Welding & Fabrication worked example

Arc-On Time at 17% setup, repositioning, and minor-stop allowance: a worked example

Push setup, repositioning, and minor-stop allowance up to 17% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when planning a welding job to convert weld length and travel speed into the minutes a welder will actually have the arc burning.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Total weld length to deposit: 600 in (unchanged)
  • Weld travel speed: 18 in / min (unchanged)
  • Setup, repositioning, and minor-stop allowance: 17 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 15)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Base arc-on time = total weld length to deposit รท weld travel speed) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 39 min for required arc-on time at the booth, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 33.33 min for base arc-on time.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 17 % for setup, reposition, and minor-stop allowance.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 18 pieces / min for weld travel speed.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where setup, repositioning, and minor-stop allowance sits at 15% and the headline result is 38.33 min, this scenario comes in 1.74% above the baseline at 39 min.
  • It divides total weld length by travel speed to get base arc time, then inflates it by your setup and minor-stop allowance to give required arc-on time at the booth. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Required arc-on time at the booth: 39 min (headline result)
  • Base arc-on time: 33.33 min
  • Setup, reposition, and minor-stop allowance: 17 %
  • Weld travel speed: 18 pieces / min

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Arc-On Time calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.