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Wire motion
Gas nozzle
Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter, you will be able to: 1 Contrast the various GMAW metal transfer methods, considering arc characteristics, weld characteristics, and the possibility of performing out-of-position welds. 1 Select the proper arc welding machine, wire feeder, shielding gas, flow rate, contact tube, nozzle size, and electrode wire type to produce an acceptable GMA weld. 1 Contrast the various types of shielding gases used when GMAW, and how they affect the shape and penetration of the completed welds. 1 Properly assemble and adjust all the equipment required to produce an acceptable GMA and FCA weld. 1 Correctly prepare metals for welding, and perform acceptable welds on all types of joints in all positions using GMAW and FCAW. 1 Identify the potential safety hazards involved in the GMAW and FCAW process in a working environment; be able to describe ways of safely dealing with these hazards. 1 Be able to pass a safety test on the proper use of the GMAW and FCAW process.
feeders has made GMAW more useful. Welding using GMAW is easy to learn, especially if a welder has already learned to weld using a different process. GMAW equipment is relatively low in cost. Also, this process deposits more weld metal in lbs./hr. (kg/hr) than the shielded metal arc or gas tungsten arc welding processes. The low purchase cost, the ability to weld continuously, and the ability to deposit weld metal faster, make GMAW an attractive choice for welding. GMAW can be used to produce high-quality welds on all commercially important metals such as aluminum, magnesium, stainless steels, carbon and alloy steels, copper, and others. GMAW may also be done easily in all welding positions.
Figure 9-1. Schematic views of GMAW and FCAW gas nozzles and electrodes. Shielding gas is not always used with FCAW. If shielding gas is not used, no nozzle is required. forms a gas around the weld area. Some of the flux forms a slag, covering the weld. Shielding gas may or may not be used when FCAW. More welder time can be spent on the welding task with a continuously fed wire process. This improves the cost efficiency of GMA and FCA welding. The GMAW process can be adapted to a variety of job requirements by choosing the correct shielding gas, electrode size, and welding parameters. Welding parameters include the voltage, travel speed, and wire feed rate. The arc voltage and wire feed rate will determine the filler metal transfer method. Metal transfer occurs in two ways. One is by the short circuiting method. The second is to transfer metal across the arc. Methods of transferring metal across the arc include: Globular transfer. Spray transfer. Pulsed spray transfer.
Pinch force
The gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process uses a solid wire electrode that is continuously fed into the weld pool. The wire electrode is consumed and becomes the filler metal. Flux cored arc welding (FCAW) is very similar to gas metal arc welding. One big difference is that FCAW uses an electrode wire with flux inside the wire. For an overview of these processes, refer to Headings 4.3 and 4.4 and also to Figures 4-3 and 4-4. The growth in the use of GMAW is the result of several events. The continuous development and refinement of constant voltage arc power sources and wire
Arc reignites
Figure 9-2. The sequence of metal transfer during the short circuit GMAW method.
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tension of the pool pulls the molten metal from the end of the electrode into the pool. The pinch force around the electrode squeezes the molten end of the electrode. The combined effects of surface tension and the pinch force separate the molten metal and the electrode. The arc then reestablishes itself. The continuously fed electrode again touches the molten pool and the process repeats. The droplet transfer or short circuiting process repeats itself about 20 to 200 times per second. The strength of the pinch force depends on the arc voltage, the slope of the power source or welding machine, and the circuit resistance. These factors voltage, slope, and resistance affect the welding current. The frequency of the pinch force and the formation of droplets is controlled by the inductance of the power source. If a 150A current is set on the arc welding machine, the amperage may rise rapidly to the maximum output of the machine when the electrode short-circuits. This could be 500A or more. To control and slow down this possible rapid rise in current, an inductance circuit is built into the arc welding machine. Inductance is the property in an electric circuit that slows down the rate of the current change. Some arc welding machines have an electric coil built in near the welding current transformer coils. See Heading 5.2.1 for a discussion of inductance. The current traveling through an inductance coil creates a magnetic field. This magnetic field creates a current in the welding circuit that is in opposition to the welding current. Increasing inductance in a welding machine will slow down the increase of the welding current. Decreasing the inductance will increase the rate of change of the welding current. When too little inductance is used, the current rises too rapidly. The pinch force is so great that the molten metal at the end of the electrode literally explodes. A great deal of spatter occurs in this case. When too much inductance is used, the current will not rise fast enough. The molten end on the electrode is not heated sufficiently. By properly balancing the inductance and slope, an ideal droplet transfer rate and pinch force can be obtained. See Figure 9-3 for the metal deposition rate for the short circuiting transfer method. Shielding gas also has an effect on short circuiting transfer. Inert gases must be used on all nonferrous base metals. Nonferrous base metals are those that do not contain iron as the main element. This grouping includes everything except steels, steel alloys,
and cast irons. Adding helium to argon will increase the penetration. Argon and helium mixtures are used only on nonferrous base metals. Carbon dioxide (CO2) may be used as a shielding gas when GMA welding carbon and low-alloy steels. CO2 will produce greater penetration, but will create more spatter than an inert gas used for shielding. Mixtures of argon and CO2 are often used. They provide a good combination of improved penetration with minimal spatter. Stainless steel usually requires a mix of three gases. A typical mixture is 90% helium, 7 1/2% argon, and 2 1/2% CO2.
Drops form on the end of the electrode. Each drop grows so large that it falls from the electrode due to its own weight. When a high percentage of inert gas is used for shielding, the drops will fall into the weld pool. When a high percentage of carbon dioxide is used, the drops travel across the arc in random patterns, creating spatter. To minimize spatter, a shorter arc length can be used. However, a short arc will allow large drops to short to the work. The drops will explode, still creating a lot of spatter. One way to minimize spatter when using CO2 is to increase the current slightly. This will create a deep weld pool that is below the metal surface. This is referred to as a buried arc or submerged arc. Using a buried arc, much of the spatter is contained within the deep weld pool. With a buried arc, a combination of globular and short circuiting transfer occurs. Deeper penetration occurs when using a buried arc. Welds of sufficient quality for many applications can be produced with this process. When using globular transfer, welding can be done only in the flat welding position, because the molten metal falls into the weld pool. Welds may be made faster with this process than with the short circuiting transfer method. See Figure 9-3 for the rate at which metal is deposited with this method.
Stage 1
Stage 2
Arc
Figure 9-5. Spray transfer method. Note how the droplets are concentrated in the center of the arc. Spray transfer will occur only when a high percentage of argon gas is used.
directed easily by the welder. This is because the arc and metal spray pattern are stable and concentrated. Spray transfer is best done in the flat or horizontal welding position, and on metal over 1/8 (3mm) thick. See Figure 9-3 for the metal deposition rate.
Spatter
GMAW Method
Short circuiting Globular Spray Pulsed spray
kg/hr
0.9-2.7 1.8-3.2 2.7-5.4 0.9-2.7
Figure 9-3. The approximate rate at which filler metal is deposited with various GMAW methods. (American Welding Society)
Figure 9-4. GMAW globular metal transfer. Drops may fall erratically and cause spatter. Note that the buried arc may help contain the drops to reduce spatter.
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Shielding gas
98% argon-2% oxygen 98% argon-2% oxygen 98% argon-2% oxygen 98% argon-2% oxygen 99% argon-1% oxygen 99% argon-1% oxygen 99% argon-1% oxygen argon argon argon argon argon argon argon argon argon
150 165 220 275 170 225 285 95 135 180 180 210 310 165 205 270
sources are transformer-rectifier machines. GMAW is done using DCEP. DCEN can be used in special applications. Ac is not used for gas metal arc welding. Inverter power sources are much smaller and lighter than traditional transformer-rectifier machines. This type of power source is gaining in popularity. Quite often, an inverter arc welding machine will provide a choice of constant current or constant voltage from the same machine. The welder must select the constant voltage mode when GMAW. Performance of an inverter machine is very similar to a transformer-rectifier constant voltage machine. Machines used for GMAW may have a wire feeder built into the power supply. The wire feeder may be an external unit, as seen in Figure 9-8.
Inverter machine controls are very similar to those on a transformer-rectifier machine. If the inverter machine has the ability to do multiple processes, select GMAW or the constant voltage setting. After making this selection, the main control setting on the inverter machine is used to set the voltage. The wire feed speed adjustment sets the wire feed speed and also sets the appropriate current. The output and performance of an inverter are the same as those of a transformer-rectifier type machine. Refer to Heading 5.2.3 for more information on inverter machines.
Note: Spray transfer will only occur when high percentage of argon are used.
Figure 9-6. Approximate transition current levels to obtain spray transfer for various metals. (American Welding Society) method, no necking down of the wire occurs. The metal leaves the electrode in a spray of small droplets. Spray transfer does not occur continually, therefore, the name pulsed spray transfer. The rate of metal transfer increases and the droplet size decreases as the pulse frequency increases. Basic welding machines with pulse capabilities allow the welder to select pulse frequencies of 60 or 120 pulses per second. Some machines allow the user to adjust the pulse frequencies. Pulse frequencies can go much higher than 120 pulses per second. The coolest spray transfer occurs at 60 pulses per second. A lower average current level is used in pulsed spray than in spray transfer. This lower average current level makes it possible to weld out of position. Thin metal sections may also be welded more easily with the pulsed spray. This method creates very little metal spatter. The pulsed spray transfer method can use largerdiameter electrode wire. This is an advantage. Largerdiameter electrodes are cheaper. Also, nonferrous wires of larger diameter can be fed through the wire drive unit more easily without kinking. See Figure 9-3 for the metal deposition rate for the pulsed spray transfer method. Pulsed spray is also used to weld parts with silicon bronze filler wire. This process is sometimes called MIG brazing. Light steel parts in auto repair shops can be welded with very low heat inputs. This reduces the problems of distortion and melt-through.
Figure 9-8. An inverter power source with a separate wire feeder mounted on top of the welder. (Miller Electric Mfg. Co.)
Transformer-rectifier machines are designed to control voltage. Voltage is one of the two important variables used to set the welding parameters for GMAW. On the front of the machine, there is a control that is used to set the voltage. The second important variable is the wire feed speed. This control will be on the welding power source if the wire feeder is built into the power source. If the wire feeder is not in the power source, the wire feed speed is set on the external wire feeder. When the welder sets the wire feed speed, the wire feed speed and the appropriate welding current are being adjusted. A higher wire feed speed requires a higher current to melt the electrode wire faster. A slower wire feed speed requires less current to melt the electrode wire.
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Switch
Gas out Work Contactor cable Manually held gun Wire feed drive motor Shielding gas source Gas in Regulator
Voltage control
feed speed, the welder is adjusting the nominal amperage of the welding machine. The following figures list the voltage and amperage settings for welding different base metals using both short circuiting transfer and spray transfer. Metal Figure Metal Transfer Method No. Mild and lowShort circuit 9-11 alloy steel Spray transfer 9-12 Stainless steel Short circuit 9-13 (300 series) Spray transfer 9-14 Aluminum and Short circuit 9-15 aluminum alloys Spray transfer 9-16
Arc voltage
Amperage range
mm
0.76 0.89 1.14 1.59 2.38 24-28 24-29 24-30 24-32 24-32 160-210 180-255 200-300 215-325 225-375
Note: The values shown are based on the use of argon-oxygen shielding gas. The oxygen percentage varies from 1-5%.
Figure 9-14. Approximate machine settings for spray transfer on 300 series stainless steel.
Electrode diameter in. mm
0.76 0.89 1.14 15-21 16-22 17-22 70-130 80-190 100-225
Arc voltage
Arc voltage
Amperage range
Figure 9-9. Diagram of a complete gas metal arc welding (GMAW) outfit. 7. If a water cooler is used, connect it to the welding machine or to the gun according to the manufactures recommendations. Usually, the welding machine, wire feeder, or welding gun is connected to the outlet on the water cooler. This way, cool water flows from the cooler to the gun. Warm water returning from the gun is connected to the inlet on the water cooler. When setting up the GMAW station, look for all potential safety problems. Spatter from GMAW or FCAW can cause a fire. All flammable materials must be removed from the welding area.
mm
0.76 0.89 1.19 15-18 17-19 16-20 45-120 50-150 60-175
Note: The values shown are based on the use of CO2 for mild steel and argon CO2 for low-alloy steel.
Remote/panel selector
Voltage selector
Figure 9-11. Approximate machine settings for short circuiting metal transfer on mild and low-alloy steel.
Note: The values shown are based on the use of argon shielding gas.
Figure 9-15. Approximate machine settings for short circuiting transfer on aluminum and aluminum alloys.
Electrode diameter in.
0.030 0.035 0.045 1/16 3/32
Arc voltage
mm
0.76 0.89 1.14 1.59 2.38 24-28 24-28 24-30 24-32 24-33 150-265 175-290 200-315 275-500 350-600
Arc voltage
Amperage range
mm
0.76 0.89 1.19 1.59 2.38 22-28 22-28 22-28 24-30 24-32 90-150 100-175 120-210 160-300 220-450
Note: The values shown are based on the use of argon with 2%-5% oxygen for mild and low-alloy steel.
Figure 9-10. A cc/cv welding power source. (Miller Electric Mfg. Co.) only adjustments that need to be made are the voltage and wire feed speed. The next adjustment is the voltage setting. The voltage determines the arc length and helps determine the electrode transfer method. Other factors also affect the transfer method as discussed in Headings 9.1.1 through 9.1.4. Welding machines with a wire feeder built in will have the wire feed speed adjustment on the machine itself. If the wire feeder is a separate unit, the wire feed speed adjustment is on the wire feeder. When adjusting the wire
Figure 9-12. Approximate machine settings for spray transfer on mild or low-alloy steel.
Note: The values shown are based on the use of argon as the shielding gas.
Arc voltage
Amperage range
Figure 9-16. Approximate machine settings for spray transfer on aluminum and aluminum alloys. Globular transfer voltages and amperages will fall in the range between those shown for short circuiting and spray transfer. Pulsed spray background voltage settings will be slightly higher than the values shown for short circuiting transfer. The peak current must be above the transition current. Figure 9-17 shows a welding machine on which welding variables are set and stored in electronic memory. The welding machine has a microprocessor inside. A microprocessor can be considered a small computer. The
mm
0.76 0.89 1.14 17-22 17-22 17-22 50-145 65-175 100-210
Note: The values shown are based on a mixture of 90% helium; 7 1/2% argon; 2 1/2% CO2. The flow rates were about 20 cfh (9.44 L/min.).
Figure 9-13. Approximate machine settings for short circuiting transfer on 300 series stainless steel.
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amperage is fairly high to cause spray transfer to occur. This peak amperage must be above the transition current. The pulses per second adjustment is used to set the number of times per second the current will pulse from the low value to the high value. Figure 9-18 shows a GMAW machine with a power supply, wire feeder, and shielding gas cylinder.
guide should be adjusted as close to the drive rolls as possible without touching them. After the wire guide is set, the securing bolt is tightened to hold the guide in place. One problem that occurs occasionally during wire feeder operation is the wire getting jammed and forming a birds nest. A birds nest is a tangle of electrode wire that did not feed properly through the rolls and into the guide tube. Figure 9-24 shows such a birds nest.
Pressure roll Wire feed speed Welding process selector Amp/volt display selector On/off Pulsed GMAW schedule selector Pressure roll with gear behind it Outer wire guide Inlet wire guide Rolls misaligned: adjust drive roll outward
Figure 9-19. A wire feeder with multiple feed control programs. (Thermal Arc, a Thermadyne Company)
Figure 9-17. A microprocessor-controlled power source and wire feeder with digital displays. (Lincoln Electric)
microprocessor is programmed by the manufacturer with a set of welding values. Based on a set of input data about a weld, the microprocessor determines the best settings or parameters for the welding application. Since the welding machine has determined the welding parameters, the type of transfer is also determined by the welding machine. A welder using a microprocessor-equipped welding machine enters the following type information about the weld to be made: electrode wire type, wire diameter, type of shielding gas, and metal thickness. The microprocessor sets the voltage, wire feed speed, and possibly the slope, thus determining the type of metal transfer that will be used. Standard welding values are preprogrammed into the welding machine. Special welding parameters can also be saved as a program in the machine. This program, or any preset values, can be recalled at any time in the future. Because the welding values are stored electronically, the welding machine will be set up exactly the same way each time. Some power sources allow the slope to be changed. Many machines have a preset value for the slope. Heading 7.10 discusses slope. Power sources that have the ability to pulse weld have additional controls to set up. These controls include an on-off switch, a background voltage adjustment, a peak amperage adjustment, and sometimes a pulses per second adjustment. The background voltage is set relatively low, in the globular transfer range. The peak
In and out adjustment for wire guide In and out adjustment for drive roll Drive housing bolt Drive roll with drive gear behind it
Figure 9-21. Adjusting drive rolls. The pressure (upper) roll is adjusted up and down by means of the pressureadjusting knob, as in Figure 9-20. The lower drive roll is adjusted in and out by means of an adjustment screw.
Figure 9-18. A portable GMAW power source. The control panel includes a pulse schedule selector. (Hobart Brothers Co.)
Drive housing
Figure 9-20. A two-drive roll wire drive system. The upper pressure roll is pivoted out of the way when the wing nut is loosened and the gear cover lifted up. (Miller Electric Mfg. Co.) Figure 9-22 shows a wire drive unit with four drive rolls. This drive unit is similar to the two drive roll unit shown in Figure 9-20. The unit shown in Figure 9-22 has three wire guides. Wire guides must be in alignment with each other and with the center of the drive rolls. Figure 9-23 illustrates properly and improperly adjusted wire guides. The alignment of the wire guides is made at the factory. In time, an adjustment may be necessary. See drive units in Figures 9-20 and 9-22. The end of each wire
Main drive gear
Figure 9-22. A four-wheel wire drive system. The parts are similar to a two-wheel wire drive. The main drive gear is in the center below the two lower rolls. The main gear drives the gears behind the lower rolls. (Lincoln Electric Co.)
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Drive housing
Wire
Other features on wire feeders often include an inch switch or jog switch. This switch is used to feed wire to the gun at a relatively slow speed to prevent kinking the wire. Another switch is the purge switch. This is used to allow the shielding gas to flow, so that the shielding gas will fill the hose and remove (purge) all air. Some wire feeders have a display that shows either the set or actual voltage or wire speed. Figure 9-25 shows such a wire feeder.
Wire bent down Drive housing and wire guides too high. To correct: lower drive housing
Wire bent up Drive housing and wire guides too low. To correct: raise drive housing
Figure 9-23. Properly and improperly aligned wire guides. If the wire bends going through the drive rolls, adjust the drive housing up or down. Loosen the drive housing bolts, align, and tighten the bolts.
Figure 9-26. Two gas mixers. The one on the left mixes up to 50% CO2 with argon. The one on the right mixes up to 10% oxygen with argon. (Thermco Instrument Corp.)
A birds nest can be caused by the following conditions: Stubbing the electrode onto the base metal. This is caused by holding the gun too close to the work, using too-low a voltage or by using toohigh a wire feed speed. Misaligned guide tubes and rolls. A blockage in the cable or liner. To correct the cause of a birds nest, use the correct contact tube-to-work distance (see Figure 9-40) or adjust the settings on the welding machine or wire feeder. If this does not solve the problem, determine if there is a misalignment of the guide tubes and rolls or if there is a blockage in the cable or liner. Correcting these problems will eliminate the cause of the birds nesting.
Figure 9-24. Removing a birds nest by cutting the electrode wire behind the inlet wire guide and before the outlet wire guide.
To eliminate the birds nest and continue welding, the following steps should be taken: 1. Turn off the power source and the wire feeder. 2. Raise the upper pressure roll. 3. Cut the birds nest wire at the outlet of the inlet wire guide and at the entry of the outlet wire guide. See Figure 9-24. 4. Remove the electrode wire from the cable assembly going to the welding gun. This has eliminated the birds nest. 5. Feed new wire into the cable assembly and lower the upper pressure roller. 6. Feed the electrode wire to the gun by pulling the trigger on the gun, or by pressing the inch switch. To load a spool of electrode wire, place the spool onto the hub on the wire feeder. Secure the spool using the method available on the type of wire feeder being used. Pressure rolls have one or two grooves cut in them. Select and install pressure rolls that have the same groove diameter as the diameter of the electrode wire being used. Remember to change the pressure rolls if the electrode diameter changes. The final adjustment is to apply the proper force from the rolls to the electrode. Adjustment is made using a spring-loaded wing nut or knob. Tighten the knob to apply only enough force to drive the wire without slippage. Too much force on the rolls and wire may cause the solid wire to flatten (especially if the wire is aluminum). Flux cored electrodes may be crushed. If the wire is damaged, it will not feed through the wire cable and torch properly. If not enough force is applied to the wire, the rolls will slip and not drive the wire consistently. Once the adjustments discussed so far have been made, the wire feeder is ready to feed wire continuously. Only the wire feed speed needs to be adjusted to meet the requirements for each welding job. Adjust the feed speed to obtain the amperage and transfer method desired.
Figure 9-25. A wire drive unit. The visual displays will show set or actual wire speed and voltage. (Lincoln Electric Co.)
Figures 9-28 and 9-29 list shielding gases to be used with different metals and transfer methods. The shielding gases listed for short circuiting transfer are usually also used for globular transfer. Those gases listed for spray transfer are also used for pulsed spray transfer. Inert gases, such as argon and helium, are chemically inactive and do not unite with other chemical elements. Nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are reactive gases. They will mix or react with metals in a weld. With the exception of CO2, reactive gases are not used alone as shielding gases. Nitrogen gas is used in Europe to weld copper. As noted earlier, each gas and gas mixture has an effect on the type of metal transfer, and on the bead size, penetration, welding speed, and undercutting tendencies. Each of the important gases or gas mixtures is discussed in the following paragraphs. Also refer to Heading 7.12.
Argon
This gas causes a squeezing (constricting) of the arc. The results are a high current density (concentration) arc, deep penetration, a narrow bead, and almost no spatter. Argon ionizes more easily than helium and it conducts some electricity. Therefore, lower arc voltages are required for a given arc length. Argon conducts heat through the arc more slowly than helium. Argon has a lower thermal (heat) conductivity. It is an excellent choice for use on thin metal. It is also good for out-of-position welds because of the low voltages required. Argon is the most common inert gas used for welding nonferrous metals. It is used for all types of metal transfer. When welding steel and steel alloys using spray transfer, high percentages of argon, 90% or greater, must be used. Pure argon used on carbon steel will cause undercutting using the spray transfer method. Because this undercutting is not acceptable, argon is usually mixed with small amounts of oxygen or carbon dioxide. Argon is
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Argon
Helium
Metal
Shielding gas
argon 75% helium25% argon 90% helium10% argon
Advantages
Aluminum
Arc
0.1-1 (0.25mm-25mm) thick; best metal transfer and arc stability; least spatter. 1-3 (25-76mm) thick; higher heat input than argon. 3 (76mm) thick; highest heat input; minimizes porosity.
argon helium-argon
Provides good wetting; good control of weld pool for thickness up to 1/8 (3mm). Higher heat inputs of 50% and 75% helium mixtures offset high heat conductivity of heavier gages. Excellent cleaning action. Good arc stability; minimum weld contamination. Inert gas backing is required to prevent air contamination on back of weld area.
Figure 9-27. Bead contours and penetration shapes that occur with various gases using DCEP polarity.
Magnesium argon argon
Metal
Shielding gas
argon and argonhelium
Advantages
argon2-5% oxygen
Good arc stability; produces a more fluid and controllable weld pool; good coalescence and bead contour, minimizes undercutting; permits higher speeds, compared with argon. Minimizes undercutting; provides good toughness.
Less than 1/8 (3mm) thick; high welding speeds without melt-through; minimum distortion and spatter; good penetration. Greater than 1/8 (3mm) thick; minimum spatter; clean weld appearances; good weld pool control in vertical and overhead positions. Deeper penetration; faster welding speeds; minimum cost. Minimum reactivity; good toughness; excellent arc stability, wetting characteristics, and bead contour; little spatter. Fair toughness; excellent arc stability; wetting characteristics, and bead contour; little spatter.
Good arc stability; produces a more fluid and controllable weld pool, good coalescence and bead contour, minimizes undercutting on heavier stainless steels. Provides better arc stability, coalescence, and welding speed than 1% oxygen mixture for thinner stainless steel materials.
Steel, low-alloy
Figure 9-29. Suggested gases and gas mixtures for use in GMAW spray transfer. faster rate than is possible with argon. This gas is often used on nonferrous metals. It produces welds with wider bead reinforcements. Helium is lighter than argon and will require a greater gas flow to protect a weld as well as argon. In addition to requiring a greater flow rate that uses more shielding gas, helium is about 10% more expensive than argon. Even though the cost for helium may be greater than that for argon, the benefits of helium for the right welding application make helium an excellent choice. CO2 atmosphere is unstable and a great deal of spattering occurs. This is reduced by holding a short arc. Deoxidizers like aluminum, manganese, or silicon are often added to the filler metal. The deoxidizers remove the oxygen from the weld metal. Good ventilation is required when using pure CO2. About 7%-12% of the CO2 becomes dangerous CO (carbon monoxide) in the arc. The amount of CO increases with the arc length.
Steel, stainless
No effect on corrosion resistance; small heataffected zone; no undercutting; minimum distortion; good arc stability.
Nitrogen
Figure 9-28. Suggested gases and gas mixtures for use in GMAW short circuiting transfer.
Carbon dioxide
This gas has a higher thermal (heat) conductivity than argon. It requires a higher voltage than argon. Since carbon dioxide (CO2) is heavy, it covers the weld well. Therefore, less gas is needed. CO2 costs about 80% less than argon. This price difference will vary from location to location. Beads made with CO2 have a very good contour. The beads are wide and have deep penetration and no undercutting. The arc in a
Helium
The inert gas helium (He) has a high heat-conducting ability. It transfers heat through the arc better than argon.
Helium is used to weld thick metal sections. This gas is also used to weld metals that conduct heat well. Such metals as aluminum, magnesium, and copper will conduct heat away from the weld zone rapidly. More heat must be put into the metal, therefore, helium gas is the best choice. The arc voltages required for helium are higher and spatter is greater. Helium will allow filler metal to be deposited at a
In Europe, nitrogen (N2) is used where helium is not readily available. Mixtures containing nitrogen have been used to weld copper and copper alloys. One mixture used contains 70% argon and 30% nitrogen.
Argon-helium
Mixtures of argon and helium help to produce welds and welding conditions that are a balance between deep penetration and a stable arc. A mixture of 25% argon and
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75% helium will give deeper penetration with the arc stability of a 100% argon gas. Spatter is almost zero when a 75% helium mixture is used. Argon-helium mixtures are used on thick nonferrous sections.
Argon-carbon dioxide
Mixing CO2 in argon makes the molten metal in the weld pool more fluid. This helps to eliminate undercutting when GMA welding carbon steels using spray transfer. CO2 also stabilizes the arc, reduces spatter, and promotes a straight-line (axial) metal transfer through the arc.
The following argon mixtures are used when welding lowcarbon steels: argon with 2%-5% oxygen (O2), and also argon with 5%-10% CO2. Small amounts of oxygen lower the transition current. Oxygen appears to decrease the surface tension of the molten metal on the wire. This allows the molten metal droplets to leave the electrode more easily. Oxygen makes the weld pool more fluid and reduces undercutting. It also acts to stabilize the arc. Figure 9-30 lists shielding gas selections for GMAW on a number of metals.
Metals
Gases %
Aluminum
Ar 50%Ar-50%He 25%Ar-75%He He
Good transfer, stable arc, little spatter. Removes oxides Hot arc - 3/8 to 3/4 (10mm to 19mm) thickness. Remove oxides. Hot arc, less porosity, removes oxides - 1/2 to 1 (13mm to 25mm) Hotter, more gas; 1/2 (13mm) and up. Removes oxides. Good cleaning. Hotter, less porosity, removes oxides. Preferred. Good wetting, hot. For thinner materials. Short circuiting arc: high quality, low current, out-of-position, medium spatter Globular arc: fast, cheap, spattery, deep penetration. Fast, stable, good bead shape, little undercut, fluid weld pool. Short circuiting arc: fast, no melt-through, little distortion and spatter. Short circuiting arc: deep penetration, low spatter.
Magnesium
Argon-oxygen
Argon-oxygen gas mixtures are used on low-alloy, carbon, and stainless steels. A 1%-5% oxygen mixture will produce beads with penetration that is wider and less finger-shaped. Oxygen also improves the weld contour, makes the weld pool more fluid, and eliminates undercutting. Oxygen seems to stabilize the arc and reduce spatter. The use of oxygen will cause the metal surface to oxidize slightly. This oxidization will generally not reduce the strength or appearance of the weld to an unacceptable level. If more than 2% oxygen is used with low-alloy steel, a more expensive electrode wire with additional deoxidizers must be used.
9.3.4 Selecting the Proper Shielding Gas Flow Rate for GMAW
Enough gas must flow to create a straight line (laminar) flow. If too much gas comes out of the nozzle, the gas may become turbulent. See Figure 9-31. If it becomes turbulent, the shielding gas will mix with the atmosphere around the nozzle area. This will cause the weld to become contaminated. To create a steady laminar gas flow, a gas lens may be used. See Figure 7-23. When too little gas flows, the weld area is not properly protected. The weld will become contaminated and porosity will occur. The recommended rate of flow for a given nozzle is generally provided by the manufacturer. Once the correct flow rate is known, it can be used at all wire speeds. Too little gas will give a popping sound. Spatter will occur, the weld will have porosity showing, and the bead will be discolored. Refer to Figure 9-32 for some suggested gas flow rates for use with various metals and thicknesses. Set the proper flow rate, using the flowmeter. The heavier shielding gases like CO2 and argon will tend to drop away from the weld area when welding out of position. Therefore, the gas flow rates must be increased as the position moves from the flat to the horizontal, vertical, and overhead welding positions. When a gas mixture is used, it may be necessary to use a double- or triple-unit gas mixer. Such units have a separate pressure regulator and flowmeter for each gas. See Figure 9-26. Premixed gas mixtures can be purchased from welding gas suppliers in cylinders, just like pure argon or oxygen.
Copper (deox.)
Carbon steel
Helium-argon-carbon dioxide
This shielding gas mixture is used to weld austentic stainless steel, using the short circuiting transfer method. The following mixture is often used and produces a low bead: 90% He; 7 1/2% Ar; 2 1/2% CO2.
Low-alloy steel
Ar-2% O2
High-strength steels
60%He-35%Ar5%CO2 75%Ar-25%CO2
Short circuiting arc: stable arc, good wetting and bead contour, little spatter. Good impacts. Short circuiting arc: same except low impact. No undercutting. Stable arc, fluid weld, good shape. More stable arc . Short circuiting arc: small heat-affected zone, no undercut, little warping.
Stainless steel
Ar Ar-He
Globular transfer
Argon with high percentages of CO2, or pure CO2, are used to weld low-carbon steels with globular transfer. With CO2, the globules leave the wire in a random way and spatter is high. When argon or a high argon percentage gas mixture is used, the metal is squeezed off the wire and travels in a straighter line to the metal.
Figure 9-30. Some shielding gas selections for GMAW of various metals.
nozzle is often used and will work well for most applications. A variety of nozzles is shown in Figure 9-35. It can be seen that some nozzles thread onto the gun. Other nozzles are designed to slip onto or over a nozzle adaptor and are held by tension. Special nozzle shapes are also manufactured, as illustrated in Figure 9-36. Under the nozzle lies the electrode contact tube. A contact tube makes the electrical connection between the welding gun and the electrode.
The contact tube is threaded into a part of the gun called a diffuser or an adaptor. See Figures 7-49 and 9-35. One end of the diffuser or adaptor threads into the welding gun. The other end has threads for installing the contact tube. Diffusers have holes around them to allow shielding gas to escape into the nozzle. Shielding gas exits the end of the nozzle to protect the weld area. Contact tubes, also called contact tips, are made with a variety of inside diameters (ID) and lengths. The contact
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Contact tube Turbulent gas flow Laminar (straight line) Gas flow
Figure 9-33. A GMAW gun. The nozzle on this gun is held in place by tension. (Miller Electric Mfg. Co.)
Metal O-rings
B
tube must be designed for the diameter of electrode wire being used. A good sliding electrical contact must be made with the electrode wire. Each time the wire diameter is changed, the contact tube must be changed so that the ID matches the diameter of the wire. Most manufacturers of contact tubes make them in different lengths. Different lengths are used to help obtain different transfer methods. The longest tubes for a gun are usually used for short circuiting transfer. When using short circuiting transfer, the contact tube should be flush with the end of the nozzle or should stick out about 1/16 (1.6mm) beyond the end of the nozzle. With a long contact tube, minimal resistance heating of the wire takes place. See Figure 9-37. Resistance heating of the electrode takes place after the electrode wire exits from the contact tube. The electrode extension distance, shown in Figure 9-40, is the distance over which the electrode is heated. The longer this distance, the more heating takes place. Figure 9-37 shows that a long contact tube minimizes the electrode extension and reduces the resistance heating of the electrode wire. A medium-length contact tube is used for spray transfer. A medium-length contact tube usually keeps the end of the contact tube inside the end of the nozzle. This allows the welding current to preheat the wire more than when using a long contact tube. Short contact tubes are used for flux cored arc welding. A flux cored electrode must be heated to a higher temperature than a solid electrode so that some of the flux will vaporize and create a shielding atmosphere around the weld. A shorter contact tube allows the electrode to be heated to a higher temperature. See Figure 9-37. Contact tubes will wear and must be changed regularly. Eight hours of continuous welding with a steel electrode can excessively wear a contact tube. Regular replacement of the contact tube will ensure a continuous good electrical contact with the electrode wire. Look at the contact tube occasionally. If the round hole is becoming elongated or if the arc appears to be fluctuating while welding, it is time to replace the tube. A fluctuating arc may be due to a worn contact tube not making consistent contact with the electrode.
Contact tube adaptor or diffuser Insulator
Figure 9-31. Effects of gas flow rate. ALaminar gas flow is the result of the proper gas flow rate. BTurbulence occurs when too much gas is used.
Nozzle
Metal
Type joint
All
Thickness in.
1/16 3/32 1/8 3/16 1/4 3/8 3/4
mm
1.59 2.38 3.18 4.76 6.35 9.53 19.05
Weld position
F F,H,V,O F,H,V,O F,H,V,O F H,V O F H,V O F H,V,O
Electrode
L/min
11.80 14.16 14.16 10.85-12.74 18.88 21.24 28.32 23.60 25.96 37.76 28.32 37.76
A
Handle
Stainless steel
All
Up to 3/8
Up to 9.53
25
11.80
Figure 9-34. AA schematic drawing of the nozzle end of a GMAW or FCAW torch. BAn exploded view of a gas cooled GMAW gun showing the parts. (Beech & Associates)
Magnesium
Butt
0.025-0.190 0.250-1.000
0.64-4.83 6.35-25.4
40-60 50-80
18.88-28.32 23.60-37.76
Figure 9-32. Suggested gas flow rates for various metals and thicknesses.
While arc welding, the inside and outside of the noz-zle and the outside of the contact tube can become spattered. This spatter can be kept from sticking by spraying or dipping the nozzle with a special proprietary anti-stick compound. If the inside of the nozzle becomes
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Nozzles
Once the correct electrode is selected it should be loaded in the wire feeder as stated in Heading 9.3.2. The correct-size drive wheels must be used in the wire feeder. The wire should be fed through the electrode cable using the inch switch until about 2 to 3 (50mm to 75mm) extend beyond the nozzle. Cut the electrode wire so that its extension is correct for the type of welding being done. Refer to Heading 9.5.
Figure 9-38. A coiled wire liner may be used in a GMAW cable to guide the electrode wire. The wire liner sticking out of this welding gun cable is replaced when worn.
Figure 9-35. A number of different GMAW nozzles, contact tubes, and contact tube adaptors. (American Torch Tip Co.)
Long contact tube
Nozzle
Electrode extension
Visible extension
Electrode extension
Occasionally, liners get worn or become clogged with fine metal particles. A problem also can occur if the liner ever gets kinked. When any of these happen, the electrode wire will not feed smoothly. The liner must be replaced. To replace a liner, or to change from one type to the other, disconnect the gun cable from the wire feeder. Remove the nozzle, contact tip, diffuser, and any setscrews used to keep the liner in place. Then, remove the liner from the gun and cable. Install the new liner. Push it firmly until it bottoms out against the far end of the cable. Secure the liner in place. Most liners are made slightly long and must be trimmed to a specific length. Each manufacturer has directions to follow. Reassemble the welding gun. Attach the cable to the wire feeder, then refeed the wire through the cable and liner to the gun.
spattered, the flow of shielding gas will become turbulent. Gas turbulence may cause weld contamination. To remove the spatter from the nozzle, a special cleaning reamer is used.
material. Teflon liners are used with softer materials, especially aluminum wires. Fine metal filings can accumulate in a coiled liner. It is a good idea to occasionally blow compressed air through this type of liner to remove these very fine particles. The electrode must not be in the liner when it is being blown out. When blowing out the liner, always point the open end of the liner toward the floor or a trash can. Never allow the open end to point toward yourself or any other person.
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60-75
SMAW
30-45
GMAW B
Figure 9-39. Arc welding beads compared. ATypical groove angle and weld bead for SMAW. BTypical groove angle and weld bead for GMAW and FCAW. Notice that less filler metal is required to fill the groove at B. Welding time will also be less.
Most arc welding processes require the welder to control the arc length, welding speed, and torch or gun angle to obtain a good weld. In GMAW and FCAW, the arc length will remain constant and is determined by the arc voltage. The welder doing GMAW must watch and control the distance from the nozzle or contact tube to the work. See Figure 9-40. By controlling the nozzle-to-work distance, the welder will control the electrode extension distance. Heading 9.3.5 explains the importance of electrode extension.
The welding speed will be determined by the appearance of the bead width and penetration. Torch angle will also affect the bead width and penetration. The terms forehand, backhand, and perpendicular welding are used. In forehand welding, the tip of the electrode points in the direction of travel. When backhand welding, the electrode tip points away from the direction of travel. Perpendicular welding is done with the electrode at 90 to the base metal. Figure 9-41 shows the effects of these various methods. The backhand method will give the best penetration. A 25 angle forward of perpendicular will give the best penetration in the flat welding position, as shown in Figure 9-41C. For the best control of the weld pool, an angle of 5-15 forward of perpendicular is preferred for all positions. To start welding, tip the top of the gun 5-15 in the direction of travel and place the helmet down over your eyes. To start the arc, the wire feeder and the gas, squeeze the trigger on the gun. The wire will arc as soon as it feeds out far enough to touch the metal. No striking or up-anddown motion is required to start the arc as required with SMAW. As the weld pool reaches the proper width, which occurs rapidly, the welder moves the welding gun forward. Continue to move the gun along the weld, watching the width of the weld pool to maintain a uniform size. Continue this procedure until the end of the weld is reached. A run-off tab may be used to ensure a full-width
bead to the end of the weld. Without a run-off tab, the end of the weld may have a crater (depression). This depression can be reduced by moving the electrode to the end of the weld and then back over the completed bead about 1/2 (13mm). At the end of this reverse travel, the contactor switch is released. To shield the end of the weld, hold the gun in position to allow the gas postflow to protect the weld until it cools. More than one pass may be required to fill a weld groove. Each pass should be cleaned before the next pass is laid. This is generally done with a wire brush or wheel. The glass-like coating on some gas metal arc welds is easily removed. The slag layer on a flux cored arc weld is heavier and requires more effort to remove. Out-of-position welds require that leathers be worn. Molten base metal, filler metal, and spatter may fall on the welder. Therefore, a cap, coat, cape, and chaps should be worn to protect against burns.
Direction of travel
Direction of travel
Direction of travel
25 forward of perpendicular
Nozzle
A - Forehand
B - Perpendicular
C - Backhand
Exit diameter
Figure 9-40. Electrode extension distance. Other distances important in GMAW and FCAW are also shown.
Figure 9-41. Effects of the welding method on the bead. AForehand. BPerpendicular. CBackhand. Notice that the backhand method gives the deepest penetration.
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4. Squeeze the gun trigger and hold it in for a few seconds to bleed the gas lines. 5. Turn the flowmeter adjusting knob(s) in to close it. 6. Turn off the power switch on the arc welding power source. 7. Hang the gun on an insulated hook. 8. Turn out the pressure adjusting knob on the flowmeter regulator, if an adjustment knob is provided.
Figure 9-45. A V-groove weld on a butt joint in the flat welding position. Note the narrow (45 ) groove possible with GMAW.
45 to surface
Figure 9-42. A fillet weld on a lap joint in the flat welding position. Note the angles used and the deep penetration of the weld. Also, notice that the weld face and axis are horizontal or near-horizontal.
Figure 9-46. A bevel-groove weld on an outside corner joint in the flat welding position.
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more. It does not need bead width and reinforcement to strengthen the weld. The electrode should be held at 45 to each metal surface as seen in Figure 9-48. Aiming the wire more toward the vertical surface may improve the bead shape. This will help compensate for the molten metal sag. Incline the gun and the electrode about 5-15 forward of vertical. See Figure 9-49.
Direction of motion
45 to surface
Tack weld
Figure 9-51. A mechanized GMAW machine mounted on a track. The track guides the GMAW gun along the circular butt joint on this large tank. (Bug-O Systems, Inc.)
Figure 9-47. A fillet weld on a lap joint in the horizontal welding position. In the horizontal welding position, the weld axis is near-horizontal and the face of the weld nearvertical.
Direction of travel
Short circuiting, globular, spray, or pulsed spray transfer methods may be used when welding horizontal fillet welds. Horizontal butt welds are limited to short circuiting and pulsed spray transfer. The weld pool is often too large and fluid when using globular or spray transfer. Also, metal transfer in globular transfer will not fall into the weld pool.
Figure 9-50. A U-groove weld on a butt joint in the horizontal welding position. Note the keyhole at the root of the weld. Figure 9-48. This welder is making a horizontal weld on a T-joint using the GMAW process. (American Welding Society) To ensure complete penetration, watch for a continuous keyhole through the root pass. More than one pass is necessary on thicknesses above 3/16 (5mm). To completely fill the groove, an electrode weaving motion may be required. Figure 9-51 shows a horizontal butt joint being welded. Figure 9-52. This farmer is using FCAW to make equipment repairs in the field. (Lincoln Electric Co.) weld pool. This can be avoided if the welder can keep the weld pool ahead of the molten flux. The centerline of the electrode should be tipped 515 in the direction of travel, as in other position welds. This angle will permit the easiest weld pool control. The weld pool remains relatively cool when the short circuiting method of metal transfer is used. A properly adjusted pulsed spray arc will allow time between pulses for the weld pool to cool. Spray arc transfer can be used in some applications, but the weld pool must be kept small. To maintain a small weld pool, a higher travel speed must be used. The short circuiting method of metal transfer keeps the weld pool coolest.
Figure 9-49. A fillet weld on a T-joint in the horizontal welding position. Note the angles from the metal and in the direction of travel.
GMAW in the vertical welding position is done using the short circuiting or pulsed spray transfer method. Spray transfer may also be used, but only with small-diameter wire and a small molten weld pool. In the vertical welding position, the weld axis and the weld face are both vertical. Figure 9-52 shows a vertical weld in progress. GMAW may be made uphill (from the bottom up) or downhill (from the top down). Downhill welding is more difficult with FCAW. The flux material might flow into the
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Weld axis
Figure 9-54. A V-groove weld on a butt joint. The root pass is in progress.
Figure 9-55. A fillet weld on a lap joint in the overhead welding position. In this joint, two passes will be made. This is done to keep the weld pool size small and easy to manage.
Figure 9-58. A J-groove weld in an outside corner joint in the overhead welding position.
Weld face
Figure 9-53. A fillet weld on a lap joint in the vertical welding position. Two passes are being used on the weld. Notice that the weld axis and bead face are vertical. should tip about 5-15 in the direction of motion. The centerline of the electrode should be at about 45 to the edge and the flat surface. If the edge of the metal melts too rapidly, point the electrode more toward the flat surface. Be certain that both the edge and surface are melting completely as the filler metal is added. The appearance of a C-shaped molten weld pool will indicate good fusion.
Figure 9-56. A fillet weld on an inside corner joint. The electrode and gun are tipped 5 -10 in the direction of travel.
Direction of travel
Figure 9-57. Bevel-groove weld on a butt joint in an overhead welding position using two passes.
Figure 9-59. A GMA welding gun mounted on a robot. The part is held in a fixture. (Motoman, Inc.)
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tration and the weld reinforcement (buildup) will decrease slightly. Welding current is DCEP (DCRP). Current is controlled by varying the wire feed speed. Welding current greatly affects the spot weld penetration. Higher currents create greater penetration. Welding time is controlled by timers in the arc welding equipment. Timers allow the same quality weld to be made each time. Spot welding times are usually about one second. Longer times are necessary when welding thicker metals. Penetration increases as the welding time is lengthened. The diameter of the weld area also increases as the welding time is increased.
Figure 9-61. A completed gas metal arc spot weld. (ESAB Welding and Cutting Products)
The same size and type of solid wire used for welding may be used for spot welding a particular metal. Electrode extension, Figure 9-40, must remain constant during the GMA spot welding process. The extension distance is kept constant by using a special nozzle. Several GMA spot welding nozzle designs are shown in Figure 9-36. The end of the contact tube is set back from the end of the nozzle. This is done to keep the contact tube out of the weld. This setback will also reduce the possibility of the electrode melting up into the contact tube at the end of the weld cycle. The shielding gas used may be the same gas or gas mixture used for welding beads. GMA spot welds on thin metals may be made in any position. As the metal thickness increases, GMA spot welding is limited to the flat welding position. Weld quality and uniformity is not as good as that possible with resistance spot welding. The big advantage of GMA spot welding over resistance spot welding is that access to only one side of the parts is required. The GMA spot welding controls found on various gas metal arc welding machines differ. Figure 9-62 shows a GMAW power source. Some controls typically found on a GMA spot welding control panel are: Control switch. The switch used to change the gas metal arc welding machine from a regular welder to a spot welder. Weld timer. This control is for setting the welding time. The entire spot welding operation takes place in one or two seconds.
Burn-back adjustment. Some machines have a burn-back adjustment. This control allows the current to flow for a short time after the wire feed stops. The continued current flow prevents the wire from sticking in the weld pool. If the burn-back time is set too high, the electrode wire may burn back into the contact tube. If it is not set high enough, the wire will stick in the weld pool at the end of the welding time.
Wire speed
Heat selector Tack welds on a lap joint Tack welds on an outside corner joint
Figure 9-60. Tack welds on lap, inside corner, and outside corner joints. Several spot welds are also shown. Notice the depth of penetration shown in section.
Figure 9-62. This GMAW outfit can make continuous, spot, or stitch-type welds. The wire feeder is under the top cover. (Century Mfg. Co.)
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Possible causes Polarity wrong Insufficient shielding gas Poor ground Open circuit to start switch Insufficient drive roll pressure Wire feed too slow Contact tube plugged Arcing in contact tube Power circuit fluctuations Polarity wrong Torch overheating Kinked electrode wire Conduit liner dirty or worn Drive rolls jammed Conduit too long Cables too small Cable connections loose Cables too long Cable connections loose Weld joint area dirty Magnetic field in DC causes arc to wander
How to correct Check polarity, try reversing Check valves, increase flow Check groundreturn circuit Repair Increase drive roll pressure Check, adjust wire feed speed Clean, replace contact tube Clean, replace contact tube Check line voltage Check polarity, try reversing Replace with higher amp gun Cut out, replace spool Clean, replace Clean drive case, clean electrode wire Shorten, install push-pull drive Check current requirements, replace Check, tighten Check current-carrying capacity Check, tighten Clean chemically or mechanically Rearrange or split ground connection Use brass or copper backing bars Counteract blow by direction of weld Replace magnetic work-bench Use lower current setting Slow down Change angle to fill undercut Shorten arc length Use lower current setting Speed up Shorten arc length Check root opening, root face dimensions, including angle Slow down welding speed Increase welding current Shorten arc length Correct faults, change gun angle Check root opening, root face dimensions, included angle Shorten arc length Clean chemically or mechanically Hold nozzle closer to work Increase gas flow Decrease gun angle Check gun and cables for air and water leaks Shield arc from drafts Center contact tube in nozzle Replace damaged nozzle Keep wire spool on welder covered Keep unused wire in shipping containers Clean wire as it enters wire drive Clean chemically or mechanically See above, Dirty welds See above, Dirty welds Change angle of gun to improve shielding Check edge preparation and root spacing Check electrode wire for compatibility with base metal Change travel speed or shielding gas to obtain more convex bead Slow down Change angle of gun to improve deposition Redesign joint, preheat and postheat, weave bead
Undercut
Current too high Welding speed too high Improper manipulation of gun Arc length too long Current too high Welding speed too slow Arc length too long Faulty joint design Welding speed too rapid Welding current too low Arc length too long Improper welding angle
Figure 9-64. This welder is wearing a quick change filter lens in the welding helmet. The lens will darken to a protective shade in a fraction of a second after the arc is struck. (Jackson Products, Inc.)
Incomplete penetration
Incomplete fusion
Dirty welds
9. Other than setting switches, what are the two main variables made on the welding machine or wire feeder prior to welding? 10. A GMAW power source used for pulsed spray transfer must have what additional controls? 11. Using spray arc transfer, _____ volts and _____ amperes are used with a 0.045 (1.1mm) electrode to weld stainless steel. 12. _____ volts and _____ amps are used to weld mild steel using short circuiting transfer and 0.035 (0.9mm) diameter wire. 13. On the wire drive unit shown in Figure 9-20, wire guides and drive rolls are aligned by loosening the _____ _____ securing bolts and moving the _____ _____ up or down. 14. To feed the electrode wire through the electrode cable to the arc welding gun, the _____ switch is operated. 15. What factors must be considered when choosing a shielding gas? 16. Argon has a _____ thermal conductivity than helium, so _____ is used to weld thick aluminum or copper sections. 17. Why is good ventilation important when using CO2 gas? 18. What effect does oxygen (O2) have on the arc when mixed with argon? 19. Which gases are suggested for use with pulsed spray transfer? 20. What argon flow rate in ft3/hr. and L/min should be used to weld 0.150 (3.8mm) thick magnesium in a butt joint? 21. What part of the gas metal arc welding gun contacts the electrode wire and passes electricity to the electrode? 22. How can metal spatter be kept from sticking to the nozzle? 23. Electrode extension is the distance from the end of the _____ _____ to the end of the _____ . 24. The suggested angle for the electrode and gun for best weld pool control with backhand welding in most positions is _____ to _____ forward of vertical. 25. Metals still covered with chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents will form a toxic _____ gas when welded.
Dirty electrode wire Dirty base metal Porosity See above, Dirty welds Cracked welds Dirty electrode wire Dirty base metal Inadequate gas shielding Improper technique Faulty design Faulty electrode Shape of bead Travel speed too fast Improper technique Rigidity of joint
Figure 9-63. A troubleshooting guide for problems that might occur when GMAW. (Welding and Fabricating Data Book)
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This welder is using GMA to make a downhill weld on an outside corner joint. (Hornell Speedglas, Inc.)