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Aluminum weld differences

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:52 am
by John107
Hello, I am welding 1/8” 5052 aluminum for work, we do a corner joint at 120-160 amps, pure 3/32” tungsten, 3/32” aluminum filler. we have a sister company doing the exact same boxes but their welds have a little wrinkle, or somewhat of a ripple looking bead in every dab instead of a smooth looking dime. I am wondering if it’s caused by an automatic wire feeder like a tip rig or some sort of robot?
What causes the wrinkles/ ripples in each dab?

Re: Aluminum weld differences

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:42 am
by tweake
quite possibly using pulse which can give the fine ripples, but bigger dimes can be from doing double fill to build up the dime.
however i have also seen this look from double pulse mig.

Re: Aluminum weld differences

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:32 am
by cj737
Could be pulsed MIG, my money is on a different filler and less heat. The smoothed out beads look a bit hot while the stacked up bead looks like a different filler and a longer travel step to me. Both are good welds to the eye, it’s often just down to different people’s techniques.