Selection of current for tungsten inert gas welding

It should be between 120 and 180; many studies mention this figure, but there may be variations, so you can check it out.

It’s hard to define this. During automatic welding, the current should be kept low; its level should be such that it is sufficient to melt the welding wire and the base material. During manual welding, a higher current is used, and the welder can adjust the welding angle and the height of the welding torch while welding.

In manual TIG welding, the selection of welding current depends on the electrodes, the material and thickness of the base metal, the welding position, the number of weld layers, and the welding speed. It has no direct relation to the diameter of the welding wire, as the wire serves only as a filler material and does not participate in conducting electricity or generating the arc. It is the electrodes that conduct electricity and create the arc, with the current intensity needing to reach a certain level to ensure an appropriate current density. However, the current level is also limited by the diameter of the electrodes – too high a current can cause the electrodes to melt. For root pass welding, a lower current is required, mainly to ensure proper formation on the back side of the weld (this is especially important in double-sided welding processes). A higher current can be used for subsequent fill passes. When welding stainless steel, it is essential to control the heat input, which includes both the welding speed and the welding current. As for materials with high heat transfer coefficients such as aluminum and copper, a higher current is necessary to ensure the melting of the base metal. In this context, mentioning only the diameter of the welding wire provides a rather wide range of possible currents, which offers no practical guidance for actual welding operations. If it comes to welds on pressure vessels, don’t forget to conduct welding procedure qualification as well.

What was said upstairs is just one’s own opinion; the choice of current mainly depends on…

The welding current used in tungsten inert gas welding is limited by the current-carrying capacity of the tungsten electrode; as a result, the arc power is low, the arc penetration is weak, the weld depth is shallow, and the welding speed is slow. Additionally, the tungsten electrode needs to be replaced frequently during the welding process. The type and magnitude of welding current are generally determined based on the material of the workpiece. The magnitude of the welding current is the most important parameter determining the weld depth; it is primarily determined based on the material and thickness of the workpiece, the type of joint, and the welding position, with factors such as the welder’s skill level (in the case of manual welding) also being taken into consideration at times.

100-150A; cooling is required for values over 150A

Does a change in the diameter of TIG welding wire require a new welding procedure qualification? Thank you