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

Abstract

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