Spot Welding
Questions and Answers
All spot welding electrodes wear in the same manner. They mushroom - The nose diameter grows larger with use.
SEVERE MUSHROOMED ELECTRODE
The mushrooming does not change the schedule or settings of the welder but it does change the path the current takes into the part. The contact surface area grows as the electrode face grows. Therefor the same current is spread over a larger area and the weld zone is not as concentrated and cools down. The current density has reduced. With time the weld strength reduces and will fail to meet quality standards unless corrective measures are taken. The chart below demonstrates the change in electrode face versus current requirements.
There are two methods to correct for this wear. One is to use the control to make regular increases in the current to match the face increase in size. The amount and frequency of these changes is developed by trial and error. If is usually a couple of amps each weld or several amps every 50 or 100 welds.
The other method is to dress (remachine) the electrode face back to the original diameter before it is too large. Then continue to weld. This can be done on the machine with automatic or hand dressers or remove and replace the worn electrode and reface on a lathe to return later to the weld line.
For additional information read Articles:
HOW DO I DETERMINE A TIP DRESSING FREQUENCY OR PROGRAM FOR A SPOT WELDING ELECDTRODE?
ON THIS SITE SEARCH FOR “DRESS”
Reference: RWMA – Resistance Welding Manual, 4th Edition
Pressure is one of the major component of the welding process Pressure, Current & Time (PCT). In most weld schedules pressure is called out as a force value. Pressure is this same value as force but applied to the surface area of the electrode contact face. See the article - How are force and pressure related?
Pressure is important because it provides the necessary mechanical force holding the two or more surfaces together during the welding sequence. This insures a good current path and contains the molten metal that may form to prevent expulsion. During the hold/solidification sequence the pressure/force provides a forging action which can strengthen the weld nugget.
Additionally changes in the force value up or down can change the heat generated in the part due to the change in the contact resistance. For example, more force means better contact and less contact resistance. The electrode contact face will run cooler. This can create or reduce electrode face wear or sticking and shift heat balance toward the part interface. Indentation may also be reduced. The opposite can be done with less force.
When seam welding a lap seam or a mash seam weld just as in a spot weld generally some amount of material is displaced along the edge of the wheel as it travels along the material. The amount and shape of this material or weld flash could be of sufficient amount to be considered a burr. The material we are talking about is the same material formed around the nose of a spot weld electrode as it welds. All resistance welds seam or spot can leave some deformed material around the periphery of the weld zone. This upset or forging contributes to the strength of the weld. Generally this is not enough to be called a burr but in some cases the indentation could be cosmetically offensive if the surface were to be subsequently painted or were in a very visible location like the hood of a car. Product designers avoid welds in these locations.
Where seam welds generate visible indentations or slight raised areas which are not desired, they can be treated as cosmetic welds. The weld schedule and electrodes, in this case weld wheels are selected to reduce the amount of heating and expulsion on the side of the part where the marking or burr condition is not wanted. The wheel weld face might be increased. The force may be increased. This reduces contact resistance and surface heating. Adjustments to current and weld speed can be made. All of these would be made with the intent of reducing the surface heat and amount of material being expelled or pushed out during the welding process.
Medium frequency systems can vary from 600 – 4000 Hz frequency. Most resistance welding systems are manufactured in the 1000 Hz range. Mid frequency welding can offer many advantages including weight reduction, power reduction and cycle refinement. So one might ask would more than 1000 Hz be better. At this time there are a few applications resistance welding applications using frequencies approaching 2000 Hz. The use of these higher frequency appears designed to take advantage of additional equipment weight reductions realized on some sizes.
Units at all of these frequencies would offer weight reductions, power savings and the cycle refinement expected with mid frequency resistance welding.
At this time for economic reasons the preponderance of business remains at 1000 Hz.
Units at higher mid frequencies above 2000 Hz may be in the market but are not know to the author at this time.
Reference: RWMA - Resistance Welding Manual 4th Edition
If the resistance welding application is a high speed high power application requiring a lot of power, considerable cooling will be required. This is normally supplied by water systems in the form of city water, recirculated cooling towers or chillers. When cooling is critical due to unusual power and heat being generated attention must be taken to insure that:
Critical components are tested for adequate flow at the proper temperatures.
Water tubes are properly positioned
Chill block and all cooling channels are free of blockages
Chill blocks may need to have additional cooling channels
An upgrade from city or water tower to a chiller may be needed
Water flow meters should be installed and monitored on individual components
Yes, one could consider liquid nitrogen cooling. It is very cold, -195 deg C (-320 deg F). This extreme temperature is well below the 18-29 deg C (65-85 deg F) the AWS J1.2 recommended cooling temperature for a resistance welder.
Should one use liquid nitrogen cooling for resistance welding? Liquid nitrogen probably is not practical.
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