Title: Influence of process parameters on joining strength in microplasma arc welding

Authors: Kueng-Hueng Tseng, Min Jou, Yun Chang, Her-Yueh Huang

Addresses: Welding Technology Section, Department of Metal Processing R&D, Metal Industries Research and Development Centre, 1001 Kaonan Highway, Kaohsuing, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Industrial Education and Department of Mechatronic Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National United University, 1, Lienda, Kungching Li, Miaoli, Taiwan 36033, ROC. ' Department of Research and Development, Aritex Products Co., Ltd., No. 22 Huashi Road., Ta-Fa Industrial District, Daliau Hsiang, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan 831, ROC

Abstract: The objectives of this research are to investigate the effect of welding parameters on the weld quality and to develop guidelines for a selection of suitable parameter ranges for microplasma welding. A series of experiments was conducted to explore how changes of welding parameters affect the strength of the weld for the thin stainless steel most often used in the industry. The experiment results show that workpiece exposure height must be above a minimum limit in order to prevent undesired joining. The strength increases as the current increases, with fluctuations, but still in the sufficient range. The minimum sufficient current for quality welds increases, while the minimum sufficient heat input decreases, as the travel speed increases.

Keywords: microassembly; microplasma welding; arc welding; welding parameters; process parameters; joining strength; weld quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2008.016776

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2008 Vol.13 No.2/3/4, pp.265 - 279

Published online: 22 Jan 2008 *

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