Weld width
The distance between the outer fusion lines across the surface of the weld bead. It indicates the lateral heat distribution and torch manipulation during welding.
The weld width depends directly on the size of the molten pool. The more heat you put in, the wider the melt becomes and the slower the weld cools down again. This affects the structure: a wide weld cools slowly, the grain grows and distortion increases. A narrow weld, on the other hand, cools quickly, which can lead to hard, brittle structure and poor sidewall fusion. So always adapt the weld width to the sheet thickness and position. For wide welds, it's better to use multiple layers instead of one thick, wide bead. And when welding thick sheets, make sure the weld doesn't become too narrow, otherwise you'll cool too quickly.