Metal transfer characteristics of tandem narrow gap GMAW for flat welding position

A series of experiments of tandem narrow gap GMAW for flat welding position were carried out. The arc behavior and metal transfer process were observed by a high-speed photography system. The effects of the welding parameters on the metal transfer were investigated. The results show that the arc behavior and metal transfer process of tandem narrow gap GMAW are different from these of bead-on-plate tandem GMAW. The arc behavior and metal transfer process are influenced by the distance between the two wires, the peak voltage, the pulse frequency and the peak time. With the increase of the distance between the two wires, the metal transfer mode gradually transforms from one pulse-multi droplets into one pulse-one droplet, and the average welding current increases. With the increase of the peak voltage, pulse frequency or peak time, the metal transfer mode transforms from one pulse-one droplet into one pulse-multi droplets, and the arc tends to occur between the wire and the sidewall.