Optimization of welding parameters for En8D and SAE1018 materials by Taguchi

Tractor pedal shaft is often made by small-scale enterprises that lack adequate testing facilities. This crucial component must be sturdy enough since sixteen different heavy components must be mounted on the tractor pedal shaft. In the present work, an effort is made to manufacture a tractor pedal shaft using two different materials En8D and SAE1018. The shaft was made by using a Gas Metal Arc Welding technique. The welded shaft was then tested for ultimate tensile strength along with radiographic NDT testing to detect the welding defects in the shaft. Furthermore, the study uses Taguchi technique to optimize welding parameters like welding current, welding voltage, gas pressure, wire feeding rate, and nozzle to work piece distance in order to achieve high strength, defect-free welding for a tractor pedal shaft. A standard Taguchi experimental plan with notation L9 was chosen. Finally, the most significant design factor affecting the tensile strength of the shaft was investigated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results show that the most influential factor affecting the tensile strength of the shaft is welding voltage followed by welding current, Gas pressure and Nozzle to work distance. The ultimate tensile strength obtained is 524.64 MPa at a welding voltage of 30 V, welding current of 230 A, gas pressure of 15 L/min and nozzle to work distance of 5 mm.