WELD ELECTRODE FOR ATTRACTIVE WELD APPEARANCE

摘要

A welding electrode for use in resistance spot welding an assembly of overlying metal workpieces that includes an aluminum alloy workpiece is disclosed. The welding electrode includes a body, a convex weld face at one end of the body, and ringed protrusions that project outwardly from the convex weld face. The ringed protrusions are positioned to make contact with, and indent into, a surface of the aluminum alloy workpiece when the convex weld face is pressed against the aluminum alloy workpiece during a spot welding event. When brought into contact with the surface of the aluminum alloy workpiece, the ringed protrusions disrupt the oxide film present on the aluminum alloy workpiece surface, which improves the spot welding process.

主权项

1. A welding electrode for forming electrical resistance spot welds in an assembly of overlying metal workpieces that comprises at least one aluminum alloy workpiece, the welding electrode comprising:
a body; a convex weld face at one end of the body; and ringed protrusions that project outwardly from the convex weld face and are positioned to make contact with and indent into a surface of the aluminum alloy workpiece when the convex weld face of the welding electrode is brought into contact with the assembly of overlying sheet metal workpieces during a resistance spot welding operation, the ringed protrusions being radially spaced from one another and each of the ringed protrusions having a circumference that surrounds a center of the convex weld face, and wherein each of the ringed protrusions has rounded corners when viewed in cross-section.