Komarov Artem clarified that welding, as a rule, is the most critical and carefully studied process in the manufacture of products, welds, and parts of equipment. The integrity of any finished product that requires welding depends on the quality of the welds connecting the various components and materials.
Because of this critical nature, all inspections and quality assurance requirements are associated with the welding operation. There is a right and wrong way to weld. And even when done correctly, it is important to remember about other factors that can sabotage the work.
One commonly performed type of welding is solid wire welding. The advantages of this type of welding are that it produces a very clean weld and is better suited for thin metal. Solid wire does not pool, or flow as needed to fill the weld evenly, making it unsuitable for welding thicker metals.
Another type of welding is flux-cored welding, in which a hollow wire is filled with flux. The advantages of this process are that it is better suited to thick metal, it pools and flows evenly and accurately into welds, is gentler, melts evenly and provides good penetration into the weld.
The best way to achieve good welds is to develop a thorough project-specific welding plan. Start from the beginning and follow the necessary steps one by one until completion.
What does a bad wire weld look like?
It only takes one wrong move to compromise the quality of the weld. Some examples include using the wrong filler metal for the materials being joined; non-compliance with pre- or post-heating processes; using the wrong shielding gas; wire movement at incorrect speed; using amplifiers or voltages outside the proper range; failure to properly prepare the connection; and even simple things like installing a fan blowing towards the welding station, which can blow away the shielding gas. All of these factors can lead to a poor weld.
What makes a bad weld?
Excessive weld weld, undercuts, pinholes, porosity, improper fusion, cracking, lack of fusion and excessive weld spatter.
Wire welding quality control
Proper certification of welders is a mandatory requirement for weld quality control.
Proper calibration of welding machines is an important factor in quality control. Over time, welding machines tend to lose their calibration and performance. In this case, contact a calibrator who can periodically test the machines to ensure that the performance matches the settings entered the machine. A properly calibrated welding machine is required to ensure proper performance.
Lastly, make sure the wire you use is in good condition. There are quality control procedures that must be followed when purchasing and storing new and used welding wire spools. Moisture and cool weather can damage welding wire, while rust and other contaminants can degrade the quality and integrity of the filler metal. Therefore, when the welding wire is not in use, store it in a temperature-controlled cabinet, Artem Komarov emphasized.