As with any craft, welding demands mastery of all its aspects for optimal results. One of the essential factors that every welder must consider is the position of the weld.
Welding position is the welded components’ orientation relative to the welder’s position. Knowing the correct welding position for various cases is crucial, as it may affect the weld’s strength and integrity.
In this article, we discuss the six basic welding positions to help both beginner and long-time welders achieve high-quality welds.
What are the 6 Welding Positions?
The American Welding Society (AWS) standardized six different welding positions for specific practical applications. Every welding position requires specific techniques for positive results.
These positions are officially named using an alphanumeric combination (i.e. 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G) by which “G” pertains to groove weld.
1G or Flat Position
The 1G or flat position is the simplest type of welding position. The welder places the workpieces horizontally and then performs the weld on the upper side.
To perform 1G correctly, the surface and the tip of the welding torch must form a 45-degree angle.
Most beginners start with 1G because of the minimal risk of weld pool displacement. Since the workpieces are positioned flat, gravity doesn’t affect the weld in the same way as in a vertical position.
1G is commonly used in pipelines and flat planes. Butt and fillet joints are common as well in 1G position.
2G or Horizontal Position
In the 2G position, the workpiece is in a vertical position but the welding is performed horizontally. Hence, the weld torch is perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece.
Unlike 1G, 2G is not so beginner-friendly because gravity may cause the molten metal to drop as you try to deposit it. So, the weld torch’s angle must be consistent (45 degrees) and the molten metal mustn’t be too hot to avoid defects.
The 2G position is often applied with butt joints or T-joints, and mostly in applications where horizontal welds are needed.
3G or Vertical Position
In the 3G position, the weld is in vertical orientation and the pieces are perpendicularly positioned.
There are two ways to perform 3G welding: vertical up or vertical down.
Vertical Up: The welder goes uphill from the bottom to the top of the joints. The upward movement lets gravity contribute to the holding of the molten pool, but the process is usually slow to maintain weld control.
Vertical Down: The welding is done from top to bottom. This technique is often used with thinner materials such as in pipe welding cases. It is faster than the upward method but unsuitable for thicker materials.
As with 2G, gravity is your enemy in 3G because it pulls the weld pool down. A common trick is to perform the weld in a zigzag or triangular manner to securely deposit the metal.
Butt and lap joints are commonly used in 3G welding, especially when structural applications require vertical seams.
4G or Overhead Position
In the overhead position, the welder works on the underside of a horizontal workpiece. In other words, the welding is done on the joint’s lower surface.
4G is often used when the workpiece cannot be repositioned or moved. It is highly common with butt joints.
For optimal results, the welding torch should be positioned at a 45-degree angle and the flame should be controlled so the metals have sufficient time to freeze and resolidify. The welder must be careful as well of the falling sparks.
5G or Pipe Welding - Fixed Horizontal Position
If the pipe is fixed horizontally and cannot be rotated, turned, or moved, the 5G pipe welding position is used. Oftentimes, the welder starts at the bottom and works upward to the top. However, it’s common for the welder to shift between flat, horizontal, vertical, or overhead positions as they move around the pipe as gravity pulls the weld pool.
6G or Inclined Pipe Welding Position
The 6G position is similar to the 5G, except that the pipe must be fixed at a 45-degree angle. It also requires the welder to operate in flat, vertical, horizontal, and even overhead orientations.
The 6G position can be tricky as the welder must manage the gravity’s effects on molten metal, especially when the welding is performed in an overhead orientation.
5G and 6G welding positions are commonly applied in industries that heavily rely on pipe welding such as oil and gas, power generation, shipbuilding, construction, and manufacturing industries.
Choosing the Right Welding Equipment for Different Positions
Mastery of welding positions discussed above is not enough to produce a high-quality weld. You also need high-quality welding equipment that works efficiently across different welding positions.
For instance, Denaliweld’s air-cooled fiber laser welding machine lets users adjust parameters easily for precise laser power in different welding orientations. If you need to shift from a horizontal to a vertical orientation, you can rapidly adjust the laser position without worrying about laser deviation.
Denaliweld’s water-cooled laser welding machine also comes with easily accessible settings to adjust the beam. This is perfect for all types of welding positions, especially those that require multiple weld orientations. It also comes with an accurate cooling capacity calculation for minimal power consumption and optimal cooling effect.
Denaliweld’s JET-1000 also works well for different welding positions even for inexperienced welders because of its easily-adjustable parameter and safety settings. It also comes with an automatic wire feeder that can feed up to 2mm of wire.
Why Mastering Welding Positions is Important
Expertise in different welding positions will not only improve weld quality but can also introduce the welder to a myriad of opportunities. A welder that mastered at least four positions is a versatile one and can work with a wide range of workpieces and joints.
Of course, mastery of 1G to 6G welding positions is required to earn certifications. The Certified Welder (CW) program of AWS usually tests candidates on these six basic welding positions.
Maximize Weld Quality By Understanding the Basic Welding Positions
Every welder must be familiar with all welding positions so they’ll pick the right one for their specific workpiece and welding needs. Incorrect welding position applied can result to significant risks on weld quality and integrity.
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