COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GMAW, GMAW-P AND GMAW-CSC FOCUSING ON ASSESSING THE WELD DEPOSITION EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY

Abstract

This work presents an analysis of different modalities of the GMAW welding process considered low heat input, which is in the metalworking industry for welding thin plates outside the flat position. Using as base metal a high strength low alloy steel (HSLA) a comparison made between three specific modalities: Conventional, Controlled Short Circuit, and Pulsed. The Taguchi method used as an experimental procedure and the comparison between the three process modalities performed through qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the deposition efficiency, weld geometry, discontinuities, and heat input. Among the results obtained, we mention the higher deposition efficiency observed in forced modes, and the adequate control of inductance, in the conventional modality contributed to the increase of this efficiency. Also, the pulsed modality presented the best penetration conditions for T joints.  Finally, it mentions the need to observe some care with tolerances of assembly of joints and precision of movement of the automated system, so that the use of modalities with current imposition can be successful.