TIP TIG Vs Pulsed MIG & Gas Shielded Flux Cored

For many decades, we have had five arc weld processes for code quality welds. DC TIG, SMAW, Gas Shielded Flux Cored and Pulsed MIG. However in 2020 there are three semi-automated arc weld processes that should be given the most consideration for code welds. TIP TIG, Pulsed MIG and Gas Shielded Flux Cored. This section compares the feature benefits of each process, and hopefully cut through the process confusion and allow weld shops to make weld process decisions that will enable them to attain the highest weld quality with the least weld rework.

In evaluating the weld processes used for pipe and other code quality welds, its beneficial, that the weld decision maker is first aware of the weld process issues that are generated by the weld process selected, and not by the welders. It's also beneficial that without product bias and sales influence, the weld decision maker is aware of the real world weld quality, weld productivity benefits and application considerations for each weld process considered.

In an industry in which weld personnel playing around with MIG and flux cored weld equipment controls has been the norm for seven decades, it’s hard for some to see the weld reality of the arc weld processes they daily use.

During the last five decades, in my role as Weld Equipment or Weld Training Manager with Airgas, Praxair,  AGA, Liquid Carbonic, and also as the North American ABB Robot Weld Manager, I am well aware of the decades of sales induced, exaggerated Pulsed MIG steel and alloy steels weld claims with MIG equipment that in many instances was often loaded  with useless electronic bells and whistles.

Add to this, the decades of dependence of the majority of weld shops for weld advice from weld sales-reps. most of whom have never worked in or ran a weld shop. And lets not forget the common global  lack of front office ability for weld process ownership and their general lack of awareness of weld process controls, best weld practices  and weld costs. Then one could ask why there is the forty plus MIG gas mixes available to an  industry that  only needs four MIG mixes. 

 

Unfortunately we are all part of an industry that when it comes to weld process and equipment claims, Bovine Fecal Matter has been the norm for decades.

Sales Man Pulsed Claims

LETS START OUT WITH MIG WELD ISSUES & CODE QUALITY WELDS


TLack Of Side Wall Fusion VeHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MIG WELD MASS & WELD ENERGY.  Most weld personnel are not aware that both GMAW (MIG), and also the Rutile EXOT-1, Gas Shielded Flux Cored weld processes have weld metal transfer and arc energy / plasma characteristics in which since the inception of these weld processes, have produced a poor relationship between the weld mass delivered, the weld speeds that result and the amount of weld / part energy generated.


MIG WELD DEFECTS THAT CAN BE GENERATED BY THE WELD PROCESS RATHER THAN BY THE WELDER. 
When a weld shop uses Pulsed MIG or Spray Transfer on steels and alloys > 1/4, (> 6 mm), they typically should see superior fillet or groove weld fusion from the MIG spray mode and that applies to all metals. However MIG spray is too hot for vertical up welds and should likely noThe common weld defects that can be influenced by the weld process are;

  • Lack off or inconsistent weld fusion. (enhanced with steels over 1/4 (>6mm) and with all sluggish alloys.
  • Unacceptable weld porosity or trapped small slag.
  • Cold weld starts, or weld end craters that may have micro weld shrinkage cracks.


MIG POLARITY INFLUENCE ON  DISTORTION, CRACKS AND THE WELD QUALITY & PART PROPERTIES:  With the Reverse Polarity, Electrode Positive Spray and Pulsed MIG  weld transfer modes, you have the majority of the MIG plasma  heat located in the upper portion of the MIG plasma in close proximity to the continuous fed weld wire tip.  This RP localized  energy in the upper portion of the MIG plasma creates a plasma heat concentration that results in the typical large  weld  Heat Affected Zones, and this heat affect also results with  the much colder, arc on – arc off  MIG short circuit weld mode.


Lack Of Side Wall Fusion VeMIG WELD ENERGY GENERATED AND WELD FUSION ATTAINED
:  In many instances you will find with MIG fillet welds, that the weld fusion attained on parts > 6 mm was marginal especially in the side walls. When MIG Spray and Pulsed MIG lack of weld  fusion defects on the metals > 6 mm  are often influenced by the high weld deposition rates that in contrast to SMAW and TIG, result in much faster weld travel rates attained with welds that lack sufficient energy / fluidity  and time required to provide the weld fusion  required.  The lack of fusion may be further exasperated with rapid weave actions as in groove welds,  or as the metal thickness increases, and when welding sluggish alloys like stainless, duplex and  inconel. 

Weld deposition rates have always had have a negative influence on Vertical up and Over head manual Pulsed MIG and also Gas Shielded Flux Cored welds on metals > 6 mm. These two manual,  semi-automated weld  processes will  often require fast movement of the MIG gun which influences both the required manual welder skills and the weld fusion attained.

IF WELD PERSONNEL WOULD USE STRINGERS INSTEAD OF WEAVES THERE WOULD BE EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN ALL MULTI-PASS WELDS.

Lack Of Fusion PorosityMIG WELD STARTS – STOPS,  WELD FUSION – CRATERS – CRACKS. Much of the “manual” MIG welding equipment” available in 2020,  70 plus years after it’s development, lacks the electronic ability to optimize  weld both weld start – stops, these are areas in which weld defects will be common. In contrast,  the additional controls in a robot enable these important features. 

PLEASE NOTE THE INFORMATION ATTAINED HERE IS UNIQUE TO THIS WEB SITE, IT’S NOT INFORMATION YOU WILL HEAR  FROM WELD SALES REPS. & WELD EQUIP.  MANUFACTURERS:

PULSED MIG PEAK TO BACKGROUND CURRENT INFLUENCE ON WELD FUSION:  First I want to point out that if you want to attain the best possible MIG weld fusion, use a CV MIG power source and an 80 -20CO2 gas mix and set the weld in the Spray mode.  When you use Pulsed MIG remember that the MIG plasma / weld  energy is also   influenced the Peak to the LOW  Background weld current fluctuations which do little to enhance weld fusion.

Remember with gauge  welds and aluminum welds less than 5 mm, the weld shop benefits from the lower open arc, lower energy pulsed MIG modes. With thicker metals or sluggish alloys you goal is to attain the best possible weld fusion.

As many have found out when manual Pulsed MIG welding code applications  in which the wall thickness > 6 mm,  in which the internal weld quality is verified WITH X-rays or Ultrasonic NDT , the pulsed MIG weld energy produced will often be insufficient for the weld mass produced and weld travel rates being utilized. 

Lack Of Fusion PorosityMIG & REACTIVE GAS MIXES INFLUENCE ON POROSITY – SLAG ISLANDS: As for weld porosity and small slag entrapment in the MIG welds, apart from the weld mass and weld freeze rates which influences these defects, the weld shop also has to remember that reactive MIG gas mixes that contain CO2 and Oxygen also  influence the formation of these defects, as does the use of the common E70S- 6 MIG wires with argon mixes (too much silicon and manganese. As I have been trying to tell the  apathetic automotive  managers for close to  40 years, when using  argon mixes use an  E70S-3 wire,  and you will see a reduction in slag on those robot welded surfaces. By the way I know a little about MIG gas mixes as I was a key writer of the US. AWS MIG Gas Specifications. 

A sad Lincoln Power Wave,  Automated Robot Crater Control on a Pulsed MIG Aluminum part.Crater


AS YOU CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE REVERSE POLARITY (RP) PULSED MIG  AND FLUX CORED PROCESS, YOU WILL NOTE THAT THESE TWO PROCESSES SIMPLY CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE TIP TIG  ARC PLASMA WELD TEMPERATURE WITH IT’S INERT PLASMA AND  ELECTRODE NEGATIVE POLARITY.

No matter how sophisticated a weld shop’s RP Pulsed MIG power source is today, or will be  tomorrow, to create the pulsed MIG weld drops, the weld shop is first  using an arc weld process that provides approx. 50% of the arc energy  generated by a TIP TIG weld, and also that pulsed MIG welds will spend 50% of  it’s arc time time in a reactive plasma at a low back ground weld current typically between 80 – 120 amps.

For thirty plus years, I have been writing about the never ending lack of weld fusion Achilles Heel of  all position Pulsed MIG welds on steels and alloy steels > 1/4 .  And no matter what electronics  are added to the Pulsed MIG power source, the reality has been with the pulsed background current characteristic  there will  often  be “inadequate weld energy delivered to the weld mass (deposition) provided that drives the weld speeds used”.   I also wrote numerous  pages on this subject at my weldreality.com web site, and also in my training resources and  in my “Management Engineer Guide to MIG”  book.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER MIG WELD TRANSFERS MODES USED FOR OPEN ROOT PASSES?

MIG STT Left – MIG RMD right. Both attaining acceptable 5G root, vert down weld results.

Mig Pipe 3

Above: Ed/ Em Training Exxon / Imperial Oil pipe welders on the different MIG weld transfer modes available to make 5G MIG welds on Nat Gas Pipe.  For rotated open root pipe joints, MIG short circuit will produce welds on par with the STT,  RMD  or any Low pulsed MIG process.

Shortcircuit

Pipe weld shops need to be aware that when they use MIG Short Circuit for rotated pipe root welds, or use RMD or MIG STT or any other low pulsed modes, with the 5G position  pipe root welds, in contrast to TIP TIG, they are using  inferior arc weld processes that  are not only sensitive to wire stick variations but also sensitive to root weld gap and root alignment variations. That sensitivity is not  part of the TIP TIG process  and TIP TIG will enable improved weld continuity with much superior control of arc starts and stops. 

_______________________

Below after flux cored, you will see an introduction to another semi-automated arc weld process called TIP TIG. However to get a real in-depth understanding of the TIP TIG process feature benefits for both welds and metals and also TIP TIG weld application considerations.

 

GAS SHIELDED FLUX CORED WELD DEFECTS CAUSED BY THE PROCESS

Examine the flux cored weld transfer above, and remember this inconsistent  mismatch of flux and molten metal being formed in a reactive gas, and then compare with the TIP TIG weld video below. 

THERE ARE CODE QUALITY WELDS, AND THEN THERE ARE WELDS. When discussing CODE quality welds, their are vast differences of an industries and how they define code quality welds”. For example, most of the AWS code MIG welds made in the  Automotive industry would not be acceptable in the aerospace or defense  industries. As for ship building,  most of the gas shielded flux cored welds on any ship  are not subject to internal weld  NDT,  and if the weld were subject to X-Rays ships would never be built. And as for the structural buildings in states like California in which many of the structural code quality welds are made with Self Shielded Flux Cored weld wires, and to associate  the words “code quality” with these weld wires is simply ridiculous, and its also an indication of the lack of weld expertise that prevails today in N. America. 

  • There are code quality welds required in which internal weld quality is not evaluated.
  • There are code quality welds required on applications in which weld surface or weld edge prep cleanliness is  not optimum.
  • There are code quality welds required in there may not be concerns for the welded part strength or corrosion properties.
  • There are code quality welds that are much more focused on external rather than internal weld quality.

When dealing with code welds, weld shop decision makers of course have to be aware that when they select a weld process the process selected will contribute to the weld  defects generated and as indicated below,  with the gas shielded flux cored weld, it’s beneficial to understand  why weld defects occur. 


Weld Process Controls and Best Weld Practice  Expertise would help analyze the root cause of this  E71T-1 defect.

Flux Aaa

So what is the root cause and why is the issue. Clue it has nothing to do with moisture. Those that have arc weld process control and best weld practices expertise with  the commonly use EGas Shielded Flux Cored process, would know the prime cause of the common weld issue shown below, and they also would be aware that the weld defects had nothing to do with the welder. 

When weld shops select the traditional arc weld processes such as  gas shielded flux cored and Pulsed MIG, there will be many process defects and issues beyond the welders control, why  managers, engineers and supervisors will continue to suck on TUMs,  and when internal weld NDT is required they will rarely  get a good nights sleep.  if you want to minimize (not eliminate) issues with  gas shielded or pulsed MIG  take a moment with my MIG and flux cored weld process control self teaching  / training resources. However if you want to eliminate weld rework select a weld process that is capable and in 2020 there is only one weld process and that’s TIP TIG.

Xaflux Worm

Like MIG, Gas Shielded Flux Cored is another  Reverse Electrode Polarity process, and again this polarity contributes to distortion and the size of the weld’s HAZ. 

Gas Shielded Flux Cored works with argon – 20 – 25% CO2, or if you want more weld fusion, (with more weld fumes) use straight CO2.  (Kobelco is my wire of choice). 

The flux composition of the Rutile EX0T-1 gas shielded wires. produces  a rapid freeze  thin slag that enables control of the  5G welds.  However the slag  also contributes extensively to the many common flux cored weld defects. The slag  composition and thickness is not consistent and sometimes the slag freezes to quickly and  the weld has insufficient slag protection resulting in weld porosity, trapped slag and  extended inline porosity called  Worm tracks.

Flux Cored Slow Motion

The high all position deposition capability with the all position Flux Cored wires, again promote fast weld speeds with welds that lack insufficient weld energy for the weld mass produced. The slag often gets trapped resulting in slag inclusions. The wire flux composition – content is often inconsistent. The flux is also often contaminated with moisture  during wire production or in wire storage and use. producing unexpected porosity and worm tracks. Pulsed MIG on All Position Code Quality Welds.

Left. E71T-1 Gas Shielded Flux Cored wire Vertical Up.  Right. TIP TIG Vertical Up weld. Which weld do you think would pass X-Rays?
  • Flux Tip Tig
The flux Cored weld on left shows “good welder skills” however what the welder or QA personnel  involved with this weld were likely not aware that the weld  surface reveals many internal weld quality issues,  which I am sure the designer of this part could well have done without, (issues described below). On the right, TIP TIG showing what a sound vertical up weld should  look like, and remember this process is also putting the least heat into the parts producing the  (smallest HAZ).  TIP TIG when used in any position on any application with a clean surface, will with all metals, provide the highest weld purity with the most weld fluidity,  and who would not want that on any of their code quality welds.
 

Someone who is interested in weld process optimization and weld controls would take a closer look at the above  Flux Cored weld.  Yes the weld reveals the welder had good skills and a steady hand and we all  know that most weld shops believe that  welder skills drive weld quality. However take a close look. Note the  cold looking sluggish and the  weld surface  irregularity, the scalloped weld edges,  the weld convexity, all are  indications of  insufficient weld fluidity from insufficient weld energy. 

Welds  like the above are often just  given a surface inspection, however if internal weld NDT was applied to the welds on the heavy carbon steel parts, the first thing you would find is extensive Lack of Weld Fusion,  and as I found after 35 years of examining small diameter gas shielded Flux Cored wires and welds, it would almost be impossible with these rapid freeze welds not to find  Excessive Trapped Slag and Porosity.  If I had made the above above Flux Cored welds, I would  have used higher amp settings and given special consideration to the weld-ability and fluidity of the flux core wire selected.

Millerdeltaweld

What many weld shops don’t realize with gas shielded Flux Cored welds, is at the flux cored wire manufacturers, most of the popular  gas shielded Flux Cored welds were developed in the 1980s – 90s   and designed and tested with a CV MIG unit.  If Multi-process or Inverter MIG power sources are used  with these wires in the weld shop, in contrast to the regular CV MIG unit which has a flatter slope output, the more modern electronic weld power sources typically provide a steeper slope output,  and therefore for a given Flux Cored wire feed rate with the CV units,  the Invertors and Multi-process equipment will typically put out 15 to 25% less weld current.  Please be aware that the above info is not attainable from your weld sales rep or equipment mfg. If you want this type of  real world weld process / application info, you may wish to consider my Flux Cored, MIG, and TIP TIG self teaching / training programs below.

Remember with any arc weld, the best possible weld and welded part properties will come from a weld process that provides five prime functions;

  1.  The arc plasma  provides the highest  weld energy.
  2. The weld is protected by an inert atmosphere.
  3. The polarity used is DCEN which enables a fast freeze weld making it easy to use for all positions.
  4. The deposition (weld speeds) and polarity enable the lowest part heat input. Four simple requirements for all code welds on any metals.
  5. The process with all position welds is easy to use.


TIP TIP ENABLES SIMILAR VERTICAL UP WELD SPEEDS TO PULSED MIG. TIP TIG typically delivers 200 to 400%  higher weld deposition rates than DC TIG, producing similar
all position weld travel rates as  pulsed MIG. In contrast to traditional TIG, both the DCEN &  Variable Polarity (alum) TIP TIG process continuously feeds the commonly used 0.035 – 0.045 (1 – 1.2 mm) diameter weld wires into the TIP TIG plasma sweet spot. 

Tip Tig Super Duplex Aaa

When  TIP TIG is  used  on clean applications such as this Super Duplex fillet weld, note the untouched  TIP TIG weld color which reveals lack of oxidation influence with the atmosphere. This is only possible with very low welded part heat input. With TIP TIG, weld shops should always anticipate the cleanest, defect free welds that produce  the smallest weld HAZ, and this  applies to most weld applications > 2 mm. Note try and replicate the fillet 1/4 weld shown on the left with either a duplex, stainless or inconel weld wire and the process of your choice.

TIP TIG is the only arc weld process that enables  the highest arc weld energy with the lowest welded part heat input.

The DC TIP TIG process provides  an arc temperature that can be twice as much as a MIG and FCAW arc.  Keep in mind that with the TIP TIG unique weld wire to arc plasma placement enables with TIP TIG,  improved TIG  plasma coverage over the weld pool. Also the higher TIP TIG weld deposition rates  enable higher TIG weld current to be further adding to the plasma energy. The TIP TIG process therefore simply enables more weld energy and improved weld fluidity than possible with  DC TIG.  

SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE PERFECT WELD LOOKS LIKE WITH AN EASY TO USE  WELD PROCESS THAT PROVIDES THE SAME EXTRAORDINARY WELD QUALITY IN ANY WELD POSITION. 

In contrast to the Pulsed MIG weld  if you want to view  a weld that is optimum in 2020 and will still be optimum in 2050, a weld that provides much higher energy than is possible with any all position weld made with the Pulsed MIG mode or with an EX1T-1 weld wire,  take a close look look at this TIP TIG video.

Carefully examine the TIP weld fluidity, the weld purity being produced, and thanks to the TIP TIG Electrode Negative polarity, the welds produced will  always enable the lowest possible welded part heat for the best possible metallurgical results. No weld spatter. The lowest possible weld fumes and no concerns for weld fusion with those sluggish alloy welds. By the way its also the best weld process for any open root weld,  and it requires less all position welder skills than either MIG or flux cored.

I would hope you will watch this TIP TIG video at least twice as in 2008 when we made this video it was doing something not possible with any other manual arc weld process. It took SpaceX ten years to figure it out, it should take a weld professional who is used to welding stainless 10 minutes.

EVERY SHOP THAT WELDS THIN STAINLESS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF WELD HEAT;
  • Weld Oxidation,  that influences weld cleaning and weld appearance.
  • Weld burn though potential.
  • Weld distortion, too common.
  • Weld cracking with certain alloys.
  • Carbide Precipitation  that influences corrosion.

[] Please take a moment with the above video. Examine the untouched stainless weld surface quality. Examine the silver weld color on this heat sensitive gauge part that reveals lack of oxidation. Think about the improved weld appearance and reduction in weld cleaning.

[] Examine weld fluidity continuity on the surface and toes that suggests high weld energy for the best possible weld fusion and lowest weld porosity.

[] Note the extremely small Heat Affected Zones, that on  stainless welds will enable the lowest weld distortion and with some stainless grades, the least opportunity for carbide precipitation enabling the best possible corrosion properties.

[] Note the TIP TIG weld speeds attained which are as quick as any pulsed MIG weld.

[] Note also with TIP TIG no weld spatter or visible carcinogenic chrome weld fume concerns.

[] Note how the TIP TIG welder on the stainless  fillet can hold the TIP TIG torch just like a MIG gun or  on a pipe weld rest the ceramic nozzle in the groove just like a TIG torch.  

You just watched TIP TIG weld gauge welds producing results not possible with Pulsed MIG, now watch TIP TIG produce the standard 1/4 (6 mm) fillet on this thicker stainless part

Sluggish, oxidation sensitive  Stainless, Duplex and Inconel offers more weld  fusion issues than carbon steel welds, so if the weld shop  can make fluid high energy welds that look like this on stainless, imagine what  the weld shop can  do with all steels and all alloys.

  • Again note weld color.
  • Note weld surface energy.
  • Note small weld HAZ.
  • Note weld speed.
  • Note lack of weld spatter.
  • Note lack of weld fumes. 

THEIR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VALUE GENERATED FROM USING A SEMI-AUTOMATED WELD PROCESS WITH MANUAL WELDS:

For seven decades, the  manual regular DC/AC TIG, required the welder feed the weld wire. And due primarily to the TIG common arc length sensitivity and some other weld issues, for 70 plus years, regular TIG has been poorly suited  as a “Manual Semi-automated” or Fully Automated  arc weld process without fixed arc length or automated arc length adjustment equipment. 

Spray 1

As weld shops are aware, the semi-automated MIG and gas shielded flux cored weld processes when used for flat and horizontal welds, not only enables on average, at least ten times greater weld deposition rate potential than regular DC TIG,  but other important features of the semi-automated  MIG and Flux Cored process,  is the continuous feed of the MIG wire helps in the regulation of the manual weld speeds and  helps deliver  weld wire melt and weld solidification continuity. 

Miller Wire Feed Good

In contrast to TIG, the  MIG wire feeder dramatically reduces both the MIG and flux cored welder skill requirements.  However the reality has been that for seven decades, in contrast to  any MIG weld transfer mode or flux cored weld,  the higher weld energy  DC TIG process with its inert gas protection, has been the process to go to to when the highest manual arc weld quality was desired. To improve TIG it had to become a process capable of being a semi-automated weld process that delivers higher weld deposition rates.



The TIP TIG patented Semi-automated Wire Feeder utilized  for either manual or automated welds, delivers on average 200 to 400% more weld than TIG.

Tip Tig Wire Feeder Xx

TIP TIG in contrast to pulsed MIG is  process that does not require sophisticated electronics. The heart of the Austrian,TIP TIG, Plasch patent,  is a brilliant yet simple, mechanical action that’s delivered to the TIP TIG wire feeder drive rolls.

SOME  SUB SEA  COMPANIES WILL MACHINE  THEIR  CLAD WELDS AND INTERNAL WELD POROSITY IS A CONCERN:

 In contrast to MIG and Flux Cored that use reactive gas mixes,  all  TIP TIP welds can use inert argon. So with TIP TIG, the weld shop has a process that delivers the highest higher weld energy, a slightly agitated weld pool  that assists in porosity escape and those clad welds are protected by an inert gas atmosphere,  therefore you would always anticipate with TIP TIG on any welds, no slag issues, the best possible weld fusion and the lowest weld porosity.

ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR MULTI-PROCESSES .Why on code quality welds would any organization want to purchase the variety of weld equipment and consumables to develop  SMAW – FCAW – TIG – MIG – procedures, and provide the different skills required when all they need is the easier to use TIP TIG  process with one gas and no more than three weld settings for all their code welds.

Its 2020  and ten years have passed since my business partner and I introduced  the TIP TIG process to North America and also Australia, however the reality in this “slow to change industry” in which weld process ownership is  necessary to be the driving force for cost effective weld changes, is often lacking.

TIP TIG Vs Pulsed MIG & Gas Shielded Flux Cored

For many decades, we have had five arc weld processes for code quality welds. DC TIG, SMAW, Gas Shielded Flux Cored and Pulsed MIG. However in 2020 there are three semi-automated arc weld processes that should be given the most consideration for code welds. TIP TIG, Pulsed MIG and Gas Shielded Flux Cored. This section compares the feature benefits of each process, and hopefully cut through the process confusion and allow weld shops to make weld process decisions that will enable them to attain the highest weld quality with the least weld rework.

In evaluating the weld processes used for pipe and other code quality welds, its beneficial, that the weld decision maker is first aware of the weld process issues that are generated by the weld process selected, and not by the welders. It's also beneficial that without product bias and sales influence, the weld decision maker is aware of the real world weld quality, weld productivity benefits and application considerations for each weld process considered.

In an industry in which weld personnel playing around with MIG and flux cored weld equipment controls has been the norm for seven decades, it’s hard for some to see the weld reality of the arc weld processes they daily use.

During the last five decades, in my role as Weld Equipment or Weld Training Manager with Airgas, Praxair,  AGA, Liquid Carbonic, and also as the North American ABB Robot Weld Manager, I am well aware of the decades of sales induced, exaggerated Pulsed MIG steel and alloy steels weld claims with MIG equipment that in many instances was often loaded  with useless electronic bells and whistles.

Add to this, the decades of dependence of the majority of weld shops for weld advice from weld sales-reps. most of whom have never worked in or ran a weld shop. And lets not forget the common global  lack of front office ability for weld process ownership and their general lack of awareness of weld process controls, best weld practices  and weld costs. Then one could ask why there is the forty plus MIG gas mixes available to an  industry that  only needs four MIG mixes. 

 

Unfortunately we are all part of an industry that when it comes to weld process and equipment claims, Bovine Fecal Matter has been the norm for decades.

Sales Man Pulsed Claims

LETS START OUT WITH MIG WELD ISSUES & CODE QUALITY WELDS


TLack Of Side Wall Fusion VeHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MIG WELD MASS & WELD ENERGY.  Most weld personnel are not aware that both GMAW (MIG), and also the Rutile EXOT-1, Gas Shielded Flux Cored weld processes have weld metal transfer and arc energy / plasma characteristics in which since the inception of these weld processes, have produced a poor relationship between the weld mass delivered, the weld speeds that result and the amount of weld / part energy generated.


MIG WELD DEFECTS THAT CAN BE GENERATED BY THE WELD PROCESS RATHER THAN BY THE WELDER. 
When a weld shop uses Pulsed MIG or Spray Transfer on steels and alloys > 1/4, (> 6 mm), they typically should see superior fillet or groove weld fusion from the MIG spray mode and that applies to all metals. However MIG spray is too hot for vertical up welds and should likely noThe common weld defects that can be influenced by the weld process are;

  • Lack off or inconsistent weld fusion. (enhanced with steels over 1/4 (>6mm) and with all sluggish alloys.
  • Unacceptable weld porosity or trapped small slag.
  • Cold weld starts, or weld end craters that may have micro weld shrinkage cracks.


MIG POLARITY INFLUENCE ON  DISTORTION, CRACKS AND THE WELD QUALITY & PART PROPERTIES:  With the Reverse Polarity, Electrode Positive Spray and Pulsed MIG  weld transfer modes, you have the majority of the MIG plasma  heat located in the upper portion of the MIG plasma in close proximity to the continuous fed weld wire tip.  This RP localized  energy in the upper portion of the MIG plasma creates a plasma heat concentration that results in the typical large  weld  Heat Affected Zones, and this heat affect also results with  the much colder, arc on – arc off  MIG short circuit weld mode.


Lack Of Side Wall Fusion VeMIG WELD ENERGY GENERATED AND WELD FUSION ATTAINED
:  In many instances you will find with MIG fillet welds, that the weld fusion attained on parts > 6 mm was marginal especially in the side walls. When MIG Spray and Pulsed MIG lack of weld  fusion defects on the metals > 6 mm  are often influenced by the high weld deposition rates that in contrast to SMAW and TIG, result in much faster weld travel rates attained with welds that lack sufficient energy / fluidity  and time required to provide the weld fusion  required.  The lack of fusion may be further exasperated with rapid weave actions as in groove welds,  or as the metal thickness increases, and when welding sluggish alloys like stainless, duplex and  inconel. 

Weld deposition rates have always had have a negative influence on Vertical up and Over head manual Pulsed MIG and also Gas Shielded Flux Cored welds on metals > 6 mm. These two manual,  semi-automated weld  processes will  often require fast movement of the MIG gun which influences both the required manual welder skills and the weld fusion attained.

IF WELD PERSONNEL WOULD USE STRINGERS INSTEAD OF WEAVES THERE WOULD BE EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN ALL MULTI-PASS WELDS.

Lack Of Fusion PorosityMIG WELD STARTS – STOPS,  WELD FUSION – CRATERS – CRACKS. Much of the “manual” MIG welding equipment” available in 2020,  70 plus years after it’s development, lacks the electronic ability to optimize  weld both weld start – stops, these are areas in which weld defects will be common. In contrast,  the additional controls in a robot enable these important features. 

PLEASE NOTE THE INFORMATION ATTAINED HERE IS UNIQUE TO THIS WEB SITE, IT’S NOT INFORMATION YOU WILL HEAR  FROM WELD SALES REPS. & WELD EQUIP.  MANUFACTURERS:

PULSED MIG PEAK TO BACKGROUND CURRENT INFLUENCE ON WELD FUSION:  First I want to point out that if you want to attain the best possible MIG weld fusion, use a CV MIG power source and an 80 -20CO2 gas mix and set the weld in the Spray mode.  When you use Pulsed MIG remember that the MIG plasma / weld  energy is also   influenced the Peak to the LOW  Background weld current fluctuations which do little to enhance weld fusion.

Remember with gauge  welds and aluminum welds less than 5 mm, the weld shop benefits from the lower open arc, lower energy pulsed MIG modes. With thicker metals or sluggish alloys you goal is to attain the best possible weld fusion.

As many have found out when manual Pulsed MIG welding code applications  in which the wall thickness > 6 mm,  in which the internal weld quality is verified WITH X-rays or Ultrasonic NDT , the pulsed MIG weld energy produced will often be insufficient for the weld mass produced and weld travel rates being utilized. 

Lack Of Fusion PorosityMIG & REACTIVE GAS MIXES INFLUENCE ON POROSITY – SLAG ISLANDS: As for weld porosity and small slag entrapment in the MIG welds, apart from the weld mass and weld freeze rates which influences these defects, the weld shop also has to remember that reactive MIG gas mixes that contain CO2 and Oxygen also  influence the formation of these defects, as does the use of the common E70S- 6 MIG wires with argon mixes (too much silicon and manganese. As I have been trying to tell the  apathetic automotive  managers for close to  40 years, when using  argon mixes use an  E70S-3 wire,  and you will see a reduction in slag on those robot welded surfaces. By the way I know a little about MIG gas mixes as I was a key writer of the US. AWS MIG Gas Specifications. 

A sad Lincoln Power Wave,  Automated Robot Crater Control on a Pulsed MIG Aluminum part.Crater


AS YOU CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE REVERSE POLARITY (RP) PULSED MIG  AND FLUX CORED PROCESS, YOU WILL NOTE THAT THESE TWO PROCESSES SIMPLY CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE TIP TIG  ARC PLASMA WELD TEMPERATURE WITH IT’S INERT PLASMA AND  ELECTRODE NEGATIVE POLARITY.

No matter how sophisticated a weld shop’s RP Pulsed MIG power source is today, or will be  tomorrow, to create the pulsed MIG weld drops, the weld shop is first  using an arc weld process that provides approx. 50% of the arc energy  generated by a TIP TIG weld, and also that pulsed MIG welds will spend 50% of  it’s arc time time in a reactive plasma at a low back ground weld current typically between 80 – 120 amps.

For thirty plus years, I have been writing about the never ending lack of weld fusion Achilles Heel of  all position Pulsed MIG welds on steels and alloy steels > 1/4 .  And no matter what electronics  are added to the Pulsed MIG power source, the reality has been with the pulsed background current characteristic  there will  often  be “inadequate weld energy delivered to the weld mass (deposition) provided that drives the weld speeds used”.   I also wrote numerous  pages on this subject at my weldreality.com web site, and also in my training resources and  in my “Management Engineer Guide to MIG”  book.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER MIG WELD TRANSFERS MODES USED FOR OPEN ROOT PASSES?

MIG STT Left – MIG RMD right. Both attaining acceptable 5G root, vert down weld results.

Mig Pipe 3

Above: Ed/ Em Training Exxon / Imperial Oil pipe welders on the different MIG weld transfer modes available to make 5G MIG welds on Nat Gas Pipe.  For rotated open root pipe joints, MIG short circuit will produce welds on par with the STT,  RMD  or any Low pulsed MIG process.

Shortcircuit

Pipe weld shops need to be aware that when they use MIG Short Circuit for rotated pipe root welds, or use RMD or MIG STT or any other low pulsed modes, with the 5G position  pipe root welds, in contrast to TIP TIG, they are using  inferior arc weld processes that  are not only sensitive to wire stick variations but also sensitive to root weld gap and root alignment variations. That sensitivity is not  part of the TIP TIG process  and TIP TIG will enable improved weld continuity with much superior control of arc starts and stops. 

_______________________

Below after flux cored, you will see an introduction to another semi-automated arc weld process called TIP TIG. However to get a real in-depth understanding of the TIP TIG process feature benefits for both welds and metals and also TIP TIG weld application considerations.

 

GAS SHIELDED FLUX CORED WELD DEFECTS CAUSED BY THE PROCESS

Examine the flux cored weld transfer above, and remember this inconsistent  mismatch of flux and molten metal being formed in a reactive gas, and then compare with the TIP TIG weld video below. 

THERE ARE CODE QUALITY WELDS, AND THEN THERE ARE WELDS. When discussing CODE quality welds, their are vast differences of an industries and how they define code quality welds”. For example, most of the AWS code MIG welds made in the  Automotive industry would not be acceptable in the aerospace or defense  industries. As for ship building,  most of the gas shielded flux cored welds on any ship  are not subject to internal weld  NDT,  and if the weld were subject to X-Rays ships would never be built. And as for the structural buildings in states like California in which many of the structural code quality welds are made with Self Shielded Flux Cored weld wires, and to associate  the words “code quality” with these weld wires is simply ridiculous, and its also an indication of the lack of weld expertise that prevails today in N. America. 

  • There are code quality welds required in which internal weld quality is not evaluated.
  • There are code quality welds required on applications in which weld surface or weld edge prep cleanliness is  not optimum.
  • There are code quality welds required in there may not be concerns for the welded part strength or corrosion properties.
  • There are code quality welds that are much more focused on external rather than internal weld quality.

When dealing with code welds, weld shop decision makers of course have to be aware that when they select a weld process the process selected will contribute to the weld  defects generated and as indicated below,  with the gas shielded flux cored weld, it’s beneficial to understand  why weld defects occur. 


Weld Process Controls and Best Weld Practice  Expertise would help analyze the root cause of this  E71T-1 defect.

Flux Aaa

So what is the root cause and why is the issue. Clue it has nothing to do with moisture. Those that have arc weld process control and best weld practices expertise with  the commonly use EGas Shielded Flux Cored process, would know the prime cause of the common weld issue shown below, and they also would be aware that the weld defects had nothing to do with the welder. 

When weld shops select the traditional arc weld processes such as  gas shielded flux cored and Pulsed MIG, there will be many process defects and issues beyond the welders control, why  managers, engineers and supervisors will continue to suck on TUMs,  and when internal weld NDT is required they will rarely  get a good nights sleep.  if you want to minimize (not eliminate) issues with  gas shielded or pulsed MIG  take a moment with my MIG and flux cored weld process control self teaching  / training resources. However if you want to eliminate weld rework select a weld process that is capable and in 2020 there is only one weld process and that’s TIP TIG.

Xaflux Worm

Like MIG, Gas Shielded Flux Cored is another  Reverse Electrode Polarity process, and again this polarity contributes to distortion and the size of the weld’s HAZ. 

Gas Shielded Flux Cored works with argon – 20 – 25% CO2, or if you want more weld fusion, (with more weld fumes) use straight CO2.  (Kobelco is my wire of choice). 

The flux composition of the Rutile EX0T-1 gas shielded wires. produces  a rapid freeze  thin slag that enables control of the  5G welds.  However the slag  also contributes extensively to the many common flux cored weld defects. The slag  composition and thickness is not consistent and sometimes the slag freezes to quickly and  the weld has insufficient slag protection resulting in weld porosity, trapped slag and  extended inline porosity called  Worm tracks.

Flux Cored Slow Motion

The high all position deposition capability with the all position Flux Cored wires, again promote fast weld speeds with welds that lack insufficient weld energy for the weld mass produced. The slag often gets trapped resulting in slag inclusions. The wire flux composition – content is often inconsistent. The flux is also often contaminated with moisture  during wire production or in wire storage and use. producing unexpected porosity and worm tracks. Pulsed MIG on All Position Code Quality Welds.

Left. E71T-1 Gas Shielded Flux Cored wire Vertical Up.  Right. TIP TIG Vertical Up weld. Which weld do you think would pass X-Rays?
  • Flux Tip Tig
The flux Cored weld on left shows “good welder skills” however what the welder or QA personnel  involved with this weld were likely not aware that the weld  surface reveals many internal weld quality issues,  which I am sure the designer of this part could well have done without, (issues described below). On the right, TIP TIG showing what a sound vertical up weld should  look like, and remember this process is also putting the least heat into the parts producing the  (smallest HAZ).  TIP TIG when used in any position on any application with a clean surface, will with all metals, provide the highest weld purity with the most weld fluidity,  and who would not want that on any of their code quality welds.
 

Someone who is interested in weld process optimization and weld controls would take a closer look at the above  Flux Cored weld.  Yes the weld reveals the welder had good skills and a steady hand and we all  know that most weld shops believe that  welder skills drive weld quality. However take a close look. Note the  cold looking sluggish and the  weld surface  irregularity, the scalloped weld edges,  the weld convexity, all are  indications of  insufficient weld fluidity from insufficient weld energy. 

Welds  like the above are often just  given a surface inspection, however if internal weld NDT was applied to the welds on the heavy carbon steel parts, the first thing you would find is extensive Lack of Weld Fusion,  and as I found after 35 years of examining small diameter gas shielded Flux Cored wires and welds, it would almost be impossible with these rapid freeze welds not to find  Excessive Trapped Slag and Porosity.  If I had made the above above Flux Cored welds, I would  have used higher amp settings and given special consideration to the weld-ability and fluidity of the flux core wire selected.

Millerdeltaweld

What many weld shops don’t realize with gas shielded Flux Cored welds, is at the flux cored wire manufacturers, most of the popular  gas shielded Flux Cored welds were developed in the 1980s – 90s   and designed and tested with a CV MIG unit.  If Multi-process or Inverter MIG power sources are used  with these wires in the weld shop, in contrast to the regular CV MIG unit which has a flatter slope output, the more modern electronic weld power sources typically provide a steeper slope output,  and therefore for a given Flux Cored wire feed rate with the CV units,  the Invertors and Multi-process equipment will typically put out 15 to 25% less weld current.  Please be aware that the above info is not attainable from your weld sales rep or equipment mfg. If you want this type of  real world weld process / application info, you may wish to consider my Flux Cored, MIG, and TIP TIG self teaching / training programs below.

Remember with any arc weld, the best possible weld and welded part properties will come from a weld process that provides five prime functions;

  1.  The arc plasma  provides the highest  weld energy.
  2. The weld is protected by an inert atmosphere.
  3. The polarity used is DCEN which enables a fast freeze weld making it easy to use for all positions.
  4. The deposition (weld speeds) and polarity enable the lowest part heat input. Four simple requirements for all code welds on any metals.
  5. The process with all position welds is easy to use.


TIP TIP ENABLES SIMILAR VERTICAL UP WELD SPEEDS TO PULSED MIG. TIP TIG typically delivers 200 to 400%  higher weld deposition rates than DC TIG, producing similar
all position weld travel rates as  pulsed MIG. In contrast to traditional TIG, both the DCEN &  Variable Polarity (alum) TIP TIG process continuously feeds the commonly used 0.035 – 0.045 (1 – 1.2 mm) diameter weld wires into the TIP TIG plasma sweet spot. 

Tip Tig Super Duplex Aaa

When  TIP TIG is  used  on clean applications such as this Super Duplex fillet weld, note the untouched  TIP TIG weld color which reveals lack of oxidation influence with the atmosphere. This is only possible with very low welded part heat input. With TIP TIG, weld shops should always anticipate the cleanest, defect free welds that produce  the smallest weld HAZ, and this  applies to most weld applications > 2 mm. Note try and replicate the fillet 1/4 weld shown on the left with either a duplex, stainless or inconel weld wire and the process of your choice.

TIP TIG is the only arc weld process that enables  the highest arc weld energy with the lowest welded part heat input.

The DC TIP TIG process provides  an arc temperature that can be twice as much as a MIG and FCAW arc.  Keep in mind that with the TIP TIG unique weld wire to arc plasma placement enables with TIP TIG,  improved TIG  plasma coverage over the weld pool. Also the higher TIP TIG weld deposition rates  enable higher TIG weld current to be further adding to the plasma energy. The TIP TIG process therefore simply enables more weld energy and improved weld fluidity than possible with  DC TIG.  

SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE PERFECT WELD LOOKS LIKE WITH AN EASY TO USE  WELD PROCESS THAT PROVIDES THE SAME EXTRAORDINARY WELD QUALITY IN ANY WELD POSITION. 

In contrast to the Pulsed MIG weld  if you want to view  a weld that is optimum in 2020 and will still be optimum in 2050, a weld that provides much higher energy than is possible with any all position weld made with the Pulsed MIG mode or with an EX1T-1 weld wire,  take a close look look at this TIP TIG video.

Carefully examine the TIP weld fluidity, the weld purity being produced, and thanks to the TIP TIG Electrode Negative polarity, the welds produced will  always enable the lowest possible welded part heat for the best possible metallurgical results. No weld spatter. The lowest possible weld fumes and no concerns for weld fusion with those sluggish alloy welds. By the way its also the best weld process for any open root weld,  and it requires less all position welder skills than either MIG or flux cored.

I would hope you will watch this TIP TIG video at least twice as in 2008 when we made this video it was doing something not possible with any other manual arc weld process. It took SpaceX ten years to figure it out, it should take a weld professional who is used to welding stainless 10 minutes.

EVERY SHOP THAT WELDS THIN STAINLESS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF WELD HEAT;
  • Weld Oxidation,  that influences weld cleaning and weld appearance.
  • Weld burn though potential.
  • Weld distortion, too common.
  • Weld cracking with certain alloys.
  • Carbide Precipitation  that influences corrosion.

[] Please take a moment with the above video. Examine the untouched stainless weld surface quality. Examine the silver weld color on this heat sensitive gauge part that reveals lack of oxidation. Think about the improved weld appearance and reduction in weld cleaning.

[] Examine weld fluidity continuity on the surface and toes that suggests high weld energy for the best possible weld fusion and lowest weld porosity.

[] Note the extremely small Heat Affected Zones, that on  stainless welds will enable the lowest weld distortion and with some stainless grades, the least opportunity for carbide precipitation enabling the best possible corrosion properties.

[] Note the TIP TIG weld speeds attained which are as quick as any pulsed MIG weld.

[] Note also with TIP TIG no weld spatter or visible carcinogenic chrome weld fume concerns.

[] Note how the TIP TIG welder on the stainless  fillet can hold the TIP TIG torch just like a MIG gun or  on a pipe weld rest the ceramic nozzle in the groove just like a TIG torch.  

You just watched TIP TIG weld gauge welds producing results not possible with Pulsed MIG, now watch TIP TIG produce the standard 1/4 (6 mm) fillet on this thicker stainless part

Sluggish, oxidation sensitive  Stainless, Duplex and Inconel offers more weld  fusion issues than carbon steel welds, so if the weld shop  can make fluid high energy welds that look like this on stainless, imagine what  the weld shop can  do with all steels and all alloys.

  • Again note weld color.
  • Note weld surface energy.
  • Note small weld HAZ.
  • Note weld speed.
  • Note lack of weld spatter.
  • Note lack of weld fumes. 

THEIR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VALUE GENERATED FROM USING A SEMI-AUTOMATED WELD PROCESS WITH MANUAL WELDS:

For seven decades, the  manual regular DC/AC TIG, required the welder feed the weld wire. And due primarily to the TIG common arc length sensitivity and some other weld issues, for 70 plus years, regular TIG has been poorly suited  as a “Manual Semi-automated” or Fully Automated  arc weld process without fixed arc length or automated arc length adjustment equipment. 

Spray 1

As weld shops are aware, the semi-automated MIG and gas shielded flux cored weld processes when used for flat and horizontal welds, not only enables on average, at least ten times greater weld deposition rate potential than regular DC TIG,  but other important features of the semi-automated  MIG and Flux Cored process,  is the continuous feed of the MIG wire helps in the regulation of the manual weld speeds and  helps deliver  weld wire melt and weld solidification continuity. 

Miller Wire Feed Good

In contrast to TIG, the  MIG wire feeder dramatically reduces both the MIG and flux cored welder skill requirements.  However the reality has been that for seven decades, in contrast to  any MIG weld transfer mode or flux cored weld,  the higher weld energy  DC TIG process with its inert gas protection, has been the process to go to to when the highest manual arc weld quality was desired. To improve TIG it had to become a process capable of being a semi-automated weld process that delivers higher weld deposition rates.



The TIP TIG patented Semi-automated Wire Feeder utilized  for either manual or automated welds, delivers on average 200 to 400% more weld than TIG.

Tip Tig Wire Feeder Xx

TIP TIG in contrast to pulsed MIG is  process that does not require sophisticated electronics. The heart of the Austrian,TIP TIG, Plasch patent,  is a brilliant yet simple, mechanical action that’s delivered to the TIP TIG wire feeder drive rolls.

SOME  SUB SEA  COMPANIES WILL MACHINE  THEIR  CLAD WELDS AND INTERNAL WELD POROSITY IS A CONCERN:

 In contrast to MIG and Flux Cored that use reactive gas mixes,  all  TIP TIP welds can use inert argon. So with TIP TIG, the weld shop has a process that delivers the highest higher weld energy, a slightly agitated weld pool  that assists in porosity escape and those clad welds are protected by an inert gas atmosphere,  therefore you would always anticipate with TIP TIG on any welds, no slag issues, the best possible weld fusion and the lowest weld porosity.

ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR MULTI-PROCESSES .Why on code quality welds would any organization want to purchase the variety of weld equipment and consumables to develop  SMAW – FCAW – TIG – MIG – procedures, and provide the different skills required when all they need is the easier to use TIP TIG  process with one gas and no more than three weld settings for all their code welds.

Its 2020  and ten years have passed since my business partner and I introduced  the TIP TIG process to North America and also Australia, however the reality in this “slow to change industry” in which weld process ownership is  necessary to be the driving force for cost effective weld changes, is often lacking.

TIP TIG Vs Pulsed MIG & Gas Shielded Flux Cored

For many decades, we have had five arc weld processes for code quality welds. DC TIG, SMAW, Gas Shielded Flux Cored and Pulsed MIG. However in 2020 there are three semi-automated arc weld processes that should be given the most consideration for code welds. TIP TIG, Pulsed MIG and Gas Shielded Flux Cored. This section compares the feature benefits of each process, and hopefully cut through the process confusion and allow weld shops to make weld process decisions that will enable them to attain the highest weld quality with the least weld rework.

In evaluating the weld processes used for pipe and other code quality welds, its beneficial, that the weld decision maker is first aware of the weld process issues that are generated by the weld process selected, and not by the welders. It's also beneficial that without product bias and sales influence, the weld decision maker is aware of the real world weld quality, weld productivity benefits and application considerations for each weld process considered.

In an industry in which weld personnel playing around with MIG and flux cored weld equipment controls has been the norm for seven decades, it’s hard for some to see the weld reality of the arc weld processes they daily use.

During the last five decades, in my role as Weld Equipment or Weld Training Manager with Airgas, Praxair,  AGA, Liquid Carbonic, and also as the North American ABB Robot Weld Manager, I am well aware of the decades of sales induced, exaggerated Pulsed MIG steel and alloy steels weld claims with MIG equipment that in many instances was often loaded  with useless electronic bells and whistles.

Add to this, the decades of dependence of the majority of weld shops for weld advice from weld sales-reps. most of whom have never worked in or ran a weld shop. And lets not forget the common global  lack of front office ability for weld process ownership and their general lack of awareness of weld process controls, best weld practices  and weld costs. Then one could ask why there is the forty plus MIG gas mixes available to an  industry that  only needs four MIG mixes. 

 

Unfortunately we are all part of an industry that when it comes to weld process and equipment claims, Bovine Fecal Matter has been the norm for decades.

Sales Man Pulsed Claims

LETS START OUT WITH MIG WELD ISSUES & CODE QUALITY WELDS


TLack Of Side Wall Fusion VeHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MIG WELD MASS & WELD ENERGY.  Most weld personnel are not aware that both GMAW (MIG), and also the Rutile EXOT-1, Gas Shielded Flux Cored weld processes have weld metal transfer and arc energy / plasma characteristics in which since the inception of these weld processes, have produced a poor relationship between the weld mass delivered, the weld speeds that result and the amount of weld / part energy generated.


MIG WELD DEFECTS THAT CAN BE GENERATED BY THE WELD PROCESS RATHER THAN BY THE WELDER. 
When a weld shop uses Pulsed MIG or Spray Transfer on steels and alloys > 1/4, (> 6 mm), they typically should see superior fillet or groove weld fusion from the MIG spray mode and that applies to all metals. However MIG spray is too hot for vertical up welds and should likely noThe common weld defects that can be influenced by the weld process are;

  • Lack off or inconsistent weld fusion. (enhanced with steels over 1/4 (>6mm) and with all sluggish alloys.
  • Unacceptable weld porosity or trapped small slag.
  • Cold weld starts, or weld end craters that may have micro weld shrinkage cracks.


MIG POLARITY INFLUENCE ON  DISTORTION, CRACKS AND THE WELD QUALITY & PART PROPERTIES:  With the Reverse Polarity, Electrode Positive Spray and Pulsed MIG  weld transfer modes, you have the majority of the MIG plasma  heat located in the upper portion of the MIG plasma in close proximity to the continuous fed weld wire tip.  This RP localized  energy in the upper portion of the MIG plasma creates a plasma heat concentration that results in the typical large  weld  Heat Affected Zones, and this heat affect also results with  the much colder, arc on – arc off  MIG short circuit weld mode.


Lack Of Side Wall Fusion VeMIG WELD ENERGY GENERATED AND WELD FUSION ATTAINED
:  In many instances you will find with MIG fillet welds, that the weld fusion attained on parts > 6 mm was marginal especially in the side walls. When MIG Spray and Pulsed MIG lack of weld  fusion defects on the metals > 6 mm  are often influenced by the high weld deposition rates that in contrast to SMAW and TIG, result in much faster weld travel rates attained with welds that lack sufficient energy / fluidity  and time required to provide the weld fusion  required.  The lack of fusion may be further exasperated with rapid weave actions as in groove welds,  or as the metal thickness increases, and when welding sluggish alloys like stainless, duplex and  inconel. 

Weld deposition rates have always had have a negative influence on Vertical up and Over head manual Pulsed MIG and also Gas Shielded Flux Cored welds on metals > 6 mm. These two manual,  semi-automated weld  processes will  often require fast movement of the MIG gun which influences both the required manual welder skills and the weld fusion attained.

IF WELD PERSONNEL WOULD USE STRINGERS INSTEAD OF WEAVES THERE WOULD BE EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN ALL MULTI-PASS WELDS.

Lack Of Fusion PorosityMIG WELD STARTS – STOPS,  WELD FUSION – CRATERS – CRACKS. Much of the “manual” MIG welding equipment” available in 2020,  70 plus years after it’s development, lacks the electronic ability to optimize  weld both weld start – stops, these are areas in which weld defects will be common. In contrast,  the additional controls in a robot enable these important features. 

PLEASE NOTE THE INFORMATION ATTAINED HERE IS UNIQUE TO THIS WEB SITE, IT’S NOT INFORMATION YOU WILL HEAR  FROM WELD SALES REPS. & WELD EQUIP.  MANUFACTURERS:

PULSED MIG PEAK TO BACKGROUND CURRENT INFLUENCE ON WELD FUSION:  First I want to point out that if you want to attain the best possible MIG weld fusion, use a CV MIG power source and an 80 -20CO2 gas mix and set the weld in the Spray mode.  When you use Pulsed MIG remember that the MIG plasma / weld  energy is also   influenced the Peak to the LOW  Background weld current fluctuations which do little to enhance weld fusion.

Remember with gauge  welds and aluminum welds less than 5 mm, the weld shop benefits from the lower open arc, lower energy pulsed MIG modes. With thicker metals or sluggish alloys you goal is to attain the best possible weld fusion.

As many have found out when manual Pulsed MIG welding code applications  in which the wall thickness > 6 mm,  in which the internal weld quality is verified WITH X-rays or Ultrasonic NDT , the pulsed MIG weld energy produced will often be insufficient for the weld mass produced and weld travel rates being utilized. 

Lack Of Fusion PorosityMIG & REACTIVE GAS MIXES INFLUENCE ON POROSITY – SLAG ISLANDS: As for weld porosity and small slag entrapment in the MIG welds, apart from the weld mass and weld freeze rates which influences these defects, the weld shop also has to remember that reactive MIG gas mixes that contain CO2 and Oxygen also  influence the formation of these defects, as does the use of the common E70S- 6 MIG wires with argon mixes (too much silicon and manganese. As I have been trying to tell the  apathetic automotive  managers for close to  40 years, when using  argon mixes use an  E70S-3 wire,  and you will see a reduction in slag on those robot welded surfaces. By the way I know a little about MIG gas mixes as I was a key writer of the US. AWS MIG Gas Specifications. 

A sad Lincoln Power Wave,  Automated Robot Crater Control on a Pulsed MIG Aluminum part.Crater


AS YOU CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE REVERSE POLARITY (RP) PULSED MIG  AND FLUX CORED PROCESS, YOU WILL NOTE THAT THESE TWO PROCESSES SIMPLY CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE TIP TIG  ARC PLASMA WELD TEMPERATURE WITH IT’S INERT PLASMA AND  ELECTRODE NEGATIVE POLARITY.

No matter how sophisticated a weld shop’s RP Pulsed MIG power source is today, or will be  tomorrow, to create the pulsed MIG weld drops, the weld shop is first  using an arc weld process that provides approx. 50% of the arc energy  generated by a TIP TIG weld, and also that pulsed MIG welds will spend 50% of  it’s arc time time in a reactive plasma at a low back ground weld current typically between 80 – 120 amps.

For thirty plus years, I have been writing about the never ending lack of weld fusion Achilles Heel of  all position Pulsed MIG welds on steels and alloy steels > 1/4 .  And no matter what electronics  are added to the Pulsed MIG power source, the reality has been with the pulsed background current characteristic  there will  often  be “inadequate weld energy delivered to the weld mass (deposition) provided that drives the weld speeds used”.   I also wrote numerous  pages on this subject at my weldreality.com web site, and also in my training resources and  in my “Management Engineer Guide to MIG”  book.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER MIG WELD TRANSFERS MODES USED FOR OPEN ROOT PASSES?

MIG STT Left – MIG RMD right. Both attaining acceptable 5G root, vert down weld results.

Mig Pipe 3

Above: Ed/ Em Training Exxon / Imperial Oil pipe welders on the different MIG weld transfer modes available to make 5G MIG welds on Nat Gas Pipe.  For rotated open root pipe joints, MIG short circuit will produce welds on par with the STT,  RMD  or any Low pulsed MIG process.

Shortcircuit

Pipe weld shops need to be aware that when they use MIG Short Circuit for rotated pipe root welds, or use RMD or MIG STT or any other low pulsed modes, with the 5G position  pipe root welds, in contrast to TIP TIG, they are using  inferior arc weld processes that  are not only sensitive to wire stick variations but also sensitive to root weld gap and root alignment variations. That sensitivity is not  part of the TIP TIG process  and TIP TIG will enable improved weld continuity with much superior control of arc starts and stops. 

_______________________

Below after flux cored, you will see an introduction to another semi-automated arc weld process called TIP TIG. However to get a real in-depth understanding of the TIP TIG process feature benefits for both welds and metals and also TIP TIG weld application considerations.

 

GAS SHIELDED FLUX CORED WELD DEFECTS CAUSED BY THE PROCESS

Examine the flux cored weld transfer above, and remember this inconsistent  mismatch of flux and molten metal being formed in a reactive gas, and then compare with the TIP TIG weld video below. 

THERE ARE CODE QUALITY WELDS, AND THEN THERE ARE WELDS. When discussing CODE quality welds, their are vast differences of an industries and how they define code quality welds”. For example, most of the AWS code MIG welds made in the  Automotive industry would not be acceptable in the aerospace or defense  industries. As for ship building,  most of the gas shielded flux cored welds on any ship  are not subject to internal weld  NDT,  and if the weld were subject to X-Rays ships would never be built. And as for the structural buildings in states like California in which many of the structural code quality welds are made with Self Shielded Flux Cored weld wires, and to associate  the words “code quality” with these weld wires is simply ridiculous, and its also an indication of the lack of weld expertise that prevails today in N. America. 

  • There are code quality welds required in which internal weld quality is not evaluated.
  • There are code quality welds required on applications in which weld surface or weld edge prep cleanliness is  not optimum.
  • There are code quality welds required in there may not be concerns for the welded part strength or corrosion properties.
  • There are code quality welds that are much more focused on external rather than internal weld quality.

When dealing with code welds, weld shop decision makers of course have to be aware that when they select a weld process the process selected will contribute to the weld  defects generated and as indicated below,  with the gas shielded flux cored weld, it’s beneficial to understand  why weld defects occur. 


Weld Process Controls and Best Weld Practice  Expertise would help analyze the root cause of this  E71T-1 defect.

Flux Aaa

So what is the root cause and why is the issue. Clue it has nothing to do with moisture. Those that have arc weld process control and best weld practices expertise with  the commonly use EGas Shielded Flux Cored process, would know the prime cause of the common weld issue shown below, and they also would be aware that the weld defects had nothing to do with the welder. 

When weld shops select the traditional arc weld processes such as  gas shielded flux cored and Pulsed MIG, there will be many process defects and issues beyond the welders control, why  managers, engineers and supervisors will continue to suck on TUMs,  and when internal weld NDT is required they will rarely  get a good nights sleep.  if you want to minimize (not eliminate) issues with  gas shielded or pulsed MIG  take a moment with my MIG and flux cored weld process control self teaching  / training resources. However if you want to eliminate weld rework select a weld process that is capable and in 2020 there is only one weld process and that’s TIP TIG.

Xaflux Worm

Like MIG, Gas Shielded Flux Cored is another  Reverse Electrode Polarity process, and again this polarity contributes to distortion and the size of the weld’s HAZ. 

Gas Shielded Flux Cored works with argon – 20 – 25% CO2, or if you want more weld fusion, (with more weld fumes) use straight CO2.  (Kobelco is my wire of choice). 

The flux composition of the Rutile EX0T-1 gas shielded wires. produces  a rapid freeze  thin slag that enables control of the  5G welds.  However the slag  also contributes extensively to the many common flux cored weld defects. The slag  composition and thickness is not consistent and sometimes the slag freezes to quickly and  the weld has insufficient slag protection resulting in weld porosity, trapped slag and  extended inline porosity called  Worm tracks.

Flux Cored Slow Motion

The high all position deposition capability with the all position Flux Cored wires, again promote fast weld speeds with welds that lack insufficient weld energy for the weld mass produced. The slag often gets trapped resulting in slag inclusions. The wire flux composition – content is often inconsistent. The flux is also often contaminated with moisture  during wire production or in wire storage and use. producing unexpected porosity and worm tracks. Pulsed MIG on All Position Code Quality Welds.

Left. E71T-1 Gas Shielded Flux Cored wire Vertical Up.  Right. TIP TIG Vertical Up weld. Which weld do you think would pass X-Rays?
  • Flux Tip Tig
The flux Cored weld on left shows “good welder skills” however what the welder or QA personnel  involved with this weld were likely not aware that the weld  surface reveals many internal weld quality issues,  which I am sure the designer of this part could well have done without, (issues described below). On the right, TIP TIG showing what a sound vertical up weld should  look like, and remember this process is also putting the least heat into the parts producing the  (smallest HAZ).  TIP TIG when used in any position on any application with a clean surface, will with all metals, provide the highest weld purity with the most weld fluidity,  and who would not want that on any of their code quality welds.
 

Someone who is interested in weld process optimization and weld controls would take a closer look at the above  Flux Cored weld.  Yes the weld reveals the welder had good skills and a steady hand and we all  know that most weld shops believe that  welder skills drive weld quality. However take a close look. Note the  cold looking sluggish and the  weld surface  irregularity, the scalloped weld edges,  the weld convexity, all are  indications of  insufficient weld fluidity from insufficient weld energy. 

Welds  like the above are often just  given a surface inspection, however if internal weld NDT was applied to the welds on the heavy carbon steel parts, the first thing you would find is extensive Lack of Weld Fusion,  and as I found after 35 years of examining small diameter gas shielded Flux Cored wires and welds, it would almost be impossible with these rapid freeze welds not to find  Excessive Trapped Slag and Porosity.  If I had made the above above Flux Cored welds, I would  have used higher amp settings and given special consideration to the weld-ability and fluidity of the flux core wire selected.

Millerdeltaweld

What many weld shops don’t realize with gas shielded Flux Cored welds, is at the flux cored wire manufacturers, most of the popular  gas shielded Flux Cored welds were developed in the 1980s – 90s   and designed and tested with a CV MIG unit.  If Multi-process or Inverter MIG power sources are used  with these wires in the weld shop, in contrast to the regular CV MIG unit which has a flatter slope output, the more modern electronic weld power sources typically provide a steeper slope output,  and therefore for a given Flux Cored wire feed rate with the CV units,  the Invertors and Multi-process equipment will typically put out 15 to 25% less weld current.  Please be aware that the above info is not attainable from your weld sales rep or equipment mfg. If you want this type of  real world weld process / application info, you may wish to consider my Flux Cored, MIG, and TIP TIG self teaching / training programs below.

Remember with any arc weld, the best possible weld and welded part properties will come from a weld process that provides five prime functions;

  1.  The arc plasma  provides the highest  weld energy.
  2. The weld is protected by an inert atmosphere.
  3. The polarity used is DCEN which enables a fast freeze weld making it easy to use for all positions.
  4. The deposition (weld speeds) and polarity enable the lowest part heat input. Four simple requirements for all code welds on any metals.
  5. The process with all position welds is easy to use.


TIP TIP ENABLES SIMILAR VERTICAL UP WELD SPEEDS TO PULSED MIG. TIP TIG typically delivers 200 to 400%  higher weld deposition rates than DC TIG, producing similar
all position weld travel rates as  pulsed MIG. In contrast to traditional TIG, both the DCEN &  Variable Polarity (alum) TIP TIG process continuously feeds the commonly used 0.035 – 0.045 (1 – 1.2 mm) diameter weld wires into the TIP TIG plasma sweet spot. 

Tip Tig Super Duplex Aaa

When  TIP TIG is  used  on clean applications such as this Super Duplex fillet weld, note the untouched  TIP TIG weld color which reveals lack of oxidation influence with the atmosphere. This is only possible with very low welded part heat input. With TIP TIG, weld shops should always anticipate the cleanest, defect free welds that produce  the smallest weld HAZ, and this  applies to most weld applications > 2 mm. Note try and replicate the fillet 1/4 weld shown on the left with either a duplex, stainless or inconel weld wire and the process of your choice.

TIP TIG is the only arc weld process that enables  the highest arc weld energy with the lowest welded part heat input.

The DC TIP TIG process provides  an arc temperature that can be twice as much as a MIG and FCAW arc.  Keep in mind that with the TIP TIG unique weld wire to arc plasma placement enables with TIP TIG,  improved TIG  plasma coverage over the weld pool. Also the higher TIP TIG weld deposition rates  enable higher TIG weld current to be further adding to the plasma energy. The TIP TIG process therefore simply enables more weld energy and improved weld fluidity than possible with  DC TIG.  

SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE PERFECT WELD LOOKS LIKE WITH AN EASY TO USE  WELD PROCESS THAT PROVIDES THE SAME EXTRAORDINARY WELD QUALITY IN ANY WELD POSITION. 

In contrast to the Pulsed MIG weld  if you want to view  a weld that is optimum in 2020 and will still be optimum in 2050, a weld that provides much higher energy than is possible with any all position weld made with the Pulsed MIG mode or with an EX1T-1 weld wire,  take a close look look at this TIP TIG video.

Carefully examine the TIP weld fluidity, the weld purity being produced, and thanks to the TIP TIG Electrode Negative polarity, the welds produced will  always enable the lowest possible welded part heat for the best possible metallurgical results. No weld spatter. The lowest possible weld fumes and no concerns for weld fusion with those sluggish alloy welds. By the way its also the best weld process for any open root weld,  and it requires less all position welder skills than either MIG or flux cored.

I would hope you will watch this TIP TIG video at least twice as in 2008 when we made this video it was doing something not possible with any other manual arc weld process. It took SpaceX ten years to figure it out, it should take a weld professional who is used to welding stainless 10 minutes.

EVERY SHOP THAT WELDS THIN STAINLESS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF WELD HEAT;
  • Weld Oxidation,  that influences weld cleaning and weld appearance.
  • Weld burn though potential.
  • Weld distortion, too common.
  • Weld cracking with certain alloys.
  • Carbide Precipitation  that influences corrosion.

[] Please take a moment with the above video. Examine the untouched stainless weld surface quality. Examine the silver weld color on this heat sensitive gauge part that reveals lack of oxidation. Think about the improved weld appearance and reduction in weld cleaning.

[] Examine weld fluidity continuity on the surface and toes that suggests high weld energy for the best possible weld fusion and lowest weld porosity.

[] Note the extremely small Heat Affected Zones, that on  stainless welds will enable the lowest weld distortion and with some stainless grades, the least opportunity for carbide precipitation enabling the best possible corrosion properties.

[] Note the TIP TIG weld speeds attained which are as quick as any pulsed MIG weld.

[] Note also with TIP TIG no weld spatter or visible carcinogenic chrome weld fume concerns.

[] Note how the TIP TIG welder on the stainless  fillet can hold the TIP TIG torch just like a MIG gun or  on a pipe weld rest the ceramic nozzle in the groove just like a TIG torch.  

You just watched TIP TIG weld gauge welds producing results not possible with Pulsed MIG, now watch TIP TIG produce the standard 1/4 (6 mm) fillet on this thicker stainless part

Sluggish, oxidation sensitive  Stainless, Duplex and Inconel offers more weld  fusion issues than carbon steel welds, so if the weld shop  can make fluid high energy welds that look like this on stainless, imagine what  the weld shop can  do with all steels and all alloys.

  • Again note weld color.
  • Note weld surface energy.
  • Note small weld HAZ.
  • Note weld speed.
  • Note lack of weld spatter.
  • Note lack of weld fumes. 

THEIR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VALUE GENERATED FROM USING A SEMI-AUTOMATED WELD PROCESS WITH MANUAL WELDS:

For seven decades, the  manual regular DC/AC TIG, required the welder feed the weld wire. And due primarily to the TIG common arc length sensitivity and some other weld issues, for 70 plus years, regular TIG has been poorly suited  as a “Manual Semi-automated” or Fully Automated  arc weld process without fixed arc length or automated arc length adjustment equipment. 

Spray 1

As weld shops are aware, the semi-automated MIG and gas shielded flux cored weld processes when used for flat and horizontal welds, not only enables on average, at least ten times greater weld deposition rate potential than regular DC TIG,  but other important features of the semi-automated  MIG and Flux Cored process,  is the continuous feed of the MIG wire helps in the regulation of the manual weld speeds and  helps deliver  weld wire melt and weld solidification continuity. 

Miller Wire Feed Good

In contrast to TIG, the  MIG wire feeder dramatically reduces both the MIG and flux cored welder skill requirements.  However the reality has been that for seven decades, in contrast to  any MIG weld transfer mode or flux cored weld,  the higher weld energy  DC TIG process with its inert gas protection, has been the process to go to to when the highest manual arc weld quality was desired. To improve TIG it had to become a process capable of being a semi-automated weld process that delivers higher weld deposition rates.



The TIP TIG patented Semi-automated Wire Feeder utilized  for either manual or automated welds, delivers on average 200 to 400% more weld than TIG.

Tip Tig Wire Feeder Xx

TIP TIG in contrast to pulsed MIG is  process that does not require sophisticated electronics. The heart of the Austrian,TIP TIG, Plasch patent,  is a brilliant yet simple, mechanical action that’s delivered to the TIP TIG wire feeder drive rolls.

SOME  SUB SEA  COMPANIES WILL MACHINE  THEIR  CLAD WELDS AND INTERNAL WELD POROSITY IS A CONCERN:

 In contrast to MIG and Flux Cored that use reactive gas mixes,  all  TIP TIP welds can use inert argon. So with TIP TIG, the weld shop has a process that delivers the highest higher weld energy, a slightly agitated weld pool  that assists in porosity escape and those clad welds are protected by an inert gas atmosphere,  therefore you would always anticipate with TIP TIG on any welds, no slag issues, the best possible weld fusion and the lowest weld porosity.

ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR MULTI-PROCESSES .Why on code quality welds would any organization want to purchase the variety of weld equipment and consumables to develop  SMAW – FCAW – TIG – MIG – procedures, and provide the different skills required when all they need is the easier to use TIP TIG  process with one gas and no more than three weld settings for all their code welds.

Its 2020  and ten years have passed since my business partner and I introduced  the TIP TIG process to North America and also Australia, however the reality in this “slow to change industry” in which weld process ownership is  necessary to be the driving force for cost effective weld changes, is often lacking.

TIP TIG Vs Pulsed MIG & Gas Shielded Flux Cored

For many decades, we have had five arc weld processes for code quality welds. DC TIG, SMAW, Gas Shielded Flux Cored and Pulsed MIG. However in 2020 there are three semi-automated arc weld processes that should be given the most consideration for code welds. TIP TIG, Pulsed MIG and Gas Shielded Flux Cored. This section compares the feature benefits of each process, and hopefully cut through the process confusion and allow weld shops to make weld process decisions that will enable them to attain the highest weld quality with the least weld rework.

In evaluating the weld processes used for pipe and other code quality welds, its beneficial, that the weld decision maker is first aware of the weld process issues that are generated by the weld process selected, and not by the welders. It's also beneficial that without product bias and sales influence, the weld decision maker is aware of the real world weld quality, weld productivity benefits and application considerations for each weld process considered.

In an industry in which weld personnel playing around with MIG and flux cored weld equipment controls has been the norm for seven decades, it’s hard for some to see the weld reality of the arc weld processes they daily use.

During the last five decades, in my role as Weld Equipment or Weld Training Manager with Airgas, Praxair,  AGA, Liquid Carbonic, and also as the North American ABB Robot Weld Manager, I am well aware of the decades of sales induced, exaggerated Pulsed MIG steel and alloy steels weld claims with MIG equipment that in many instances was often loaded  with useless electronic bells and whistles.

Add to this, the decades of dependence of the majority of weld shops for weld advice from weld sales-reps. most of whom have never worked in or ran a weld shop. And lets not forget the common global  lack of front office ability for weld process ownership and their general lack of awareness of weld process controls, best weld practices  and weld costs. Then one could ask why there is the forty plus MIG gas mixes available to an  industry that  only needs four MIG mixes. 

 

Unfortunately we are all part of an industry that when it comes to weld process and equipment claims, Bovine Fecal Matter has been the norm for decades.

Sales Man Pulsed Claims

LETS START OUT WITH MIG WELD ISSUES & CODE QUALITY WELDS


TLack Of Side Wall Fusion VeHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MIG WELD MASS & WELD ENERGY.  Most weld personnel are not aware that both GMAW (MIG), and also the Rutile EXOT-1, Gas Shielded Flux Cored weld processes have weld metal transfer and arc energy / plasma characteristics in which since the inception of these weld processes, have produced a poor relationship between the weld mass delivered, the weld speeds that result and the amount of weld / part energy generated.


MIG WELD DEFECTS THAT CAN BE GENERATED BY THE WELD PROCESS RATHER THAN BY THE WELDER. 
When a weld shop uses Pulsed MIG or Spray Transfer on steels and alloys > 1/4, (> 6 mm), they typically should see superior fillet or groove weld fusion from the MIG spray mode and that applies to all metals. However MIG spray is too hot for vertical up welds and should likely noThe common weld defects that can be influenced by the weld process are;

  • Lack off or inconsistent weld fusion. (enhanced with steels over 1/4 (>6mm) and with all sluggish alloys.
  • Unacceptable weld porosity or trapped small slag.
  • Cold weld starts, or weld end craters that may have micro weld shrinkage cracks.


MIG POLARITY INFLUENCE ON  DISTORTION, CRACKS AND THE WELD QUALITY & PART PROPERTIES:  With the Reverse Polarity, Electrode Positive Spray and Pulsed MIG  weld transfer modes, you have the majority of the MIG plasma  heat located in the upper portion of the MIG plasma in close proximity to the continuous fed weld wire tip.  This RP localized  energy in the upper portion of the MIG plasma creates a plasma heat concentration that results in the typical large  weld  Heat Affected Zones, and this heat affect also results with  the much colder, arc on – arc off  MIG short circuit weld mode.


Lack Of Side Wall Fusion VeMIG WELD ENERGY GENERATED AND WELD FUSION ATTAINED
:  In many instances you will find with MIG fillet welds, that the weld fusion attained on parts > 6 mm was marginal especially in the side walls. When MIG Spray and Pulsed MIG lack of weld  fusion defects on the metals > 6 mm  are often influenced by the high weld deposition rates that in contrast to SMAW and TIG, result in much faster weld travel rates attained with welds that lack sufficient energy / fluidity  and time required to provide the weld fusion  required.  The lack of fusion may be further exasperated with rapid weave actions as in groove welds,  or as the metal thickness increases, and when welding sluggish alloys like stainless, duplex and  inconel. 

Weld deposition rates have always had have a negative influence on Vertical up and Over head manual Pulsed MIG and also Gas Shielded Flux Cored welds on metals > 6 mm. These two manual,  semi-automated weld  processes will  often require fast movement of the MIG gun which influences both the required manual welder skills and the weld fusion attained.

IF WELD PERSONNEL WOULD USE STRINGERS INSTEAD OF WEAVES THERE WOULD BE EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN ALL MULTI-PASS WELDS.

Lack Of Fusion PorosityMIG WELD STARTS – STOPS,  WELD FUSION – CRATERS – CRACKS. Much of the “manual” MIG welding equipment” available in 2020,  70 plus years after it’s development, lacks the electronic ability to optimize  weld both weld start – stops, these are areas in which weld defects will be common. In contrast,  the additional controls in a robot enable these important features. 

PLEASE NOTE THE INFORMATION ATTAINED HERE IS UNIQUE TO THIS WEB SITE, IT’S NOT INFORMATION YOU WILL HEAR  FROM WELD SALES REPS. & WELD EQUIP.  MANUFACTURERS:

PULSED MIG PEAK TO BACKGROUND CURRENT INFLUENCE ON WELD FUSION:  First I want to point out that if you want to attain the best possible MIG weld fusion, use a CV MIG power source and an 80 -20CO2 gas mix and set the weld in the Spray mode.  When you use Pulsed MIG remember that the MIG plasma / weld  energy is also   influenced the Peak to the LOW  Background weld current fluctuations which do little to enhance weld fusion.

Remember with gauge  welds and aluminum welds less than 5 mm, the weld shop benefits from the lower open arc, lower energy pulsed MIG modes. With thicker metals or sluggish alloys you goal is to attain the best possible weld fusion.

As many have found out when manual Pulsed MIG welding code applications  in which the wall thickness > 6 mm,  in which the internal weld quality is verified WITH X-rays or Ultrasonic NDT , the pulsed MIG weld energy produced will often be insufficient for the weld mass produced and weld travel rates being utilized. 

Lack Of Fusion PorosityMIG & REACTIVE GAS MIXES INFLUENCE ON POROSITY – SLAG ISLANDS: As for weld porosity and small slag entrapment in the MIG welds, apart from the weld mass and weld freeze rates which influences these defects, the weld shop also has to remember that reactive MIG gas mixes that contain CO2 and Oxygen also  influence the formation of these defects, as does the use of the common E70S- 6 MIG wires with argon mixes (too much silicon and manganese. As I have been trying to tell the  apathetic automotive  managers for close to  40 years, when using  argon mixes use an  E70S-3 wire,  and you will see a reduction in slag on those robot welded surfaces. By the way I know a little about MIG gas mixes as I was a key writer of the US. AWS MIG Gas Specifications. 

A sad Lincoln Power Wave,  Automated Robot Crater Control on a Pulsed MIG Aluminum part.Crater


AS YOU CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE REVERSE POLARITY (RP) PULSED MIG  AND FLUX CORED PROCESS, YOU WILL NOTE THAT THESE TWO PROCESSES SIMPLY CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE TIP TIG  ARC PLASMA WELD TEMPERATURE WITH IT’S INERT PLASMA AND  ELECTRODE NEGATIVE POLARITY.

No matter how sophisticated a weld shop’s RP Pulsed MIG power source is today, or will be  tomorrow, to create the pulsed MIG weld drops, the weld shop is first  using an arc weld process that provides approx. 50% of the arc energy  generated by a TIP TIG weld, and also that pulsed MIG welds will spend 50% of  it’s arc time time in a reactive plasma at a low back ground weld current typically between 80 – 120 amps.

For thirty plus years, I have been writing about the never ending lack of weld fusion Achilles Heel of  all position Pulsed MIG welds on steels and alloy steels > 1/4 .  And no matter what electronics  are added to the Pulsed MIG power source, the reality has been with the pulsed background current characteristic  there will  often  be “inadequate weld energy delivered to the weld mass (deposition) provided that drives the weld speeds used”.   I also wrote numerous  pages on this subject at my weldreality.com web site, and also in my training resources and  in my “Management Engineer Guide to MIG”  book.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER MIG WELD TRANSFERS MODES USED FOR OPEN ROOT PASSES?

MIG STT Left – MIG RMD right. Both attaining acceptable 5G root, vert down weld results.

Mig Pipe 3

Above: Ed/ Em Training Exxon / Imperial Oil pipe welders on the different MIG weld transfer modes available to make 5G MIG welds on Nat Gas Pipe.  For rotated open root pipe joints, MIG short circuit will produce welds on par with the STT,  RMD  or any Low pulsed MIG process.

Shortcircuit

Pipe weld shops need to be aware that when they use MIG Short Circuit for rotated pipe root welds, or use RMD or MIG STT or any other low pulsed modes, with the 5G position  pipe root welds, in contrast to TIP TIG, they are using  inferior arc weld processes that  are not only sensitive to wire stick variations but also sensitive to root weld gap and root alignment variations. That sensitivity is not  part of the TIP TIG process  and TIP TIG will enable improved weld continuity with much superior control of arc starts and stops. 

_______________________

Below after flux cored, you will see an introduction to another semi-automated arc weld process called TIP TIG. However to get a real in-depth understanding of the TIP TIG process feature benefits for both welds and metals and also TIP TIG weld application considerations.

 

GAS SHIELDED FLUX CORED WELD DEFECTS CAUSED BY THE PROCESS

Examine the flux cored weld transfer above, and remember this inconsistent  mismatch of flux and molten metal being formed in a reactive gas, and then compare with the TIP TIG weld video below. 

THERE ARE CODE QUALITY WELDS, AND THEN THERE ARE WELDS. When discussing CODE quality welds, their are vast differences of an industries and how they define code quality welds”. For example, most of the AWS code MIG welds made in the  Automotive industry would not be acceptable in the aerospace or defense  industries. As for ship building,  most of the gas shielded flux cored welds on any ship  are not subject to internal weld  NDT,  and if the weld were subject to X-Rays ships would never be built. And as for the structural buildings in states like California in which many of the structural code quality welds are made with Self Shielded Flux Cored weld wires, and to associate  the words “code quality” with these weld wires is simply ridiculous, and its also an indication of the lack of weld expertise that prevails today in N. America. 

  • There are code quality welds required in which internal weld quality is not evaluated.
  • There are code quality welds required on applications in which weld surface or weld edge prep cleanliness is  not optimum.
  • There are code quality welds required in there may not be concerns for the welded part strength or corrosion properties.
  • There are code quality welds that are much more focused on external rather than internal weld quality.

When dealing with code welds, weld shop decision makers of course have to be aware that when they select a weld process the process selected will contribute to the weld  defects generated and as indicated below,  with the gas shielded flux cored weld, it’s beneficial to understand  why weld defects occur. 


Weld Process Controls and Best Weld Practice  Expertise would help analyze the root cause of this  E71T-1 defect.

Flux Aaa

So what is the root cause and why is the issue. Clue it has nothing to do with moisture. Those that have arc weld process control and best weld practices expertise with  the commonly use EGas Shielded Flux Cored process, would know the prime cause of the common weld issue shown below, and they also would be aware that the weld defects had nothing to do with the welder. 

When weld shops select the traditional arc weld processes such as  gas shielded flux cored and Pulsed MIG, there will be many process defects and issues beyond the welders control, why  managers, engineers and supervisors will continue to suck on TUMs,  and when internal weld NDT is required they will rarely  get a good nights sleep.  if you want to minimize (not eliminate) issues with  gas shielded or pulsed MIG  take a moment with my MIG and flux cored weld process control self teaching  / training resources. However if you want to eliminate weld rework select a weld process that is capable and in 2020 there is only one weld process and that’s TIP TIG.

Xaflux Worm

Like MIG, Gas Shielded Flux Cored is another  Reverse Electrode Polarity process, and again this polarity contributes to distortion and the size of the weld’s HAZ. 

Gas Shielded Flux Cored works with argon – 20 – 25% CO2, or if you want more weld fusion, (with more weld fumes) use straight CO2.  (Kobelco is my wire of choice). 

The flux composition of the Rutile EX0T-1 gas shielded wires. produces  a rapid freeze  thin slag that enables control of the  5G welds.  However the slag  also contributes extensively to the many common flux cored weld defects. The slag  composition and thickness is not consistent and sometimes the slag freezes to quickly and  the weld has insufficient slag protection resulting in weld porosity, trapped slag and  extended inline porosity called  Worm tracks.

Flux Cored Slow Motion

The high all position deposition capability with the all position Flux Cored wires, again promote fast weld speeds with welds that lack insufficient weld energy for the weld mass produced. The slag often gets trapped resulting in slag inclusions. The wire flux composition – content is often inconsistent. The flux is also often contaminated with moisture  during wire production or in wire storage and use. producing unexpected porosity and worm tracks. Pulsed MIG on All Position Code Quality Welds.

Left. E71T-1 Gas Shielded Flux Cored wire Vertical Up.  Right. TIP TIG Vertical Up weld. Which weld do you think would pass X-Rays?
  • Flux Tip Tig
The flux Cored weld on left shows “good welder skills” however what the welder or QA personnel  involved with this weld were likely not aware that the weld  surface reveals many internal weld quality issues,  which I am sure the designer of this part could well have done without, (issues described below). On the right, TIP TIG showing what a sound vertical up weld should  look like, and remember this process is also putting the least heat into the parts producing the  (smallest HAZ).  TIP TIG when used in any position on any application with a clean surface, will with all metals, provide the highest weld purity with the most weld fluidity,  and who would not want that on any of their code quality welds.
 

Someone who is interested in weld process optimization and weld controls would take a closer look at the above  Flux Cored weld.  Yes the weld reveals the welder had good skills and a steady hand and we all  know that most weld shops believe that  welder skills drive weld quality. However take a close look. Note the  cold looking sluggish and the  weld surface  irregularity, the scalloped weld edges,  the weld convexity, all are  indications of  insufficient weld fluidity from insufficient weld energy. 

Welds  like the above are often just  given a surface inspection, however if internal weld NDT was applied to the welds on the heavy carbon steel parts, the first thing you would find is extensive Lack of Weld Fusion,  and as I found after 35 years of examining small diameter gas shielded Flux Cored wires and welds, it would almost be impossible with these rapid freeze welds not to find  Excessive Trapped Slag and Porosity.  If I had made the above above Flux Cored welds, I would  have used higher amp settings and given special consideration to the weld-ability and fluidity of the flux core wire selected.

Millerdeltaweld

What many weld shops don’t realize with gas shielded Flux Cored welds, is at the flux cored wire manufacturers, most of the popular  gas shielded Flux Cored welds were developed in the 1980s – 90s   and designed and tested with a CV MIG unit.  If Multi-process or Inverter MIG power sources are used  with these wires in the weld shop, in contrast to the regular CV MIG unit which has a flatter slope output, the more modern electronic weld power sources typically provide a steeper slope output,  and therefore for a given Flux Cored wire feed rate with the CV units,  the Invertors and Multi-process equipment will typically put out 15 to 25% less weld current.  Please be aware that the above info is not attainable from your weld sales rep or equipment mfg. If you want this type of  real world weld process / application info, you may wish to consider my Flux Cored, MIG, and TIP TIG self teaching / training programs below.

Remember with any arc weld, the best possible weld and welded part properties will come from a weld process that provides five prime functions;

  1.  The arc plasma  provides the highest  weld energy.
  2. The weld is protected by an inert atmosphere.
  3. The polarity used is DCEN which enables a fast freeze weld making it easy to use for all positions.
  4. The deposition (weld speeds) and polarity enable the lowest part heat input. Four simple requirements for all code welds on any metals.
  5. The process with all position welds is easy to use.


TIP TIP ENABLES SIMILAR VERTICAL UP WELD SPEEDS TO PULSED MIG. TIP TIG typically delivers 200 to 400%  higher weld deposition rates than DC TIG, producing similar
all position weld travel rates as  pulsed MIG. In contrast to traditional TIG, both the DCEN &  Variable Polarity (alum) TIP TIG process continuously feeds the commonly used 0.035 – 0.045 (1 – 1.2 mm) diameter weld wires into the TIP TIG plasma sweet spot. 

Tip Tig Super Duplex Aaa

When  TIP TIG is  used  on clean applications such as this Super Duplex fillet weld, note the untouched  TIP TIG weld color which reveals lack of oxidation influence with the atmosphere. This is only possible with very low welded part heat input. With TIP TIG, weld shops should always anticipate the cleanest, defect free welds that produce  the smallest weld HAZ, and this  applies to most weld applications > 2 mm. Note try and replicate the fillet 1/4 weld shown on the left with either a duplex, stainless or inconel weld wire and the process of your choice.

TIP TIG is the only arc weld process that enables  the highest arc weld energy with the lowest welded part heat input.

The DC TIP TIG process provides  an arc temperature that can be twice as much as a MIG and FCAW arc.  Keep in mind that with the TIP TIG unique weld wire to arc plasma placement enables with TIP TIG,  improved TIG  plasma coverage over the weld pool. Also the higher TIP TIG weld deposition rates  enable higher TIG weld current to be further adding to the plasma energy. The TIP TIG process therefore simply enables more weld energy and improved weld fluidity than possible with  DC TIG.  

SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE PERFECT WELD LOOKS LIKE WITH AN EASY TO USE  WELD PROCESS THAT PROVIDES THE SAME EXTRAORDINARY WELD QUALITY IN ANY WELD POSITION. 

In contrast to the Pulsed MIG weld  if you want to view  a weld that is optimum in 2020 and will still be optimum in 2050, a weld that provides much higher energy than is possible with any all position weld made with the Pulsed MIG mode or with an EX1T-1 weld wire,  take a close look look at this TIP TIG video.

Carefully examine the TIP weld fluidity, the weld purity being produced, and thanks to the TIP TIG Electrode Negative polarity, the welds produced will  always enable the lowest possible welded part heat for the best possible metallurgical results. No weld spatter. The lowest possible weld fumes and no concerns for weld fusion with those sluggish alloy welds. By the way its also the best weld process for any open root weld,  and it requires less all position welder skills than either MIG or flux cored.

I would hope you will watch this TIP TIG video at least twice as in 2008 when we made this video it was doing something not possible with any other manual arc weld process. It took SpaceX ten years to figure it out, it should take a weld professional who is used to welding stainless 10 minutes.

EVERY SHOP THAT WELDS THIN STAINLESS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF WELD HEAT;
  • Weld Oxidation,  that influences weld cleaning and weld appearance.
  • Weld burn though potential.
  • Weld distortion, too common.
  • Weld cracking with certain alloys.
  • Carbide Precipitation  that influences corrosion.

[] Please take a moment with the above video. Examine the untouched stainless weld surface quality. Examine the silver weld color on this heat sensitive gauge part that reveals lack of oxidation. Think about the improved weld appearance and reduction in weld cleaning.

[] Examine weld fluidity continuity on the surface and toes that suggests high weld energy for the best possible weld fusion and lowest weld porosity.

[] Note the extremely small Heat Affected Zones, that on  stainless welds will enable the lowest weld distortion and with some stainless grades, the least opportunity for carbide precipitation enabling the best possible corrosion properties.

[] Note the TIP TIG weld speeds attained which are as quick as any pulsed MIG weld.

[] Note also with TIP TIG no weld spatter or visible carcinogenic chrome weld fume concerns.

[] Note how the TIP TIG welder on the stainless  fillet can hold the TIP TIG torch just like a MIG gun or  on a pipe weld rest the ceramic nozzle in the groove just like a TIG torch.  

You just watched TIP TIG weld gauge welds producing results not possible with Pulsed MIG, now watch TIP TIG produce the standard 1/4 (6 mm) fillet on this thicker stainless part

Sluggish, oxidation sensitive  Stainless, Duplex and Inconel offers more weld  fusion issues than carbon steel welds, so if the weld shop  can make fluid high energy welds that look like this on stainless, imagine what  the weld shop can  do with all steels and all alloys.

  • Again note weld color.
  • Note weld surface energy.
  • Note small weld HAZ.
  • Note weld speed.
  • Note lack of weld spatter.
  • Note lack of weld fumes. 

THEIR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VALUE GENERATED FROM USING A SEMI-AUTOMATED WELD PROCESS WITH MANUAL WELDS:

For seven decades, the  manual regular DC/AC TIG, required the welder feed the weld wire. And due primarily to the TIG common arc length sensitivity and some other weld issues, for 70 plus years, regular TIG has been poorly suited  as a “Manual Semi-automated” or Fully Automated  arc weld process without fixed arc length or automated arc length adjustment equipment. 

Spray 1

As weld shops are aware, the semi-automated MIG and gas shielded flux cored weld processes when used for flat and horizontal welds, not only enables on average, at least ten times greater weld deposition rate potential than regular DC TIG,  but other important features of the semi-automated  MIG and Flux Cored process,  is the continuous feed of the MIG wire helps in the regulation of the manual weld speeds and  helps deliver  weld wire melt and weld solidification continuity. 

Miller Wire Feed Good

In contrast to TIG, the  MIG wire feeder dramatically reduces both the MIG and flux cored welder skill requirements.  However the reality has been that for seven decades, in contrast to  any MIG weld transfer mode or flux cored weld,  the higher weld energy  DC TIG process with its inert gas protection, has been the process to go to to when the highest manual arc weld quality was desired. To improve TIG it had to become a process capable of being a semi-automated weld process that delivers higher weld deposition rates.



The TIP TIG patented Semi-automated Wire Feeder utilized  for either manual or automated welds, delivers on average 200 to 400% more weld than TIG.

Tip Tig Wire Feeder Xx

TIP TIG in contrast to pulsed MIG is  process that does not require sophisticated electronics. The heart of the Austrian,TIP TIG, Plasch patent,  is a brilliant yet simple, mechanical action that’s delivered to the TIP TIG wire feeder drive rolls.

SOME  SUB SEA  COMPANIES WILL MACHINE  THEIR  CLAD WELDS AND INTERNAL WELD POROSITY IS A CONCERN:

 In contrast to MIG and Flux Cored that use reactive gas mixes,  all  TIP TIP welds can use inert argon. So with TIP TIG, the weld shop has a process that delivers the highest higher weld energy, a slightly agitated weld pool  that assists in porosity escape and those clad welds are protected by an inert gas atmosphere,  therefore you would always anticipate with TIP TIG on any welds, no slag issues, the best possible weld fusion and the lowest weld porosity.

ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR MULTI-PROCESSES .Why on code quality welds would any organization want to purchase the variety of weld equipment and consumables to develop  SMAW – FCAW – TIG – MIG – procedures, and provide the different skills required when all they need is the easier to use TIP TIG  process with one gas and no more than three weld settings for all their code welds.

Its 2020  and ten years have passed since my business partner and I introduced  the TIP TIG process to North America and also Australia, however the reality in this “slow to change industry” in which weld process ownership is  necessary to be the driving force for cost effective weld changes, is often lacking.