Development of Inference Algorithm for Bead Geometry in GMAW

In GMAW(Gas Metal Arc Welding) processes, bead geometry (penetration, bead width and height) is a criterion to estimate welding quality. Bead geometry is affected by welding current, arc voltage and travel speed, shielding gas, CTWD (contact-tip to workpiece distance) and so on. In this paper, welding process variables were selected as welding current, arc voltage and travel speed. And bead geometry was reasoned from the chosen welding process variables using neuro-fuzzy algorithm. Neural networks was applied to design FL(fuzzy logic). The parameters of input membership functions and those of consequence functions in FL were tuned through the method of learning by backpropagation algorithm. Bead geometry could be reasoned from welding current, arc voltage, travel speed on FL using the results learned by neural networks. On the developed inference system of bead geometry using neuro-furzy algorithm, the inference error percent of bead width was within 4%, that of bead height was within 3%, and that of penetration was within 8%. Neural networks came into effect to find the parameters of input membership functions and those of consequence in FL. Therefore the inference system of welding quality expects to be developed through proposed algorithm.