All welcome. If you became interested in welding, then this article will be very helpful. Today we will talk about the length of the arc. The length of this arc gap between the electrode and the workpiece in which the arc discharge.
The arc length depends on the diameter of the electrode and can be chosen in the range Ldugi = 0.5d - 1.2 d, where d - diameter of this electrode. For example, consider an electrode diameter of 3 mm, then it turns out that the run length of the welding arc can be from 1.5 mm to 3.6 mm. For quality and good weld penetration electrode should be kept as close as possible to the workpiece. Conventionally, the arc length is divided into 3 groups - short arc (0.5 - 1 d electrode), average (1-1.2 d electrode) long arc (more than 1.5 d electrode). Brew a short arc seams in the bottom position, the horizontal to vertical and vertical, ceiling and root welds. A short arc is used in 90 percent of the welding. Short-arc obtained a good defense and good weld pool penetration details.
Average arc is used for welding and surfacing in the lower position. In the arc of average length of a large area of the heating parts and less depth of penetration. A use is not recommended here long arc. Here you can get a whole bunch of weld defects and the seam is very dubious quality.
How to manually define and expose the length of the arc? There is only one recommendation - a little practice and experiment. You will quickly realize the optimum length of an arc on the quality of the resulting weld and ease of welding this arc length, and even the sound of welding - cham longer arc of the louder the sound will be. Only in practice, because no probes to the arc gap has not yet been invented!
