FRENCH AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURER IMPRESSED BY EASY OPERATION

ESAB welding technology is helping Faurecia, a Global French automotive manufacturer, save time and improve the way it weld prototypes.

Faurecia is currently working with ESAB’s Aristo power sources in production and evaluating the performance of the QSet feature. Aristo is a hardware system consisting of several inverters which can be used with QSet, ESAB’s latest innovation in maximising the benefits of MIG/MAG power sources.

QSet consists of software, which is expected to transform short arc welding. A push on the QSet button and a few seconds of test welding is all it takes to find optimal short arc parameter settings - automatically. Benefits include ease and speed of set up, savings in time and improved weld quality.

The process will then operate at a proper short arc frequency with its characteristic sound. This procedure will be repeated for different welding positions, plate thickness, wire type or shielding gas, because they all have an effect on the short circuit frequency.

The short circuit frequency is also influenced by the stick-out length and choke setting. The choke setting also affects heat input, along with the arc voltage and wire feed speed. More choke results in a longer arc period, a lower short circuit frequency, and a higher heat input.

Faurecia purchased a Mig 3000i with QSet for use in the company’s R&D facility located in Bavans, France. Parallel tests have also been carried out using the equipment in prototype production at the Fuerth in Germany. “We have been using the equipment for a year“, said Andreas Ernst, Process Development, North Europe Exhaust Systems Product Group, Europe Division, Faurecia. “It is very easy to set the parameters”, explained Mr Ernst. “Press any one button. If you have more than one welder you only have to press one button for each welder.”

Mr Ernst said that ESAB’s QSet system also has the advantage that it enables welding parameters to be set easily and quickly for several welders. He said this means that it caters for variations in work rate as some welders “work a little slower and some a little faster. Also, it is very easy to set up. If you change the type of welding wire you only need to press one button.”

It is essential to achieve a balance between wire feed speed and burn-off rate in order to  be successful when short arc welding. The arc voltage and wire feed speed need to be carefully matched. A skilled welder will choose an approximate setting. Then he or she will adjust the arc voltage and wire feed speed until the optimal setting is found. Aristo used in conjunction with QSet makes it much easier to balance those parameters.