The Effect of High-Frequency Pulsing of a Welding Arc

Pulsed and nonpulsed nonconsumable electrode welding arcs are compared on the basis of equal average power input. A relationship is developed between the pressure of the high-frequency (typically greater than 5 kHz) pulsed arc and a dc arc with equal power input. It is shown that the arc pressure, and hence arc stiffness, of the pulsed arc may be as much as ten times that of the equivalent dc arc. As expected, the pressure ratio of the pulsed arc to nonpulsed arc decreases as the form factor of the pulsed arc decreases.