The in-process assurance (IPA) welding system is the real-time weld quality monitoring system which is possible to abridge the nondestructive test (NDT) or decrease the number of NDTs. It consists of a personal computer, analog/digital converter, and several sensors such as voltage, current, velocity, sound, and torch distance. It is necessary to make clear the relationship between welding conditions and defects. The welding data of the IPA system for the automatic TIG tube welding and semiautomatic TIG and MIG welding were thoroughly studied and the following results were obtained:

  1. The IPA system is able to monitor welding conditions;

  2. quality control of welded joints is possible by statistical analysis of the IPA system; and

  3. welding sound is useful for assurance of welding quality.

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