What statement about Wire Feed Speed (WFS) is true?

• A. WFS has no effect on deposition
• B. WFS is the primary factor determining deposition rate for a given joint design
• C. WFS only affects arc length
• D. WFS is only for high-speed welding

Answer: (B)

Wire feed speed is how fast filler metal is delivered into the arc, and that directly sets how much metal is being deposited each second. The deposition rate—the amount of weld metal added per unit time—depends mainly on how much wire is melted and transferred into the weld puddle. For a given joint design and welding speed, increasing the wire feed speed increases the metal arriving at the weld, so the deposition rate rises. This is the primary way to control how quickly the weld fills a joint.

WFS also influences heat input because delivering more wire generally requires more current to melt it, which can affect bead shape, penetration, and stability, but the central idea for deposition rate is the amount of metal fed. The other statements aren’t accurate: WFS does affect deposition, WFS isn’t only about arc length, and WFS is used across a range of welding speeds, not just high-speed welding.