zigzag Staggered intermittent weld
Staggered intermittent weld · Soldadura en plano · ISO 1101 + ASME Y14.5
Example in plan
How to interpret it
On the drawing, “Staggered intermittent on both sides of T-joint” states a staggered intermittent weld requirement.
What controls
Intermittent weld applied to both sides of the joint with the segments offset, so that a segment on one side falls opposite a gap on the other. It is dimensioned the same way as an intermittent weld, with length and pitch, plus the indication that the segments are staggered. The goal is twofold: to spread the heat input to reduce distortion and to avoid two opposing welds concentrating stress in the same section.
How to verify
Each side is measured like an intermittent weld (segment length, pitch and number of segments), and the offset between sides is also checked by measuring from the same part origin on both faces. It is common to verify it against a layout sketch, because at a glance it is easy to take as staggered something that is not.
Common mistakes when interpreting it
- Welding all the segments on one side and then those on the other: even if the positions are staggered, you get exactly the distortion you were trying to avoid.
- Confusing staggered with chain (opposite) intermittent welds: they are two different layouts and the drawing specifies which one it wants.
- Applying the offset by eye without marking out the layout from a common origin on both faces.
How to get it in the workshop / if it comes out of tolerance
On a T-joint, switching sides after each segment keeps the part much straighter than doing one whole side and then the other. Mark out the layout on both sides with chalk before starting: the offset gets lost as soon as you weld wherever is easiest to reach. If the drawing shows the segments opposite each other instead of staggered, then it is not a staggered weld and must not be offset.
If the part comes out bowed even with staggered welding, the problem is usually the time sequence: alternating positions is not enough, you also have to alternate the order in which segments are deposited and let the part cool between segments on the same side. If the segments end up opposite each other by mistake, it is not corrected by adding weld; it must be evaluated as a nonconformance.
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