How to stop splash out when spot welding!

Splash out can be a common occurrence when spot welding vehicles and every technician I know always turns his head when welding to avoid the sparks that shoot out from the joint. It doesn't have to be like this though, splash out is controllable and understanding what causes it and how to correct it, is essential in weld quality.

AHSS STEELS

The problem has been exacerbated with the use of the new AHSS steels in automobile design.  These new steels require you weld at high currents with minimal burn ring diameter and as such they are at the optimal setting for spot welding. This type of welding requires high electrode pressure to control the heat generated and as such its very easy, with a small change in joint resistance,  to exceed these parameters, and obtain splash-out.

THE WELDING CIRCLE

Spot welding parameters are referred too as the "welding circle" as there are four settings, Power, Pressure, Electrode and Time.

Any movement of any setting will change the spot weld, and because it's a circle many different parameters can give the same result.

So what do these settings do?

• Power - or welding current provides the heat needed to melt the material.
• Time - Is how long the power is applied. It obviously needs to be long enough to allow the power to melt the material.
• Electrode- is the shape of the weld, and its surface area is critical to the overall production of a good weld.
• Pressure - is the part that holds it all together. enough pressure is required to generate the heat as too much reduces it., but it should also be enough to squeeze and control the molten material into the spot weld.

ITS ALL ABOUT RESISTANCE

Resistance to current flow in your joint stack is what generates the heat which ultimately builds up until the joint is molten liquid. The pressure of the electrodes then can force this molten liquid together as the power is switched off allowing this squeezed material to fuse as it cools. This is a spot weld.

CONTROL OF THE RESISTANCE

So the ultimate aim is to control the resistance in your joint and the easiest setting for this is the pressure. 

More Pressure-Reduces Resistance = Less Heat

Less Pressure-Increases Resistance = More Heat 

Splashout as we have stated before is caused by too much heat and therefore using any parameter in the welding circle to reduce that heat will minimizes the chances of splash out occurring.

CHECK YOUR JOINT

Check out my other post on why do i blow holes when spot welding on vehicles? to see how your joint configuration and placement of your electrodes is so important in helping you control the heat generated and ultimately reduce splash out. 

SPLASH OUT FAULT CHART