An alternative method for optimizing the parameters process Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) of mild steel using the Taguchi method: A case study

Abstract

Parameters in welding play an important role in determining the quality of weld joints. The quality of Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is influenced by variables such as welding current, arc voltage, and welding travel speed. Generally, all welding processes that have been carried out are determined according to the welding joint by knowing the desired weld parameters. In this research, experiments were carried out using welding currents, travel speed, and angle of the electrode as input process parameters to evaluate various reactions of weld bead geometry and weld defects. The optimum values were analyzed through the Taguchi method to determine the best choice using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum parameters for welded joints are current welding (84A), angle of the electrode (86.70°), and travel speed (46.80 mm/min). Finally, the effect of an angle of an electrode in this experiment will cause a lack of penetration, incomplete fusion, and uneven width bead during welding in progress. When the angle has been set to a high degree, the penetration becomes faster. Therefore, when the angle has been set to a low degree, it is more in a steady state which is there slowly penetrates the root face. Also when it is having been set in combination with an optimization parameter, there weld bead geometry, and root face will be better.