How to cook semi-automatic? Semiautomatic welding modes. Semiautomatic machine for aluminum welding

Welding is a whole art. Professional welders are valued almost in weight of gold everywhere: they are not enough not only for household needs, but also for industry. This is largely due to the fact that not every specialist knows all the technological aspects of complex production operations.

For example, not even at all enterprises know how to cook semi-automatic. This article is devoted to our article.

General concepts

Welding semiautomatic device is now called a device by means of which arc welding is performed. Its feature is that in the role of an electrode is a steel wire, in the welding process continuously fed into the device. Semiautomatic mechanism is because the welder manually performs a continuous feed of the wire.

Classification of automata

Classify semi-automatic welding devices for the type of protection of the weld :

• Apparatus for welding metal under flux;
• Semi-automatic systems for welding in inert gases;
• Automatic machines, where a special flux cored wire is used as an electrode.

Let's notice, that devices for welding under a flux already for a long time are not used in the domestic industry as they are brewed by a semiautomatic device of this type only on old technologies that are rarely found in developed industrial states. Where are more common and convenient welding semiautomatic machines, the technological process of which involves the use of neutral gases. In particular, the flux wire is most often cooked this way.

In addition, there is a classification according to the type and characteristics of the wire used in the work:

• Automatic machines in which a solid steel electrode is used;
• Welding system with solid aluminum wire;
• Universal models (allows the use of both types of electrodes).

Share welding machines and the nature of their mobility:

• Stationary models have found wide distribution in the environment of heavy metallurgical industry.
• Their antipodes are portable varieties, which can transport only one person.
• A reasonable alternative to both of the above options are mobile modules that can be transported on a special automobile chassis. Since they are brewed by a semi-automatic machine of this type in the field, the apparatus is equipped with the most "tenacious" components.

It should be borne in mind that modern industry produces hundreds of models of semi-automatic welded systems, which can vary significantly in their characteristics. With their help they connect not only steel, but also aluminum and other metals. In the shops of automobile factories, similar mechanisms are involved in the production of bodies.

Semi-automatic welding modes

Since a welder who works with such equipment, daily has to deal immediately with several types of metals, manufacturers have introduced into their production a variety of welding modes semi-automatic. Among them, an experienced specialist will be able to select the one that is ideal for each specific case. Let's look at their main varieties:

• A mode with a short circuit of a welding arc and without it.
• Large, medium and small droplet species.
• Modes with spraying of flux and without it.

The use of this or that type depends both on the type of the metal to be welded and on the purpose of the particular part. For welders to be easier to navigate, there is also a more detailed classification:

• Cyclic welding when a short arc is used;
• Point type;
• Pulse welding;
• Variant with the jet movement of the weld metal;
• Welding under the condition of continuous circular metal transfer.

If carbonic acid is used (see above), in practical conditions, the pulsed-arc mode is most often chosen. As a rule, the current is constant, reverse polarity. In this case, the rate of melting of the metal is not too high, but the welding arc is much more stable, and the resulting weld is much stronger.

What should be in the kit?

The kit should include a power transformer, a burner and a wire feeder, cables and sleeves for inert gas supply, and a computerized system for controlling welding processes. The electrode in the technological operations zone is fed automatically, which distinguishes such mechanisms from completely mechanical analogues. All other activities the welder performs manually.

Advantages of semi-automatic welding machines

• A huge advantage is the fact that it is possible to weld a metal whose thickness does not exceed 0.5 mm.
• Rust and even quite serious contaminations of welded metal are not an obstacle to the quality performance of the work.
• The cost of work (in comparison with other types of welding) is very low, since the cost of basic consumables is low.
• It is important that with the help of a semi-automatic machine on a copper wire, it is possible to connect parts made of galvanized steel, and the coating itself will remain completely intact.

Weaknesses in technology

• If there is no possibility to use an inert gas, the metal starts to "boil" quite strongly, and the spray of scales disperses for a considerable distance.
• From the open arc, there is a strong enough radiation, so that this moment also should not be forgotten.

Where is most often used semi-automatic

Despite some negative features, semi-automatons are intensively used in the car repair business. Most often this technology is used for welding steel, as well as aluminum. Argon is mainly used as an inert gas. In addition, steel is often welded in carbon dioxide.

A bit about the feeder mechanism

We have already mentioned why the devices of this type are semi-automatic. Since the welder, by the nature of his work, will have to constantly work with the mechanism that feeds the electrode (wire) to the working area, it will be superfluous to learn about all the existing types of such devices. To date, these are distinguished at once by three:

• Drawing varieties.
• Feeding mechanisms pushing type.
• Universal modifications: a wire for welding a semiautomatic device in this case can be any.

Getting Started

As in other cases, which in one way or another relate to work with welding machines, in advance you will need to properly configure all your equipment. First, you should choose the current, guided by the thickness of the metal to be welded and the instructions attached to the machine. As a rule, there is a special table in the documents, in which the welding technology is described in detail. Note that with a low welding current the work of the device leaves much to be desired.

Guided by the same instruction, set the required electrode feed rate to the working area. It can be adjusted by appropriately selecting the replacement gears for the gearbox. Be sure to check the current and voltage before starting work!

If you intend to weld an important technological product, be sure to check the correctness of all the settings on any test sample. Accordingly, the results of the tests should be the final adjustment (if necessary). If you correctly set up the welding machine, the best evidence of this will be a smooth and stable welded arc.

Is it possible to boil with a semi-automatic without inert gas?

Without any doubt, with the help of an inert gas, welding works are carried out with the maximum quality. That's only for individuals who rarely use welding, buying a whole gas cylinder is economically inexpedient. Is welding a semi-automatic without gas?

An excellent alternative is flux or flux cored wire. In this case, it is made of a steel tube, inside which the flux is pressed. When it burns, a local zone is formed above the welding site, protected by its vapor. Note that in this case a direct current must be used.

This is how the semi-automatic welding without gas is performed.

We make steel products

First, put the switch on the "Forward" position, which is responsible for feeding the electrode (wire). Then fill the existing funnel with flux. Important! The holder must be positioned in such a way that the feed end of the funnel is exactly in the welding zone, otherwise the flux will go wrong and you will observe a huge amount of fun scaling.

Open the flap on the tank with the flux, then start to lightly scour the electrode at the welding location, while pressing the "Start" button. After this, an arc appears. You can start working.

And how is welding of aluminum semi-automatic?

We make aluminum parts

Aluminum is a metal, from the point of view of welders being very complex. On its surface there is a sufficiently thick layer of amalgam, which not only prevents conventional welding of metal, but also is extremely quickly restored after any contact with oxygen in the air. Therefore, it is desirable to know all aspects of this work well, because otherwise you will not be able to make a reliable and qualitative weld on a metal.

This is how the welding of aluminum semi-automatic.

Semiautomatic Arc Welding

Just note that with this method of work allowed only aluminum wire, which is used as an electrode. Note that because of its softness, it often forms loops in the current collector, and therefore have to use their special models, designed specifically for the use of aluminum.

The most commonly used welding with argon (semi-automatic in this environment is more convenient to work), and the quality of gas should be paid special attention. The pressure to choose is the most difficult: it should be sufficient to reliably protect the welded bath, but at the same time do not exceed the limit values, since in this case the air is sucked.

What are the tasks facing the welder?

• First, you need to thoroughly clean all parts of the parts intended for welding from dirt and paint.
• Remains of dirt must be cleaned with chemical solvents.
• As we already said, you should first make a trial weld, as the hardware settings may not be very successful.
• It is very important to correctly choose the current and voltage: a weak current will not break amalgam. In addition, you need to carefully approach the protection of the weld pool.

All other operations are no different from those described above.

In what environment is it best to weld body parts of cars?

Based on the experience of leading enterprises, we would strongly recommend using only semi-automatic for welding aluminum in carbon dioxide during body repair. This approach has many advantages, which we will discuss below.

Firstly, the real zone of thermal deformation of the material is very small, which makes it possible to weld even narrow details without problems, without fear of losing their appearance. Even if the part has already been painted, the pigment burns out locally, and the damage is small. This gives an excellent opportunity to save on the finish painting and preparing the details for it.

Even welding with a semiautomatic stainless steel is carried out very quickly and with a minimum amount of waste.

The rate of melting of the wire with this method is very high. This provides excellent labor productivity and high quality of work. The latter circumstance is better that the seam is obtained extremely neat and qualitative. In addition, you do not have to frantically calculate the fractions of millimeters, joining the details: losses in the metal is very small, so that you can reliably weld even very small parts.

Even those compounds that are made up of elements of different thickness, will please the quality of the welded joint. It should be added that carbon dioxide is cheap, and inverter semiautomatic welding is quickly mastered by not too experienced employees.

Welding technology for vertical seams

We did not accidentally put this topic in a separate paragraph. The fact is that the heat in this case rises from the bottom up, which prevents quality welding. That is why all vertical seams are cooked strictly from top to bottom. The burner should be directed slightly upwards, as in this case the heat necessary for the welding bath is much better kept. Note that you need to weld as quickly as possible, since you will need to prevent the occurrence of molten metal flows. Be sure to hold the electrode on the front edge of the bathtub.

Here's how to cook semi-automatic. Good luck with your work!