Travel speed is weld length divided by welding time — the number every heat-input and productivity calculation starts from. Work it forwards for speed, or backwards for the time a weld will take.
Travel Speed = Length ÷ Time
Same relationship, two directions: measure a weld bead and the time it took to lay it, and you get the average travel speed. Flip it around and the same formula tells you how long a given run will take at the speed you're running.
| Speed | = mm/min | ≈ in/min |
|---|---|---|
| Slow pass | 150–250 | 6–10 |
| Typical GMAW | 250–450 | 10–18 |
| Fast stringer | 450–700 | 18–28 |
Typical ranges vary hard with process and position. A flat GMAW stringer runs far faster than the same weld overhead.
Machines read in mm/min, drawings in cm, codes in inches, and manuals in m/min. One table to keep them straight.
| mm/min | cm/min | m/min | in/min |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 10 | 0.10 | 3.94 |
| 250 | 25 | 0.25 | 9.84 |
| 300 | 30 | 0.30 | 11.8 |
| 400 | 40 | 0.40 | 15.7 |
| 600 | 60 | 0.60 | 23.6 |
Conversions: cm/min = mm/min ÷ 10 · m/min = mm/min ÷ 1000 · in/min = mm/min ÷ 25.4.
Flat position takes the fastest speed you can hold. Vertical and overhead welds run slower by design — gravity is the other welder on the job, and it doesn't take breaks.
A weave is slower than a stringer of the same width, and joint prep changes it too. The formula gives you a starting figure — the bead profile decides whether it's right.
A calculated value is an estimate, not a qualified procedure parameter. If the job runs to a WPS, the WPS sets the range — measured values, not back-calculated ones, live on the record.
Use your calculated requirements to get an equipment recommendation for your application.
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