Process: CMT - Cold Metal Transfer Technology

Hi everybody!!! 


Today I wanted to talk about a new welding process I had the opportunity to see when I was working for an automotive parts company. Although there are many ways and processes on the GMAW family, most of them are based on the short-circuting system that allows the wire electrode to join two materials with a flow of voltage and current. 


The process is called "Cold Metal Transfer" and it is basically a new approach to the GMAW current process mainly because instead of having the wire cut pulse to allow the continuous flow of the wire electrode, it mechanically pulls back and forward the wire electrode. Developed by Fronius, CMT has a lot of advantages that will keep your assembly process competitive.

CMT Advantages:

1. Low Heat Input: 
CMT welding allows a dramatical decrease on heat input -- as much as 20-30% less.
2. Weld Appearance: CMT provides cosmetic welds with no spatter or distortion. The weld seam is neatly produced because of the quickly retracting weld wire that leaves behind just one droplet at a time. When welding thin or dissimilar materials (especially aluminum and steel) CMT is one of the best ways to produce attractive welds.  

   
3. Increased Speed: CMT is an extremely high-speed welding process -- faster than traditional MIG welding or even TIG. CMT welding speed results in dramatically reduced cycle times. 

   
4. No Post-Weld Machining: Compared to traditional arc welding, the Fronius-developed CMT method does not require corrective machining and clean up after a weld has been made. This contributes to a much faster cycle time. In addition, reworking often creates dust that contributes to problems for products and workers.
   
5. Simplified Fixturing: Because of the threat of distortion, more planning and more elaborate fixturing is required when configuring a MIG process. CMT, on the other hand, doesn't pose the same threat to the materials, so fewer fixtures are necessary.

   
6. Savings: Robotic CMT welding systems allow companies to cut back on manual labor and streamline production. With faster cycle times, increases in quality, and no rework, CMT offers many ways to save.  


For more detailed information please visit:

http://www.fronius.com/cps/rde/xchg/fronius_international/hs.xsl/79_9399_ENG_HTML.htm

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