The use of pulsed current in aluminum Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW-P), despite to be one of the most indicated technology for providing excellent results, it presents serious arc starting problems, sometimes resulting in starting arc process failure. In order to develop a guaranteed arc initiation process, two techniques were considered and examined: the first using high current level associated to wire feed stopping, and a second using low current level associated to wire return, to which a wire feeder development was carried out. Conditioned by the wire tip geometry the first technique, although assures the arc initiation, it is obtained by two different ways, an exploded ignition close to the wire middle length, or a soft ignition close to the wire tip contact with work piece. The second technique, for any wire tip geometry, assured soft arc ignition, low heat input and ignition always close to the wire tip contact with work piece, Being considered more appropriate than the first.
GMAW; aluminum; arc initiation; arc length; arc start-up phase, arc striking, arc ignition cycle
