What can cause stubbing in the welding process?

Stubbing occurs when the welding wire makes contact with the workpiece and causes the arc to extinguish, leading to an interruption in the welding process. Excessive wire speed is a primary cause of stubbing because when the wire is fed into the weld pool too quickly, it can reach the molten puddle before the arc has a chance to properly sustain itself. This creates a situation where the arc cannot maintain the necessary energy to keep the wire melted, resulting in the wire sticking or stubbing against the workpiece.

In the context of welding, managing the feed rate of the wire is critical. When it is too fast, the welding machine has difficulty maintaining a stable arc, and as a result, this can lead to a disruption in the welding process. Adjusting the wire feed speed to a suitable level helps ensure a consistent and manageable arc that can adapt to the changes in the weld puddle and workpiece.

An understanding of these dynamics is essential for avoiding common welding issues such as stubbing, which can affect the quality and appearance of the weld.