The Influence of the Stick-out in the “GMAW” Process Robotic

Resumo

In the automobile industry, the influences of the welding variables in automotive components can compromise the product quality, either in the aspect of joint resistance or merely the joint esthetic. There are several defects prevention ways on welded joints made by the "GMAW" robotic process, thru the proper setting of the process variables, among them: the voltage, the current, the welding speed, the gas of protection, the wire speed, the wire extension (stick-out), the angle of the torch, the welding slope, the position of the electrode, etc. For this study, weld fillets in lap joint were made, keeping fixed the parameters: electric current, voltage, speed of welding, gas type and flow, the wire, torch angle, welding inclination, electrode position and gap. The modified parameter was the stick out size (10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm e 25 mm), which is an operator dependent variable that affects the weld fillet geometry. For characterization of welds, the discontinuities were quantified, being the samples visually inspected and metallographically prepared for macrograph and dimensional evaluation. Later, each variation of the welding inclination was associated with the characteristics of the weld. Keywords. "GMAW" robotic. Welding parameter. Macrograph. Discontinuities. Weld