Correct position of the electrode during welding
The correct position of the electrode during welding is one of the main conditions for obtaining a high-quality, reliable joint.
Depending on the type of connection, the electrode must be held and tilted differently, so it is important for a novice welder to learn how to maintain an optimal position in relation to the surface of the parts being welded. The inclination of the electrode during welding affects the heating of the part and the maintenance of molten metal in the weld pool.
Basic Rules
To strike the arc, the electrode must be held at a right angle, then tilted a small degree (about 15 °). The distance from the surface is 1-2 mm. To obtain a high-quality joint, it is necessary to weld with a shorter arc.
When the electrode is positioned perpendicular to the base metal, it quickly spreads in the weld pool and fills all the voids with the melt.
To reduce the heating of a thin metal plate, it is necessary to place a seam with a small leg. As the angle decreases, heat transfer increases, and the welding speed in this case will decrease. It becomes possible to form a high-quality roller.
If the angle of inclination of the electrode is very sharp, then the material of the main structure will not heat up. The weld pool is quite narrow. The seam will be high, but with uncooked edges.
To achieve a permanent connection of well-fitted parts, during a butt connection it is necessary to maintain uniform advancement of the electrode at a constant angle of inclination.
This method helps fill the weld pool with filler metal and form a weld with increased density.
But in some cases it is necessary to change the angle of the electrode, for example, when welding pipes. It is especially important to follow this rule for welding non-rotating joints.
To fill all the voids in the weld puddle, it is sometimes better to make the slope sharper, slowing down the filler metal filling of the weld and maintaining the selected leg. When finishing the passage, you must remember to lift the tip of the electrode so that a crater does not form.
The ability to hold the electrode correctly during the welding process comes with experience. You must constantly remember the location of the core and try to hold the holder handle without tension. Your hands should be slightly relaxed and your movements should be free.
Technique
If you follow the rules of welding, you can smooth out errors arising from deviations in the angle of inclination of the holder. Depending on the required filling of the weld, several methods are adopted:
- triangle. This wiring allows you to reliably weld the root of the seam. It is used for welding parts with a thickness of over 6 mm and provides reliable heating of the middle part of the seam. The method is most common when welding pipes with a fixed joint;
- guiding the electrode along a broken zigzag line. It is used when welding structures with a metal thickness of less than 6 mm. The highest quality seams are obtained when butt welding and in the lower position. Such wiring can be used to weld joints efficiently without ensuring bevel of the edges;
- circular or elliptical movements with the electrode. This method ensures reliable heating of both planes of the parts being welded. It is used when welding structures made of alloy steels and in a vertical position of the joint.
In this case, it is important to ensure simultaneous advancement of the core together with the movements responsible for heating the joint and filling the seam. There are three promotion options that can replace each other.
The first option is translational movement along the axis of the core. This movement is necessary to maintain an arc with a constant length and ensure a certain speed of welding structures.
The second type is movement along the axis of the seam in a straight line. In this case, the welder has the opportunity to control the time of metal melting and provide a certain leg.
The third option is to make oscillatory movements at an angle of 45° across the seam. This method is used to ensure heating of the edge of the part.
The welder can adjust the width of the bead on thin metal. This option for advancing electrodes is indispensable for multilayer joints . Used for root seam.
Selecting the angle of inclination
It is necessary to move the electrode at different angles. The choice of the desired position depends on the type of material, the location of the parts in space and the thickness of the metal. The main methods of core management include three methods.
Angle forward
In this case, the core is driven at an angle from 30° to 60°. In this position of the electrode, the molten coating forms slag.
It moves after the weld pool and reliably covers it from the invasion of harmful gases. Some slag that falls in front of the weld is displaced by molten metal on the sides of the joint.
If a large amount of slag forms in front of the bath, then the slope must be reduced. In rare cases, the tilt can be adjusted to a right angle. This must be done when there is severe slag formation.
In this case, it does not have time to harden and fills the bath, extinguishing the welding arc. Therefore, it is necessary to ignite the arc at a right angle, gradually changing it, to achieve normal slag formation.
This method is used when a small depth of heating of the base metal is necessary, for welding ceiling joints, welding a vertical seam on a channel, welding pipes with a fixed joint and for making a root weld on thick metal workpieces.
Perpendicular
It is quite difficult to constantly hold the electrode perpendicular to the surface, so the method requires sufficient skills as an electric welder.
Used for welding in inaccessible places where it is not possible to tilt the electrode at a different angle. In this case, you can achieve a small penetration of the metal parts.
Angle back
Welding is performed with an inclined electrode, similar to when welding with a “forward angle”, only the angle is counted in the other direction. In this case, the molten slag is forced out of the weld pool and is located immediately behind it.
For different electrodes, it is necessary to select a certain angle that will ensure optimal performance of work. The molten slag must have time to pass immediately behind the electrode and cover the molten metal, ensuring its uniform cooling.
This method is most often used when welding with the condition of reliable molten metal, regardless of the thickness of the structural parts. This method is indispensable when welding cores with rutile coatings.
Used to make the first (root) seam of thick parts in a vertical or lower joint position. This method will provide a reliable permanent connection of angular joint positions, channel welding, and pipe connections. For a more experienced electric welder, welding with a very small welding arc is possible.
Regardless of the choice of method for tilting the electrode during welding, the position of the slag in the weld pool should be maintained in balance. It should not spread quickly in front of the seam, but it should not lag too far behind it.
In any case, choosing the right angle and holding the electrode stably during electric arc welding is possible only with experience.
Source: https://svaring.com/welding/teorija/kak-pravilno-derzhat-elektrod-pri-svarke
Movement of the electrode during welding: methods of guiding the electrode, choosing the optimal angle of inclination of the electrode
Ignition of the arc can be done in two ways:
- The electrode is touched to the metal being connected, and then held at a distance of 3-4 mm, maintaining the state of the arc . The contact time must be very short, otherwise the electrode will weld to the part;
- As when lighting a match, the electrode with a quick lateral movement (at an angle of about 15 degrees) comes into contact with the workpiece , and then is held at a distance of 2-3 mm.
To obtain a high-quality weld, it is recommended to work with a short arc.
If you bring the electrode at an angle of 90 degrees to the joint, then, when melted, it spreads well and evenly fills the entire weld pool.
It is necessary to maintain the optimal angle of inclination of the electrode. If you cook with a very sharp angle, you will not be able to heat the base metal. In this case, the seam will be small but high. The edges will be uncooked, which will reduce the strength of the resulting structure.
To achieve high joint strength, it is necessary to carry out all welding at the same speed and maintain the same angle of inclination. Then the filler material will evenly fill all the necessary voids, which will ensure high quality welds.
However, there are times when changing the inclination is necessary. An example would be pipe welding.
During the welding process, you do not need to strain too much, do not squeeze the handle of the holder too much, movements should be free.
At the end of the work, to prevent the formation of a crater, you need to lift the end of the electrode.
Methods for guiding the electrode
Defects resulting from maintaining an incorrect angle of inclination can be corrected if the welding technique is strictly followed. There are three main ways to guide the electrode when welding:
- Along a broken zigzag line . In this way, you can connect workpieces without beveled edges. Used when welding products whose thickness does not exceed 6 mm. High-quality seams come out if you work end-to-end and in the down position.
- Circular or ellipsoidal movements . This method is used to connect structures made of alloy steels, and the seam must be in a vertical position. This method guarantees good heating of the parts being welded.
- Triangle movements . Most often used when connecting pipes with a fixed joint. The parts to be welded must be more than 6 mm thick. This method allows you to thoroughly boil the root of the seam and guarantees the necessary heating of the middle part of the seam.
Electrode angle
The work can be carried out by holding the electrode at different angles. The selection of the angle of inclination is influenced by many factors: the thickness of the parts being connected, the type of metal, the position of the structure in space. There are three main methods of guiding the electrode.
Angle forward
With this method, the electrode is positioned at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees. It is possible to cover the weld pool from harmful gases, but at the same time a significant amount of slag is formed. If it gets in front of the seam, it can be displaced by molten metal.
The inclination is reduced if a large accumulation of slag forms in front of the weld pool. In rare cases, it can be brought to a perpendicular position. This is resorted to when there is excessive accumulation of slag. Otherwise, it will not have time to harden and will fill the entire bath, extinguishing the welding arc.
To correct this, it is recommended to strike the arc at a right angle and change it little by little, trying to control the process of slag formation.
This method is used if it is necessary to ensure heating of a small depth of the base material to form a vertical seam on a channel, for welding the root seam of thick metal workpieces.
Right angle (90 degrees)
It is very difficult to weld joints in this way; the process requires certain skills from the welder.
This method is used to work in hard-to-reach places where it is not possible to set a different angle of inclination. With this method it is possible to achieve an average depth of metal penetration.
Whatever inclination angle is chosen, it is necessary to maintain a balance in the position of the slag in the weld pool. It should not lag far behind the electrode, but it should not accumulate in front in large quantities.
Distance between electrode and workpiece
An important parameter is the distance at which the electrode is located, as this will affect the quality of the resulting seam, its size and shape, as well as roughness.
An electric arc can be:
- very short;
- short;
- average;
- long.
The ideal welding arc length is 2-3 mm.
It is recommended to work with the electrode at a very short distance for welding root seams of thick workpieces . In this case, there is no need to carry out transverse oscillatory movements. The average or maximum current strength is set.
The arc is short if the distance to the welded area is half the diameter of the electrode used . When working at such a distance, the depth of penetration of the workpieces increases, and the width of the seam decreases. A short arc is actively used for vertical welding.
The length of the average arc is equal to the thickness of the electrode used . In this case, the stress increases and the seam expands significantly.
The long arc is 150% of the diameter of the selected electrode . It is undesirable to carry out work at such a distance, since the seam becomes much wider, the penetration depth is reduced, and splashing of hot metal occurs.
Source: https://elsvarkin.ru/texnologiya/dvizhenie-elektroda/
Technique for welding fillet welds in a vertical position
During the welding process, the most reliable connections are formed. Welds can join different materials. In addition to metal, you can weld glass, plastic, and ceramics. Welding work can be carried out in different planes. Therefore, the position of the seam during welding depends on the spatial arrangement of the edges of the parts that need to be welded.
Classification of welding joints
According to the method of making seams, there are:
- one-sided;
- double sided;
- single-layer;
- multilayer.
Read more about the classification of welded joints in this article. According to location in space and length, there are the following types of welding:
- In the down position. When the weld seam is located at an angle of 0° to the ground surface;
- In horizontal. Welding is carried out horizontally, and the part is placed at an angle from 0 to 60 °;
- In a vertical position. Welding is carried out vertically, and the structure is located in a plane from 60 to 120 °;
- In the ceiling. The seam is located above the welder, and work is carried out at an angle of 120-180 °;
- In the “boat”. Welding is performed “in a corner”, and the part is located at an angle.
Welding work in the lower position is not difficult even for beginners. How they are carried out is described here. For all others, technological knowledge is required.
Welding vertical seams
How to weld a vertical seam? When welding vertical seams, the metal is prepared in such a way that the type of connection and the thickness of the elements are taken into account. After which they are fixed in the desired position and secured with small transverse stitches, which prevent the parts from moving.
Welding two vertical plates
The vertical seam is welded in two ways: from bottom to top and in the opposite direction. It is easier to obtain a high quality vertical seam when you work from the bottom up, since the weld pool rises with an arc and does not allow it to fall.
Welding a vertical seam from the bottom up without breaking the arc involves the movement of the electrode in one direction without horizontal displacement. It tilts to the plane at an angle of 80-90°. The welding arc has a direct impact on the part, which makes it easier to control the process.
Welding algorithm:
- An arc is excited at the lowest point;
- Preparation of a horizontal surface equal to the cross-section of the seam - movement of the electrode: crescent, herringbone or zigzag;
- The weld pool is held by arc pressure, which is controlled by the inclination of the electrode.
Movements of the electrode must be carried out quite quickly; full control over the process is necessary. If the weld pool begins to flow out from one edge, move to the other while moving upward.
Important! Don't overheat the metal and don't stop. The bathtub may fall out, which may result in a burn.
Welding a vertical fillet weld has its own characteristics. First, the shelf is fused, then the metal is deposited by slowly manipulating the electrode. The finished seam is formed when passing through the “ladder”. Those.
We raised the electrode up to the right, a drop of molten metal solidifies between the edges, then we move the tip of the electrode along the edge of the seam to the left and up, thereby forming “scales” of a reliable connection.
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Defects in welding seams and the reasons for their formation When welding with arc separation, movements are performed from one side to the other with small transverse stitches or loops.
The shape of the joint is greatly influenced by the current strength. The current, most often, is 5-10A less than the recommended values for a certain type of electrode and material thickness. Although this is not always true. Therefore, it is best to determine it experimentally and take average values.
Welding horizontal seams
Horizontal seams on a vertical surface are welded from right to left and vice versa. In this case, the bath will also tend downwards and flow to the lower edge. The electrode is tilted at a large angle, which depends on the current parameters. The bathtub must remain in place.
When welding thick metal, only the upper edge is cut (cut), while the lower edge holds the molten metal in the weld pool.
Tips and tricks when welding in a horizontal position:
- It is preferable to weld from left to right, this way the weld pool is better visible;
- position the electrode slightly back, on the seam;
- the arc is excited at the lower edge, then transferred to the upper;
- The trajectory of the electrode is carried out in a spiral.
Spiral movement of the electrode
When metal flows down, it is necessary to increase the speed of movement and reduce the heating of the metal. You can perform arc lifts. During these periods of time, the metal cools slightly and its flow stops. Reducing the current has the same effect. Just use these techniques step by step.
Advice! If welding horizontal lines is new to you, do not weld a lot of metal, try to make a high-quality thin seam. Then, if necessary, make a pass over the first one.
Horizontal fillet welds in overlap joints are welded quite simply; the execution technique repeats welding in the lower position.
Welding ceiling seams
How to weld a ceiling seam using electric welding? Such situations can be confusing for inexperienced beginners.
In this case, the welder is in an awkward position, and drops of hot metal will fall down from the ceiling. In this type of work, the electrode is located perpendicular to the surface. It should move in a circular motion at low speed to widen the connection. The electric arc is necessarily short. A long arc will create undercuts.
Methods for making ceiling seams
Welding ceiling seams is carried out according to the same principle - the metal must harden as quickly as possible. For this type of work, electrodes with a special refractory coating are used.
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Along with circular movements, the electrodes also perform vertical ones. When moving away from the bath, the arc is extinguished. The energy stops flowing. The metal cools and crystallizes, and the weld pool decreases.
Thus, melting is carried out by a short circuit.
Ceiling welding is used in cases of extreme necessity, when it is not possible to position the parts to be welded more conveniently.
The metal is heated from below, while bubbles rising from the weld pool end up at the root of the weld and weaken it.
Fillet welds
Welding fillet welds has its own characteristics. The welding process, consisting of a superimposed connection one on top of another, is carried out without preliminary preparation of the edges. Joints are made on both sides of the corner.
When parts are joined end-to-end and form an angle, the end is cut off at one element.
T-type connection
To get a perfect seam, one plane must be horizontal, the second vertical. Be sure to weld the corner joint at an angle of 90°. When the thickness of the product, which is located vertically, is no more than 12 mm, then there is no need for additional processing. If its thickness is from 12 to 25 mm, it is necessary to prepare it in a V-shape.
From 25-40 mm, one-sided U-shaped bevels are cut.
Over 40mm – double-sided V-shaped trim.
The bottom edge of a vertically positioned product is cut straight, and the joint width is no more than 2 mm.
In order for a corner joint to be well executed, you must be able to strike the arc correctly. It lights up before the welding process begins. Repeatedly executed when broken.
When using electrodes with a thick coating, large areas of melted metal are formed. Due to the metal flowing down, it is not possible to make the correct seam surface of the corner.
The surfaces to be welded must be positioned so that the inclination is 45° and welding must be done with a boat.
Lap joints
The sheets to be welded, placed one on top of the other at a distance of 3-5 times the thickness of these sheets, are welded along the perimeter, as well as along the edge of the corner formed when covering. No edge processing is required. But material costs increase, and the connection becomes heavier. Despite this, this option is used quite often.
Features of ring welding
Welding of circumferential seams is required when connecting pipes and various parts of shut-off valves. Represents combined types.
Electric arc welding is used to make a vertical seam located on the side of the pipe. A horizontal suture is applied around the circumference. The ceiling seam and the bottom seam are also welded, which are located accordingly.
Pipes made of steel are most often butt welded. To avoid sagging inside the pipes, the electrode is tilted no more than 45° to the horizon, the joint is 3 mm high and 8 mm wide.
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Before performing circumferential welding, it is necessary to prepare the surface:
- The part is thoroughly cleaned;
- Deformed ends are trimmed and straightened;
- At a distance of 10 mm from the edge, the edges are cleaned to a shine.
During welding, the joints are continuously processed, and the joints of the turns are welded in several layers. Each connection is cleaned of slag before the next one is applied. When applying the first, all edges are completely melted. In case the presence of cracks is detected, they are cut out and the fragment is boiled again.
The remaining layers are applied while slowly rotating the pipe. The end of the previous and the beginning of the next layer are shifted by 15-30 mm.
The final layer must be beautiful, with a smooth surface.
Butt welds
Welding butt seams is performed in different ways:
- In space;
- On a removable copper lining;
- With a preliminary seam.
When welding seams in space, it is very difficult to weld its root along its entire length. Therefore, it is better to use a removable copper plate, which, due to its high thermal conductivity and technical characteristics, prevents the lining from melting at the moment of contact with the molten metal. Once work is completed, it can be easily removed.
The disadvantage of such compounds is the high probability of lack of penetration. To avoid this defect, before welding the reverse side, a groove 2-3 mm deep is cut out in the metal. After this, it is covered with a welding roller, then the joint is reinforced from the outside.
Welded multilayer seams
Each layer is cleaned of slag and cooled before applying a new one. Therefore, welding multilayer seams differs from other types. For the first layer, electrodes with a diameter of 3-4 mm are used, and for the others - 5-6 mm. The final layer is a convex layer and also heat treats the previous layers.
Semi-automatic ceiling seam
The weld seam is an important component of a multilayer joint. It is performed after stripping and possibly partially removing the first stitch, in a place where there is a high probability of accumulation of defects. The reliability of the entire connection depends on how well the weld is made.
Conclusion
To summarize, to learn how to weld properly, you need to start with the simplest:
- work out the desired inclination of the electrodes, while making collective movements to connect the parts.
- learn to knock slag off joints, which will turn out better every time.
How to properly weld a vertical seam using electric welding? It is very important to take into account all recommendations. The vertical seam is a little more difficult to perform than the horizontal one. First it sticks in several places, and then it is filled gradually from the bottom up. Thus, the entire gap is filled with liquid metal.
Practice your skills, buy a welding machine, electrodes, and start learning how to make beautiful seams.
Source: https://rem-serv.com/tehnika-svarki-uglovyh-shvov-v-vertikalnom-polozhenii/
