Current research status and prospect of metal transfer process control methods in gas metal arc welding

Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is widely used in the fields of precision, high-efficiency welding, and wire arc additive manufacturing. The significance of the research on metal transfer is to fundamentally improve the stability and welding quality of the GMAW process so that the process has high-quality and high-efficiency properties at the same time, which is suitable for modern precision welding and rapid additive manufacturing. To achieve precise control of heat transfer, mass transfer, and force transfer in the welding process, it is necessary to optimize and control the metal transfer process. This paper briefly introduces the basic principles and process characteristics of several current advanced metal transfer control processes. Based on the difference in metal transfer control method or welding process, it is divided into three categories: additional external force-driven metal transfer, precision regulation based on the current waveform, hybrid welding, and multi-electrode arc welding control. Based on the development of current welding processes, the future trends of droplet transfer control and welding systems are prospected.