Analysis of Welding Arc Phenomenon with Image Processing

An image processing system with high-speed digital video camera was developed to analysis welding arc phenomena of MAG welding process. Vibration of the tip of welding wire, size of droplet, arc length, angle of the tip of welding wire, tracks and an amount of spatter are analyzed from recorded video images. A welding wire was tested with bead on plate welding to confirm the availability of the system. As a result, arc phenomena except counting an amount of spatter were successfully analyzed quantitatively. The amount of spatter estimated by the system was agreed with the tendency of outbreak of spatter.