Collection of arc welding process data

Purpose: The aim of the research was to examine the possibility of detecting welding imperfections by recording the instant values of welding parameters. The microprocessor controlled system for real-time collection and display of welding parameters was designed, implemented and tested. Design/methodology/approach: The system records up to 4 digital or analog signals collected from welding process and displays their run on the LCD display. To disturb the welding process artificial disturbances were introduced. Findings: The occurrence of some welding imperfections is followed by changes of the welding parameters. In this case they can be revealed by the analysis of the instant values of the welding parameters. Research limitations/implications: In the paper results of monitoring manual metal arc welding and gas metal arc welding are presented. Practical implications: Monitoring of gas metal arc welding is a good tool for evaluation of the quality of weld. All introduced, artificial disturbances of the welding process destabilize the welding arc and produce changes in the instant values of the welding parameters. Originality/value: The paper presents a modern microprocessor controlled system for real-time collection and display of welding parameters. Results of tests show that simple statistical approach to welding parameters can help in evaluation of weld quality.