Question

GMAW power supplies are ____ type machines, while SMAW power supplies are ____ type.

A) Constant current, constant voltage
B) Constant voltage, constant current
C) Direct current, alternating current
D) Alternating current, direct current

Answer 1

GMAW power supplies are constant voltage machines suitable for maintaining steady arc length, while SMAW power supplies are constant current machines built to maintain a consistent welding current, making the correct answer B) Constant voltage, constant current.

Step-by-step explanation:

GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) power supplies are constant voltage type machines, while SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) power supplies are constant current type. Therefore, the answer to the student's question is: GMAW power supplies are constant voltage type machines, while SMAW power supplies are constant current type. The correct option is B) Constant voltage, constant current.

Direct current (DC) is the flow of electric charge in only one direction and is characterized by a constant voltage, while alternating current (AC) is the flow of electric charge that periodically reverses direction, with the voltage varying periodically, often sinusoidally. Most household devices are designed to operate on AC, but some, like solar cells and devices in automobiles, operate on DC. In welding, the type of current plays a pivotal role in the control and quality of the weld.