Development of Swing Arc Narrow Gap Vertical Welding Process

Abstract

The present work develops a hollow axis motor driven swing arc process for narrow gap vertical GMA welding, and investigates the characteristics of swing arc force, heat and weld formation. This process uses an upwardly bending conductive rod through the established mathematical models to weave circularly the arc, and then enables arc force to resolve into three favorable components while regulating arc energy distribution in groove, finally yielding satisfied vertical welds even with concave surface. Experimental results show that the penetrated depths into groove sidewall and bottom plate grew with increasing groove gap and decreasing rod bending angle, and molten pool sagging and bottom twin peaks were suppressed by great bending angle and respectively in wide and narrow grooves.