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Chapter 5

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the summary of findings of the study, the

conclusions based on the findings and recommendations for improvement.

Summary and Findings

The device was developed as a handy and portable tool meant to improve

safety, efficiency and quality in as far as oxy-acetylene and tungsten inert gas

welding processes are concerned. It is composed of parts namely: Base handle;

Wire guide; Rubber traction ring; Thumb wheel; Thumb wheel guide; Allen cap

screw and Square nut slide. It is adequately designed to cater the needs of

trainees regarding the safe and proper manual filler wire feeding method.

Moreover, because it is portable it can be easily carried, used in laboratory shops

and outdoor trainings. However, the device is only limited in welding processes

that require manual filler wire feeding activities.

Performance tests of the wire feeder were done through the assistance of

senior WET students. Final result of the experiment in terms of welding speed

conducted showed an overall average of 54.89 seconds for the wire feeder

device compared to that of the Hand Fed method which is at 89.47 seconds, a

difference of 34.58 seconds using Oxy-acetylene welding process. Meanwhile,

with the use of Gas tungsten arc welding process the overall average speed

using the instructional device are 52.18 seconds and 83.14 seconds using the

Hand Fed method. This shows that efficiency in terms of speed of welding in both
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OAW and TIG can be achieved using the developed instructional device.

Likewise, very few errors were encountered using the Wire Feeder compared to

that of the Hand Fed method as proven by the evaluation results of the

appearance of weld deposits. On the other hand, the Hand Fed filler feeding

method showed more errors as expected because of unstable filler wire

movement and frequent stoppage.

Evaluation brought out by the panel of 30 respondents who are experts

and with high working knowledge in welding came out with an overall mean of

=4.62, equivalent to an overall descriptive rating of “highly acceptable”

transcending to the high acceptability of the device. This establishes the

performance of the instructional device accepted and proven to be helpful in the

aid of instruction in wire feeding operation using oxy-acetylene gas welding and

tungsten inert gas arc welding.

The study has the following salient findings:

 Functionality – the project is functional as perceived by the

respondents with a mean rating of =4.40 or “highly acceptable”

 Workability – the respondents perceived the project as workable

with a mean rating of =4.70 or “highly acceptable”.

 Economy – development of the project was rated “highly

acceptable” with a mean rating of =4.64 in terms of economy.

 Safety – the evaluation found the project to be a safety

enhancement device with a mean of =4.69 that falls within the

range of “highly acceptable”.

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 Instructional Applicability – the project was perceived to be a

highly acceptable instructional aide as it obtained a mean rating

of =4.69.

Conclusions

Based on the foregoing discussions and results of evaluation the

following conclusions were derived:

1. The design of the Wire Feeder conforms to the specifications of a

standard manual filler wire feeding tool and was proven as an innovative

design for the welding industry and instruction;

2. The prototype device was fabricated in accordance to specified materials

that are locally available and required only simple tools, machines and

equipment to construct;

3. The prototype device performed within its operational parameters as

attested by the results of testing conducted for both efficiency in terms of

speed by which welding can be facilitated and the quality of weld results

and;

4. The Portable Manual Filler wire feeder was evaluated highly acceptable by

the welding experts in terms of its Functionality, Workability, Economy,

Safety, and Instructional Applicability.

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Recommendations

Based on the conclusions, the following recommendations were given:

1. The wire feeder must be used as a standard welding training tool for

students of the welding engineering technology program.

2. The evaluation of the wire feeder involving a bigger number of users must

be pursued in order to get a substantial feedback as basis for subsequent

improvement in certain features and appearance of the device.

3. The use of other materials for the device be pursued should it be

manufactured on a bigger scale; and

4. The device should be subjected to patent search and application.