• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.67-72
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• 2009

The flux cored arc welding (FCAW) process is one of the most frequently employed and important welding process due to high productivity and excellent workability. The process is performed either as an automated process or as a semi-automatic process. In FCAW process, welding voltage has been considered as a qualitative indication of arc length. But it is necessary to let welding operators know, maintain and manage the arc length directly by estimating and displaying it. In this study, to develop arc length estimation technique, we measured a welding circuit resistance($R_sc$) and then we calculated welding circuit voltage drop($V_sc$). Also, we measured arc peak voltage($V_ap$). By subtracting $V_sc$ from $V_arc$, we can easily calculate net arc voltage drop($V_arc$). Consequently, we suggested arc length estimating equation and basic algorithm by regressive analyzing the relationship between net arc voltage drop($V_arc$) and real arc length(Larc) measured by high speed camera. Therefore, arc length can be predicted by just monitoring welding current and voltage.