MIG/MAG welding and other processes that are based on arc heating and the feeding of a continuous wire electrode are still the most used metal joining processes in the industry. These processes present a large number of variables. Furthermore, MIG/MAG welding is subjected to several phenomena that cause unexpected changes in parameters and make it difficult to predict operational conditions for a given job. The paper describes the development and the software implementation of a mathematical model to simulate some operational aspects of the MIG/MAG welding process. The basic equations of the model are presented and discussed. Simulations of different welding conditions are presented and compared to results from actual welding tests. Software tools to simulate alterations in welding conditions, in arc behavior, and power supply operation are also described. Approaches to these tools, based on both theoretical and empirical considerations, are presented.
GMAW; Modeling; Welding Parameters; Simulation
