Molten metal produced at the tip or end of a consumable arc welding electrode transfers to the workpiece and weld pool by one of three major modes: (1) globular, (2) spray, (3) and short-circuiting.

Transfer under pulsed current operation is often considered to constitute a fourth mode called “pulsed transfer,” but there is actually no difference in mode, but only in the current at which the globular mode makes transitions to the spray mode.

The various metal transfer modes are important because they change the amount of heat carried to the workpiece and weld pool, and thus the deposition rate, and greatly affect control of the molten weld pool in out-of-position welding. For example, welding over- head is facilitated by short-circuiting transfer, where capillary attraction helps overcome the effects of gravity on the molten metal. The physics underlying each mode are covered in the Welding Handbook, 8th Edition, Volume 1: Miami, Florida: American Welding Society, 1989.

See also GLOBULAR METAL TRANSFER, SPRAY TRANSFER, Arc Welding, and SHORT CIRCUITING TRANSFER.

 

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