. Welcome! Have you been hearing about reverse polarity in welding and trying to figure out what it is all about?
In this article, we’ll give you a birds-eye view of this seemingly complex subject. Welding is still the most superior technique used to join two metal surfaces, and it is widely used by industry professionals in the automotive and construction sectors.
What sets welding apart from other forms of metal joining is the fact that it uses electrical current to create extreme temperatures and fuse the metal surfaces. Depending on the type of current used and the way it is used, welding processes can be divided into two main groups: direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).
Reverse polarity is one of the most commonly used welding methods, but what exactly is it? Read on and you’ll know!To give you an idea of how popular reverse polarity in welding is, over 80 percent of all welders use it when welding ferrous metals.
Reverse polarity welding results in softer, more ductile welds as compared to other welding processes. It also helps with controlling the heat, which is particularly necessary for thin-gauge materials.
What Is Reverse Polarity In Welding?
Reverse polarity welding is a type of welding that uses a direct current (DC) power source and reverse electrode leads. In this type of welding, the negative terminal of the power source is connected to the workpiece, while the positive terminal is connected to the welding electrode.Reverse polarity welding has many advantages over other welding techniques, such as allowing for deeper penetration and faster welding speeds.
Benefits of Reverse Polarity Welding
Reverse polarity welding offers many benefits over traditional welding.Here are a few of the most commonly cited advantages of this type of welding:
- Allows for deeper penetration – Because the negative terminal is connected to the workpiece, reverse polarity welding is able to produce greater penetration into the workpiece than traditional welding techniques.
- Faster welding speeds – With the higher current, reverse polarity welding allows for faster welding speeds than traditional welding, making it more efficient.
- Reduced spatter – Since the negative terminal is connected to the workpiece, reverse polarity produces less spatter than traditional welding.
- Greater precision – The increased current of reverse polarity welding allows for more precise control of the weld area.
- Reduced distortion – Since the negative terminal is connected to the workpiece, reverse polarity welding produces less distortion than traditional welding.
Drawbacks of Reverse Polarity Welding
Though reverse polarity welding offers many advantages over traditional welding, there are some drawbacks to this welding technique. These drawbacks include:- Increased chance of burn-through – With the increased current, reverse polarity welding can cause more heat than traditional welding, increasing the chance of burn-through on thin materials.
- Increased risk of electrode overheating – With the higher current, reverse polarity welding can cause the electrode to overheat, resulting in a reduced life span for the electrode.
- Greater risk of porosity – Since the negative terminal is connected to the workpiece, reverse polarity welding can cause higher levels of porosity in the weld.
Conclusion
Reverse polarity welding is a type of welding that uses a direct current (DC) power source and reverse electrode leads.This type of welding has many advantages over traditional welding techniques, including deeper penetration, faster welding speeds, reduced spatter, greater precision, and reduced distortion. However, there are some drawbacks to this welding technique, such as increased chance of burn-through, increased risk of electrode overheating, and greater risk of porosity. Citationshttps://www. millerwelds. com/resources/articles/reverse-polarity-vs-straight-polarity-in-weldinghttps://www. lincolnelectric. com/en-us/support/welding-how-tos/pages/about-dc-welding. aspxhttps://www. millerwelds. com/resources/articles/understanding-polarity-and-its-effectshttps://science. howstuffworks. com/reverse-polarity-welding-advantages. htm