A SMAW operation is accomplished in a work cell using a fitter and a welder. The fitter takes 5.5 min to place the unwelded components into the welding fixture at the beginning of the work cycle, and 2.5 min to unload the completed weldment at the end of the cycle. The total length of the several weld seams to be made is 2000 mm, and the travel speed used by the welder averages 400 mm/min. Every 750 mm of weld length, thewelding stickmust be changed,which takes 0.8 min. While the fitter is working, the welder is idle (resting); and while the welder is working, the fitter is idle.
(a) Determine the average arc time in this welding cycle.
(b) How much improvement in arc time would result if the welder used FCAW (manually operated), given that the spool of flux-cored weld wire must be changed every five weldments, and it takes the welder 5.0 min to accomplish the change?
(c) What are the production rates for these two cases (weldments completed per hour)?