Arc Welding Polarity Control for Short-Circuit Cycle Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Arc welding techniques face challenges in maintaining a constant cycle of welding current due to short-circuits between the welding wire and the base material, leading to non-uniformity and deteriorated bead appearance.

Innovation Solution

An arc welding method and device that alternately repeat reverse and positive polarity periods, with a controller managing the welding current and feeding speed to detect and manage short-circuits, ensuring a consistent cycle by adjusting the current and feeding speed to prevent short-circuit-induced non-uniformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If AC pulse arc welding is performed with alternating reverse and positive polarity periods, then welding quality is improved, but the cycle uniformity deteriorates when short-circuits occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding qualityVSAvoidcycle uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The controller detects short-circuits in advance during the polarity periods and takes preliminary action by determining whether to invert the polarity based on the detected short-circuit state. This prevents the short-circuit from disrupting the predetermined cycle, as the polarity inversion decision is made proactively rather than reactively after the cycle is already disrupted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the welding state by detecting short-circuits between the welding wire and base material. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to adjust polarity inversion timing dynamically while maintaining overall cycle uniformity, resolving the contradiction between adapting to short-circuits and maintaining stable cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If control is interrupted from the start of short-circuit to opening of short-circuit, then the short-circuit is handled, but the cycle uniformity deteriorates due to added short-circuit time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort-circuit handlingVSAvoidcycle uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The controller determines whether to invert polarity based on the short-circuit detection state before the short-circuit fully disrupts the cycle. By making the polarity inversion decision proactively during the short-circuit event rather than waiting for it to complete, the system handles the short-circuit reliably while preventing it from adding time to the welding cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the welding current cycle is non-uniform due to short-circuit time addition, then short-circuits are managed, but bead appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort-circuit managementVSAvoidbead appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By determining polarity inversion based on the short-circuit detection state in advance, the system prevents short-circuit-induced timing variations from affecting the welding cycle. This maintains uniform current cycles that produce consistent bead appearance while still managing short-circuits effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method effectively prevents non-uniformity of the welding current cycle caused by short-circuits, maintaining a consistent welding process and improving bead quality by controlling the welding current and feeding speed during short-circuit events.

Implementation Method 1

a welding current is caused to flow through the welding wire and the base material to alternately repeat a reverse polarity period and a positive polarity period, and thus generating an arc between the welding wire and the base material to weld the base material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric Arc: Electric Arc

Data Source

PatentEP3974094B1Arc welding method and arc welding device
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3974094B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3974094B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3974094B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In arc welding in which a welding wire serving as a consumable electrode is fed toward a base material and a welding current is caused to flow through the welding wire and the base material to alternately repeat a reverse polarity period and a positive polarity period, after a short circuit between the welding wire and the base material is detected, a feeding speed of the welding wire is changed from a first feeding speed to a second feeding speed on a negative side of the first feeding speed when a speed in a direction toward the base material is defined as positive.