Due to the wide applicability of short-circuiting GMA welding, a fully understanding of the parameter settings on the metal transfer stability turn into an important issue. Bead-on-plate welds were carried out for assessing the influence of voltage, CTWD and up and down current rates over the metal transfer regularity, using 3 commercial shielding gas blends. As comparative criterion, the transfer regularity was quantified through an index taken from voltage and current traces. The results shown that, working with short-circuits, the setting voltage has strong influence on the metal transfer stability; there is an optimum range. This range is remarkably influenced by the shielding gas type, current value, CTWD and inductance factor settings. The lower the CO2 content in the blend, the more regular the transfer. The inductance factor effect is dependant of the CO2 content in the blend.
MIG/MAG; short-circuiting; metal transfer stability; operational range
