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14 Welding Procedure Specification Variables

The document discusses the important variables that should be specified in a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS). Some of the key variables include: 1) The welding process used 2) Electrode specification for the type of electrode or wire 3) Electrical characteristics such as polarity and current or wire feed speed 4) Base material specification and any required preheat or interpass temperatures 5) Position of welding 6) Details of the joint design A WPS provides detailed instructions for depositing a sound weld and specifying values for these critical variables.

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Mongy Ismail
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186 views

14 Welding Procedure Specification Variables

The document discusses the important variables that should be specified in a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS). Some of the key variables include: 1) The welding process used 2) Electrode specification for the type of electrode or wire 3) Electrical characteristics such as polarity and current or wire feed speed 4) Base material specification and any required preheat or interpass temperatures 5) Position of welding 6) Details of the joint design A WPS provides detailed instructions for depositing a sound weld and specifying values for these critical variables.

Uploaded by

Mongy Ismail
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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14 Welding Procedure Specification

Variables

A Welding Procedure Specification has several variables

which should be carefully specified.  The values selected for the


variables discussed below have a significant impact on weld
soundness and mechanical properties. It is critical that these
values be appropriate for the specific requirements of applicable
code and job specifications.  Some of the most important
variables in a WPS are the following.
Sample Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)

1. Process – The ideal welding process is that which provides the highest
efficiencies while still achieving at the very least the minimum required
mechanical properties. Common arc welding processes are SMAW, GTAW,
FCAW-S, FCAW-G, GMAW, SAW.
2. Electrode Specification – This is the specification assigned by AWS to the
electrode (i.e. E7018, ER70S-6, EM12K, etc.).
3. Electrode Diameter – Specifies the size of the electrode (.030”, .035”, .040”, .
045, .052”, 1/16”, 1/8”, etc.)
4. Electrical Characteristics – Preferred or required polarity (DC+, DC-, AC)
5. Base Material Specification – ASTM number or other designator for the base
material or materials being joined.
6. Minimum Preheat and Interpass Temperature – If required, the temperature
that the base material needs to reach before welding can commence (preheat), and
the temperature at which the material needs to be between welding passes
(interpass temperature).
7. Welding Current or Wire Feed Speed – Amperage at which welding will be
done.  This can be expressed as current (amps) or inches per minute (wire feed
speed).  For current and/or WFS a range is usually specified instead of a specific
value.
8. CTTWD – Contact tip to work distance must be specified.  It is not an essential
variable, meaning if you change it does not require requalification, but maybe it
should be.  Slight changes to CTTWD can significantly increase or decrease
amperage.
9. Arc Voltage – Welding voltage, usually specified for a wire process, but can be
dictated for a constant current process such as SMAW and GTAW. In a constant-
current processes the voltage is determined by the arc length that the welder
maintains, it is not a pre-settable variable.
10. Travel Speed – How fast the welding is done.  It can also be a range.  Welding
speed is dictated by the weld size and the deposition rate, which is a factor of wire
feed speed.
11. Position of Welding – Specifies whether welding is done in the flat, horizontal,
vertical up,    overhead or other positions (i.e. 1F = Flat Fillet, 2F = Horizontal
Fillet, 3G = Vertical Up Groove, etc.).
12. Post Weld Heat Treatment – If required, instruction on the temperature that the
welded assembly needs to maintain and for how long.  Post weld heat treatment is
done with the intent to preserve or improve mechanical properties.
13. Shielding Gas Type and Flow Rate – If using a process that requires shielding
gas specify the gas or gas mixture as well as the flow rate.  Gas mixtures should
be exact (i.e. 75% Argon, 25% CO2) and flow rate can be a range (i.e. 40-45 cfh).
14. Joint Design Details – Provide a description of the joint.  This can include
material thickness, type of joint, gap (if any), land (if any), if it has backing, etc.
 

There are several other variables that may be specified such as technique
(stringer or weave), level of automation (manual, semi-automatic, automatic),
whether peening is required, method of interpass cleaning (wire brush, chipping,
etc.).  A welding procedure should provide as much detail as possible.  It is the set
of instructions that the welder uses in order to deposit a sound weld.

The format of the WPS does not matter as long as the variables detailed above are
specified.

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