TIG WELDING

Heliarc
TIG
GTAW
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

COMPONENTS OF A TIG SYSTEM

HELIARC TORCH
(AIR or WATER COOLED)

REGULATOR/FLOWMETER

SHIELDING GAS
WORK PIECE

CONSTANT CURRENT POWER SUPPLY

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

WATER COOLER
(OPTIONAL)

PROCESS ADVANTAGES

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

Cleanest

weld metal

Excellent

mechanical properties

Excellent

puddle control

5/27/98

PROCESS DISADVANTAGES
Low

deposition rates

Higher

weld cost

Greater

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

operator skill required

BASIC PROCESS
Gas Cup
Shielding Gas
Electrode

( )
CC
POWER
SUPPLY

Arc
Puddle
Work

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

( )

DCEN - Straight Polarity

Deep / Narrow
Penetration
CS, SS, Cu, Ni
Electrode

Gtaw.ppt

(-)
CC
POWER
SUPPLY

2% / Red
Pointed
1/16-125A

HF-Start

gmd

5/27/98

(+)

DCEP - Reverse Polarity

Wide / Shallow Penetration

Electrode

(+)

Over Heats
Increase Size
1/4-125A

Cleaning Action On Aluminum

CC
POWER
SUPPLY
(-)

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

AC

Cleans Al & Mg
Good Penetration
Electrode

Gtaw.ppt

( )
POWER

Pure / Green
Ball
3/32-125A

SUPPLY

HF-Cont.

gmd

5/27/98

( )

PENETRATION COMPARISIONS
DCEN

DCEP

AC

_
1/16

3/32

1/4

_
125 amps
Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

AC - CLEANING
DCEP

DCEN

Electrode

Oxide Layer
Arc

(Negative Half Cycle)

Penetration
Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

(Positive Half Cycle)

Cleaning
10

Melt Zone

AC - RECTIFICATION

Rectification occurs when the electrons do not

want to emit from the work piece to the electrode
during the positive half cycle.
These arc outages cause a loss of cleaning and
instability in the welding arc.

Rectification

+
_

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

11

HIGH FREQUENCY
DC

Welding

Used

for arc starting

Eliminates electrode and weld
contamination

AC

Welding

Used

for arc starting

Insures arc ignition every half cycle

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

12

AC - SQUARE WAVE
Eliminates

rectification
Insures good cleaning
Improves arc stability
Reduces Peak
Half Cycle Current

+
_
Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

Reduces
Cycle Time
13

AC - BALANCE CONTROL

Controls amount of cleaning vs penetration in the welding arc

Helps eliminate tungsten spitting
BALANCED - 50/50

UNBALANCED - 35/65

MAX. CLEANING

MAX. PENETRATION

+
_

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

14

Types of Tungsten Electrodes

Pure
Least expensive, low current capacity

Thoriated
Better arc starting, higher current carrying
capacity, resistant to comtamination

Zirconiated
Has properties of both pure and thoriated
with greater stability for AC welding

Ceriated
Similar properties to thoriated tungsten,
gaining use as a safer alternative

Lanthanated
Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

Similar properties to ceriated tungsten,

gaining15use as a safer alternative

TUNGSTEN ELECTRODES
Most Commonly Used

Gtaw.ppt

Type
Color
Current
Shape
Uses

Pure
Green
AC
Ball
Al, Mg

2% THORIATED
Red
DC
Point
CS, SS, Cu, Ni, Ti

Benefits

Self balling

Higher currents
Better starts

gmd

5/27/98

16

Variations & Effects of Electrode Tip Geometry

15

60

120

Penetration Profiles of GTAW SOP, 150a/dc @ 2s 100% Argon

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

17

SHIELDING GASES

ARGON
Best

arc stability
Best shielding
Best cleaning action

HELIUM
Increases

penetration and heat

Increases welding speed

ARGON/HELIUM MIXTURES
Combines

Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

benefits of both gases

18

ARC FORCE CONTROL

USED FOR STICK WELDING ONLY
INCREASES SHORT CIRCUIT
CURRENT

EASIER

TO STRIKE ARC

INCREASES CURRENT AT LOW

VOLTAGES (SHORT ARC LENGTHS)
HELPS

PENETRATE TIGHT JOINTS

HELPS KEEP ARC ALIVE AT LOW
CURRENTS AND VOLTAGES
Gtaw.ppt

gmd

5/27/98

19