How to Select and Install Welding Drive Rolls
Choosing the right drive roll is key for smooth wire feeding, and having the correct consumables is just as important as having the correct filler metals for your project. Learn how to properly install these components and how to set and test drive roll tension with Hobart welding engineer/CWI Tre’ Heflin-King.
Drive rolls are an important part of the wire-feeding system for semi-automatic welding. They are integral to smooth and consistent wire feeding. Using the right type of drive rolls for the chosen wire can impact productivity, quality and efficiency, as well as help save time and money for troubleshooting and maintenance. They come in various sizes and materials to suit the type of wire and the welding process. By using the right drive rolls for a given welding wire helps prevent wire-feeding issues, like bird nesting, that can lead to costly downtime.
The three types of drive rolls most commonly used for wire welding processes are V-knurled, V-groove and U-groove. Learn about the most common ones, smooth V-groove for solid wire and knurled V-groove for metal-cored and flux-cored wires, from Tre’ Heflin-King, welding engineer/CWI at Hobart.
For more guidance on industry-specific filler metals and consumables, explore our collection of Technical Articles.