Test for Measurement of Spattering Level and Reach in MIG/MAG Welding

Spattering represents loss of material that should be deposited and requires extra effort for surface cleaning. Spattering is undesired and should be minimized. Different approaches have been proposed in the technical literature for spattering reduction in MIG/MAG process. However, a fundamental question must be answered: how to thoroughly quantify the spattering levels in welding? In this work an experimental test is proposed. It basically consists to collect the spatters generated during the execution of weld beads with the MIG/MAG process in the short-circuit metal transfer mode. The spatter generation qualification is done in a standard spatter collector, through the separation and collection of material in three distinct regions. Quantitatively, this experiment provides the index Deposition Rate, Total Percent Distribution by Reach and Total Percent Distribution by Spatters' Size for each reach range.