Abstract
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) has established itself as a high deposition welding process, bringing in tremendous benefits of higher productivity and economics over MMA welding. Full utilisation of these advantages have not been possible in the past, due to limitations in the conventional equipment and controls used for the process. Also, conventional equipment are not compatible for mechanised or automated welding applications.
Recent innovations, particularly transistorised power blocks, special wire drives and controls, have now added a new dimension to the GMA welding process, helping to increase productivity and quality, while retaining process economics with these units, it is possible to have total control over the metal transfer mechanism in GMA welding. Process variations like Plasma-MIG welding and Synchro-Pulsed-MIG welding, which give much higher productivity and process flexibility are now practically viable with these units. On line mechanisation and automation of the welding cycle become straight forward and simple.
This paper outlines these innovations in equipment and brings out how they have helped GMA welding process in steadily replacing MMA welding, as the most universal arc welding process.
