GMAW Unit 1 Lesson 1
Objective: Demonstrate proper setup and maintenance of GMAW equipment.

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) uses an electric arc to melt a consumable wire electrode and fuse it with the base metal. The arc generates an intense heat of 6,000 to
10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The process normally operates with direct current electrode positive (DCEP).

The wire electrode is fed by the wire feeder through the gun cable to the welding gun.
The electric current is transferred from the power source through the gun cable and to the contact tip.
The contact tip conducts the electric current to the wire electrode.
The gun cable also transports the shielding gas to through the gas diffuser and out the nozzle.
The welding arc is stabilized and the molten filler and base metal are protected from oxidation by the shielding gas.

A.) Gas Machine Arc Welding
B.) Gas Metal Arc Welding
C.) Gas Material Arc Welding
D.) Gas Method Arc Welding

A.) Through the gun cable and liner
B.) Through the contact tube
C.) Through the wire feed rolls
D.) Through the gas diffuser

GMAW machines can come in 2 types.
The most common being the power source and wire feeder in one unit.
The second type is when the power source and wire feeder are separate machines connected to each other.
Regardless of the machine type. The GMAW process has two main controls.

Wire speed- controls the amperage or heat

Voltage- controls the arc gap

The basic power supply used for GMAW is designed for the process. It is called a
Constant Potential (CP) or more commonly
Constant Voltage (CV).
The Arc gap is controlled by the machine voltage. CV machines maintain a constant voltage by varying the amperage to maintain a consistent arc gap.

Standard Gun
Push Pull Gun
Spool Gun

A.) Constant Current
B.) Alternating Current
C.) Variable Voltage
D.) Constant Voltage

There are 3 basic types of metal transfer associated with
GMAW.

Short Circuit Transfer

Globular Transfer

Spray Transfer

Commonly referred to as short arc, this is probably the most widely used method of metal transfer. As the wire electrode touches the base metal a short circuit is created causing the electrode to melt through and deposit molten metal into the weld joint.
There are advantages and disadvantages to the short arc transfer mode.
Advantages:
• Low heat input
• Welds in all positions
• Welds thin gauge materials
• Can be used to bridge gaps in some weld joints
Disadvantages:
• Small diameter wire, expensive.
• Spatter
• Cold starts, can cause cold lap on restarts.
• Limited to materials 1/8” thick or less.

A.) Small diameter wire, expensive.
B.) Spatter
C.) Cold starts, can cause cold lap on restarts.
D.) Welds in all positions

The globular mode of metal transfer happens when the electrode melts and burns off before touching the base metal. Forming a molten droplet falls and then melts to the base metal.
Advantages:
• High deposition rate
• High quality welds are possible
• Good penetration at high speeds
Disadvantages:
• Considerable amount of smoke and spatter
• Rough weld appearance
• Can only be used in the flat position

A.) High deposition rate
B.) Can only be used in the flat position
C.) High quality welds are possible
D.) Good penetration at high speeds

Spray-Arc often called Spray Transfer is a metal transfer mode where the electrode is fed into the weld zone and melted off above the base metal. Electromotive force propels the molten electrode to the base metal.
Advantages:
• Very little or no spatter
• High quality welds
• High metal deposition
• Faster welding speeds
• Deep penetration
Disadvantages:
• Very large weld pool
• Very fluid weld pool
• Can only be used in the flat position when making groove welds
• Can only be used in the flat and horizontal position when making fillet welds



A.) High quality welds
B.) High metal deposition
C.) Faster welding speeds
D.) Can only be used in the flat and horizontal position when making fillet welds

A variation to the spray transfer process, pulsed spray is a method of pulsing the current forcing a drop of filler material from the end of the electrode at controlled time in the welding cycle.
Advantages:
• Greater metal deposition at lower amperage levels.
• Decreased warpage is possible
• Decreased need for jigs or weld tooling
• All positions
Disadvantages:
• Need for special power supplies
• Requires special gas mixtures