Automatic CO2 welding with 3–5 mm diameter wire electrodes

The introduction of this welding method has reduced the labor content of the jobs considerably. For example, the earlier process of submerged-arc welding of 16 mm thick metal involved I.I standard-hours of labor per meter of weld. Introduction of CO 2 welding with 5 mm diameter wire electrodes has reduced the labor content to 0.52 standard-hour per meter of weld. The increase in productivity has been achieved by eliminating the use of flux, changing the form of edge preparation of the parts, and increasing the welding speed from 21-24 m/h (with submerged-arc welding) to 46-50 m/h (with CO 2 welding).