The forward motion during welding is referred to as what?

The term that refers to the forward motion during welding is known as travel speed. This is the rate at which the welding torch or electrode is moved along the joint or path being welded. It is a crucial factor in the welding process because it affects the overall quality of the weld, including penetration, bead shape, and the heat input into the base materials. An optimal travel speed ensures proper fusion of the metals being joined, whereas too fast of a speed may result in insufficient penetration and weak welds, while too slow of a speed can lead to excessive heat input and distortion or burn-through.

In contrast, arc length pertains to the distance between the welding wire and the base material, which is important for maintaining a stable arc but does not describe the motion itself. Feed speed usually refers to the rate at which filler material is supplied in some welding processes, not the motion of the welding head. Wire pull is not commonly used in the context of describing the motion during welding; instead, it may relate to the tension on the wire feed mechanism in wire-fed welding processes.