• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2002

Resistance spot welding of aluminum alloys is based upon Joule heating of the components by passing a large current in a short duration. Since aluminum alloys have the potential to replace steels fur automobile body assemblies, it is important to study the process robustness of aluminum spot welding process. In order to evaluate the effects of process parameters on the weld quality, major process variables and abnormal process conditions were selected and analyzed. A newly developed two-stage, sliding-level experiment was adopted fur effective parameter design and analysis. Suitable ranges of welding current and button diameters were obtained through the experiment. The effects of the factors and their levels on the variation of acceptable welding current were considered in terms of main effects. From the results, it is concluded that any abnormal process condition decreases the suitable current range in the weld lobe curve. Pareto analysis of variance was also introduced to estimate the significant factors on the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. Among the six factors studied, fit-up condition is found to be the most significant factor influencing the SM ratio. Using a Pareto diagram, the optimal condition is determined and the SM ratio is significantly improved using the optimal condition.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.70-75
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• 2014

In automotive industry, applying of Mg alloy to autobody has been issued recently as a light metal. But poor resistance spot weldability of Mg alloy is blocking commercialization. So studies on improving resistance spot weldability of Mg alloy is increasing continuously. For reduce loss of heat input during welding, inverter DC power source is considered because of short rise time to target welding current. But rapid rising of welding current can increase temperature rapidly in nugget and oxide film between electrode and base metal, and that causes generating expulsion on low welding current range. In this study, for increase optimum welding current range and prevent generating expulsion, applicate various types of welding current waveform controls during resistance spot welding. For analysis effects of each current waveform control, acceptable welding current regions according to electrode force and welding time is determined and lobe diagram is derived. In result, pre heat is proposed as optimum type of welding current waveform control.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2011

The spot weldability of dissimilar metal joints between austenitic stainless steels (STS316)/IF steels and ferritic stainless steels (STS430)/IF steels was investigated. This study was aimed to determine the spot welding parameters for a dissimilar metal joint and to evaluate the dissimilar metal joint's weldability, including its welding nugget shape, tensile-shear strength, hardness, and microstructure. The comparison of these results was described in terms of fracture behavior. Compared with the weld lobe of similar metal joints, dissimilar metal joints (STS430/IF) had reduced weld current range. However, the weld lobe of STS316/IF steel joint showed increased weld current range. This is because the dilution of chemical composition in the molten weld pool suppressed the heat input being caused by Joule heat with current flow through the samples. The microstructure of the fusion zone was fully martensite and mixture of ferrite and martensite for austenitic stainless steel/IF steel and ferritic stainless steel/IF steel combination, respectively. The experimental results showed that the shape of nugget was asymmetric, in which the fusion zone of the austenitic and ferritic stainless steel sheet was larger due to the higher bulk-resistance. The predicted microstructure by using the Schaeffler diagram was well matched with experimental results. After peel test, the fracture was initiated from heat affected zone of ferritic stainless steel sheet side, however the final fracture was propagated into the IF steel sheet side due to its lower strength.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.117-117
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• 2009

저항 점 용접 시스템은 SCR 방식과 Inverter 방식으로 나뉘어지는데 현재 공급전원의 안정화 및 고속의 제어가 가능한 Inverter 방식으로 점차 변해가는 추세이다. 이러한 추세에 따라 기존 SCR 방식에서는 구현하기 힘들었던 고속의 전류제어가 요구되고 있으며 여러 제어 알고리즘들이 적용되고 있다. 일반적으로 전류를 제어하기 위해 PI제어 알고리즘이 많이 사용되고 있다. PI제어보다 좀더 반응이 빠르고 정밀한 제어 알고리즘의 적용이 시도되고 있지만 실질적으로 현장에 적용하여 활용하기에 어려움이 있어 PI제어가 많이 선호되고 있다. 일반적으로 용접전류의 제어는 일정한 전류를 공급할 수 있게 하는 것이 주요하지만 저항 점 용접 시스템에서는 일정한 전류의 공급 이외에 목표 전류까지 도달하는 응답시간 또한 주요한 사항으로 작용하고 있다. 이는 짧은 통전시간으로 인해 응답성에 따라 입열량의 차이가 나타나기 때문이다. 응답시간이 느릴수록 그만큼 전류의 공급이 적어지고 이로 인해 입열량이 감소하게 된다. 국내의 Inverter 방식의 경우 응답시간이 15ms 이상이지만, 해외 선진 제품의 경우 10ms 이하의 응답시간을 가져 크게는 1cycle(16.6ms)의 차이가 나고 같은 용접전류 조건에서도 용접성의 차이가 나타나게 된다. 본 연구에서는 응답시간에 따른 용접성의 변화와 응답시간 제어의 필요성을 확인하기 위해 PI제어기를 응답시간에 따라 설계하고 이를 자체 제작한 Inverter DC 저항 점 용접기에 적용하여 용접실험을 실행하였다. 용접소재로는 현 자동차용 강판 소재인 SPFC590, 1mmt를 사용하였고 인장 및 단면시험을 통해 용접성을 비교하였다. 또한 각각의 로브곡선을 도출하고 비교하여 응답시간에 따른 용접성의 차이를 확인하였다.