to penetration and bead.",
        "inputs": {
            "unit": "in",
            "thickness": 0.125
        },
        "thickness_in": 0.125,
        "amperage_range": "113-138 A",
        "recommended_amps": 125,
        "suggested_electrode_in": 0.125
    },
    "meta": {
        "timestamp": "2026-06-06T07:14:00.715Z",
        "request_id": "2d40e65d-6585-4b19-8d9f-30aed0fd0749"
    },
    "status": "ok",
    "message": "Amperage",
    "success": true
}
```

#### `GET /v1/deposition` — MIG wire deposition + usage

**Parameters:**
- `wire_feed_ipm` (query, required, string) — Wire feed speed (in/min) Example: `300`
- `wire_diameter_in` (query, optional, string) — Wire diameter (in, default 0.035) Example: `0.035`
- `efficiency` (query, optional, string) — Deposition efficiency (default 0.98) Example: `0.98`
- `deposit_lb` (query, optional, string) — Target deposited weight (lb) for time/wire Example: `5`

**Example:**
```bash
curl -H "x-oanor-key: $KEY" \
  "https://api.oanor.com/welding-api/v1/deposition?wire_feed_ipm=300&wire_diameter_in=0.035&efficiency=0.98&deposit_lb=5"
```

**Response:**
```json
{
    "data": {
        "note": "Deposition = wire feed speed × wire weight per inch × 60 × efficiency. Wire weight/inch = (π/4 · d²) × 0.284 lb/in³ for steel. Solid MIG deposits ~98 % of the wire fed; flux-cored and spatter lower it.",
        "inputs": {
            "efficiency": 0.98,
            "wire_feed_ipm": 300,
            "wire_diameter_in": 0.035
        },
        "deposit_lb": 5,
        "arc_time_hr": 1.037,
        "wire_lb_per_ft": 0.0033,
        "wire_needed_lb": 5.102,
        "wire_fed_lb_per_hr": 4.918,
        "deposition_rate_lb_per_hr": 4.82
    },
    "meta": {
        "timestamp": "2026-06-06T07:14:00.800Z",
        "request_id": "6018cc76-c3f9-4bda-ad61-013a71e8e42a"
    },
    "status": "ok",
    "message": "Deposition",
    "success": true
}
```

#### `GET /v1/gas` — Shielding-gas consumption

**Parameters:**
- `flow_cfh` (query, required, string) — Gas flow (CFH) Example: `35`
- `arc_minutes` (query, optional, string) — Arc time (min) for gas used Example: `30`
- `cylinder_cf` (query, optional, string) — Cylinder size (ft³) for duration Example: `80`

**Example:**
```bash
curl -H "x-oanor-key: $KEY" \
  "https://api.oanor.com/welding-api/v1/gas?flow_cfh=35&arc_minutes=30&cylinder_cf=80"
```

**Response:**
```json
{
    "data": {
        "note": "Gas used = flow (CFH) × arc time in hours. A typical 35 CFH at the gun empties an 80 ft³ cylinder in about 2.3 hours of ARC time (not clock time). Crank flow down in a draught-free shop to save gas.",
        "inputs": {
            "flow_cfh": 35
        },
        "arc_minutes": 30,
        "cylinder_cf": 80,
        "gas_used_cf": 17.5,
        "cylinder_arc_hours": 2.29,
        "cylinder_arc_minutes": 137
    },
    "meta": {
        "timestamp": "2026-06-06T07:14:00.891Z",
        "request_id": "116862d7-ecd3-48ed-9ed9-108698af63a0"
    },
    "status": "ok",
    "message": "Shielding gas",
    "success": true
}
```

### Meta

#### `GET /v1/meta` — Spec

**Example:**
```bash
curl -H "x-oanor-key: $KEY" \
  "https://api.oanor.com/welding-api/v1/meta"
```

**Response:**
```json
{
    "data": {
        "notes": "Machine settings and consumables, NOT joint strength — for fillet-weld capacity use a weld-strength API. Steel filler density 0.284 lb/in³. Amperage is a mild-steel rule of thumb; deposition and gas are exact. Tune to your material, position and procedure.",
        "service": "welding-api",
        "endpoints": {
            "GET /v1/gas": "Shielding-gas used and cylinder duration from flow and arc time.",
            "GET /v1/meta": "This document.",
            "GET /v1/amperage": "Recommended amperage and electrode size from material thickness (mild steel).",
            "GET /v1/deposition": "MIG wire deposition rate, wire weight and wire/arc-time for a target deposit."
        },
        "description": "Welding settings & consumables: recommended amperage from thickness, MIG wire deposition & usage, and shielding-gas consumption."
    },
    "meta": {
        "timestamp": "2026-06-06T07:14:00.983Z",
        "request_id": "30430143-a0e0-4184-a43c-e1b7043a86d5"
    },
    "status": "ok",
    "message": "Meta",
    "success": true
}
```


---
Marketplace page: https://www.oanor.com/api/welding-api
OpenAPI spec: https://www.oanor.com/api/welding-api/openapi.json