Visual sensing of weld pool in variable polarity TIG welding of aluminium alloy

The passive visual sensing method was successfully applied to monitor the weld pool in TIG welding of aluminium alloy. In order to reduce the disturbance from the arc and acquire clear image, two techniques were used: one was the own-developed computer-controlled variable polarity power(VPP), the other was the composite filter technology. The VPP source did not have high-frequency electromagnetic interference from arc stabilizer in traditional AC welding power, and its output current wave was controlled by computer, so the imaging current and the imaging time could be adjusted easily. Filter spectral window was identified at 650 nm by analyzing the measured arc light spectral distribution. At the end, the high quality and clear images of welding pool of aluminium alloy were successfully acquired at low imaging current.