Study on the application for electromagnetic controlled molten pool welding process in overhead and flat position welding

In fusion welding, gravity makes a molten metal flow downward and it sometimes causes an irregular shaped weld bead and weld defects such as an undercut. To solve this problem, the authors propose a new electromagnetic controlled molten pool welding process method which controls the molten metal flow by using upward electromagnetic forces, and the applicability of this method to industry is examined. In flat position welding with excessive heat input, the molten metal tends to sag down and an undercut defect is likely to occur. It is found that the upward electromagnetic force given by adjusting the conditions of magnetic field can lift the molten metal up, resulting in the remarkably improved shape of a penetration bead. It is further found that, even in overhead position welding, a well shaped penetration bead without undercuts is obtained by adjusting the welding touch angle as well as magnetic field conditions.