Shield Arc
Super Member
Someone posted this on the AWS welding forum years ago, I saved it. Maybe it will help some of you guys. I thought it was a very good write up.
Viewing Angle
When you try to look over top of your torch the MIG nozzle obstructs view. Side view is better.
Retina
Your eye's retina has small area with high concentration of rods that is used to see color and high resolution details called the fovea about 6mm diameter with the rest of the retina's 42mm diameter having mixture of rods and cones (night vision). The retina also has a blind spot at optic nerve. This means your eye/brain is always scanning for visual information. It will automatically scan men or women entering a room differently. Part of learning to weld is training your eye/brain how to scan the puddle so you can see what's happening.
Staring at arc
Beginners often spend too much time looking at the arc missing details needed for welding. This is natural as eye is attracted to lighter objects. You do need to check for arc length when SMAW welding and stick out GMAW welding.
Back of puddle
You spend most of your concentration looking at trailing edge of puddle looking for consistent bead profile. Too high profile may be traveling to slow or need higher amps/faster wire feed. To low profile may be traveling to fast or need lower amps/slower wire feed.
Side of puddle
As you pause at side of weave you look that undercut has filled in without burning through thin plate and consistent side profile.
Front of puddle
You check that wire is feeding into front of puddle for good penetration. Check that you are getting good penetration and key hole isn't getting too big. If key hole is getting to big can speed up travel rate, use more side to side wiggle and or turn down welder. (Wire speed or amps)
In fount of puddle
Quick scans to see your on track.
Learning to scan puddle
You scan all of this concentrating more on the rear of puddle. As beginner is learning will concentrate more on one thing for a few welds (consistent arc length for SMAW and GTAW or stick out for GMAW and FCAW at first). Then another area will be concentrated more on for a few welds. This way you train your eye/brain what to see and can understand how your changes affected your practice weld. Seeing bad welds and understanding what caused them is very important part of learning so you can quickly correct your mistakes.
Seeing these details is difficult at times with different welding rods and positions.
Viewing Angle
When you try to look over top of your torch the MIG nozzle obstructs view. Side view is better.
Retina
Your eye's retina has small area with high concentration of rods that is used to see color and high resolution details called the fovea about 6mm diameter with the rest of the retina's 42mm diameter having mixture of rods and cones (night vision). The retina also has a blind spot at optic nerve. This means your eye/brain is always scanning for visual information. It will automatically scan men or women entering a room differently. Part of learning to weld is training your eye/brain how to scan the puddle so you can see what's happening.
Staring at arc
Beginners often spend too much time looking at the arc missing details needed for welding. This is natural as eye is attracted to lighter objects. You do need to check for arc length when SMAW welding and stick out GMAW welding.
Back of puddle
You spend most of your concentration looking at trailing edge of puddle looking for consistent bead profile. Too high profile may be traveling to slow or need higher amps/faster wire feed. To low profile may be traveling to fast or need lower amps/slower wire feed.
Side of puddle
As you pause at side of weave you look that undercut has filled in without burning through thin plate and consistent side profile.
Front of puddle
You check that wire is feeding into front of puddle for good penetration. Check that you are getting good penetration and key hole isn't getting too big. If key hole is getting to big can speed up travel rate, use more side to side wiggle and or turn down welder. (Wire speed or amps)
In fount of puddle
Quick scans to see your on track.
Learning to scan puddle
You scan all of this concentrating more on the rear of puddle. As beginner is learning will concentrate more on one thing for a few welds (consistent arc length for SMAW and GTAW or stick out for GMAW and FCAW at first). Then another area will be concentrated more on for a few welds. This way you train your eye/brain what to see and can understand how your changes affected your practice weld. Seeing bad welds and understanding what caused them is very important part of learning so you can quickly correct your mistakes.
Seeing these details is difficult at times with different welding rods and positions.
