Hi Texarc!
I respect your opinion also! Maybe I should elaborate further...
I was merely pointing out that this contest, in my opinion does'nt convince me that the winner should be recognized as the best welder "period." Granted you made some good points regarding how even with the simplicity of the test itself - many things can go wrong and that because of the amount of participation and the number of participants in itself prohibits a more sophisticated testing regimen...
I do not protest this contest, I just disagree with the claim from the "coordinators" that the winner they claim will be recognized as the "Best Welder". I certainly do not claim to be among the best but being in the business for over thirty years; I believe very strongly that this contest in my humble opinion, does'nt raise the winner to the title of "Best Welder" in the AWS show based on this competition as the person from the AWS suggests the winner shall be recognized as such...
As far as robots are concerned, they're not "perfect" always either...
As I understand it the position will be 2G, am I correct? Will the joint configuration include backing or will it be an open root type configuration? Well then, why not conduct it in the 3G and/or 4G position just like in the AWS D1.1 qualification test or better yet - a 2" 6G or 6GR? Then again, I noticed that only Sellstrom (having more sponsors involved would've certainly increased the operating funds available) is involved in this competition so, maybe that's why the contest will be in this format... I'm curious as to the choice of welding power source, brand of electrodes, etc., this contest is going to use?
Now, I understand that this will cost more to conduct with so many welders but if you want to show "true" welding skills in only one process, then at least include more than one position for the contest! VICA skills USA has been conducting contests for years whereby the winner must be able to show that they exhibit their skills in at least more than just one position... Maybe I misread the original post but in the post, the person did state: "While proving you're the best welder."
Maybe this person should've wrote: "upon proving you're the winner of this contest." This would've been more appropriate in my "humble" opinion. You and others may think different and I respect that!!!
Once again this discussion proves to me that we as participants in this wonderful forum can agree to disagree from time to time and I believe that this is "healthy"!!!
Respectfully,
SSBN727 Run Silent... Run Deep!!!