Wire Feed Unit
The wire feed unit delivers the welding wire precisely and consistently to the process location. It ensures the stability of the welding process.
Physico-chemical mechanism of action
The wire feed unit controls the speed at which the welding wire is delivered to the torch. This directly affects the amount of metal that is melted off and processed into a weld bead with each pass through the torch.
Metallurgical relevance & risks in welding
An inaccurate or unstable feed speed can lead to uneven weld seam runs. This can result in porosity, deformation, or even cracks in the seam. Too high a speed can also lead to overheating of the wire and thus to an altered structure and lower toughness.
Workshop practice & action instructions
To ensure a stable weld seam, the feed speed must be set precisely. This is done in millimeters per minute (mm/min). For general use on steel with a torch, a feed of 10 to 20 mm/min is recommended. For special metals or process requirements, the speed can vary, so it is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and, if necessary, check by experiments.