Travel Speed

Term from Welding industry explained for recruiters

Travel Speed is a fundamental measurement in welding that refers to how fast a welder moves the welding tool along the joint being welded. Think of it like driving a car - going too fast or too slow can cause problems. In welding, the right travel speed ensures the metal pieces join together properly and the weld is strong. It's similar to icing a cake - move too quickly and you won't have enough icing, too slowly and you'll have too much. When you see this term in resumes, it usually indicates that the candidate understands how to control their welding pace to create quality welds.

Examples in Resumes

Maintained consistent Travel Speed to produce high-quality welds on pipeline projects

Trained junior welders on proper Travel Speed techniques for various materials

Demonstrated expertise in adjusting Travel Speed and Welding Speed for different metal thicknesses

Typical job title: "Welders"

Also try searching for:

Certified Welder Pipe Welder Structural Welder Fabrication Welder Industrial Welder Welding Technician

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you determine the correct travel speed for different welding situations?

Expected Answer: A senior welder should explain how they consider factors like material thickness, type of metal, welding position, and heat input requirements. They should mention visual indicators of proper speed like weld bead appearance and penetration.

Q: How would you train someone to maintain proper travel speed?

Expected Answer: They should discuss training methods like demonstrating proper techniques, using timing exercises, showing examples of good and bad welds, and explaining how to recognize when speed adjustments are needed.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What happens if travel speed is too fast or too slow?

Expected Answer: Should explain that too fast creates weak, narrow welds with poor penetration, while too slow causes excessive heat input, warping, and wasted materials.

Q: How do you maintain consistent travel speed on long welds?

Expected Answer: Should describe techniques for maintaining steady hand movement, proper body positioning, and using visual or time-based references to maintain consistency.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What visual cues tell you if your travel speed is correct?

Expected Answer: Should mention basic indicators like weld bead width, appearance, and formation of the puddle behind the arc.

Q: How do you practice maintaining proper travel speed?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic practice techniques like running beads on practice plates and timing their movements.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of travel speed effects
  • Can maintain consistent speed on simple welds
  • Recognizes basic visual indicators of proper speed
  • Follows travel speed specifications

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Adjusts travel speed for different materials
  • Maintains consistency on complex projects
  • Can identify and correct speed-related issues
  • Understands relationship between speed and quality

Senior (5+ years)

  • Masters travel speed in all positions
  • Trains others on proper techniques
  • Troubleshoots complex speed-related problems
  • Develops speed specifications for projects

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Cannot explain how travel speed affects weld quality
  • Inconsistent weld bead appearance in work samples
  • No experience with different welding positions
  • Unable to demonstrate proper speed control in practical tests