Robotized welding of butt and T-welds of metal sheets 3.0 mm thick made of Al–Mg alloys

Abstract

This article presents the results of studies on joints connecting 3 mm-thick aluminium–magnesium alloy sheets. The joints were manufactured on a robotized welding station by means of the GTA method (butt joints) and the GMA method (tee joints with fillet welds). Butt joints were tested by means of X-ray, mechanical, and metallographic methods, whereas tee joints were examined using metallographic methods as well as a break test. The results of these studies validated the high quality of the joints. The welding rate with the GMA method is nearly two times higher than with GTA welding, which explicitly indicates that the GMA method is more efficient, even in welding relatively thin metal sheets.