In order to reduce the influence of polar zone effect in cross-coupling arc by changing inter-wire arc (IWA) configuration, the influence of polarity arrangement of the IWA on droplet transfer was studied. The change of voltage-current waveform and the process of droplet transfer were recorded and analyzed by a high-speed camera and electric signal synchronous acquisition system. The results show that when the IWA polarity is arranged as anode on the bottom and cathode on top, the anode spot force always promotes the droplet transfer and reduces the critical current value of spray transfer. However, with the increase in the input voltage of the IWA, the resistance of the cathode spot force becomes obvious, which hinders the droplet transfer. While the IWA polarity is arranged as anode on top and cathode on the bottom, increasing the input voltage of the IWA obviously reduces the plasma arc voltage. The critical current of spray transfer increases in anode droplet, while the cathode droplet is mainly globular transfer, and there is no spatter explosion process. Through a comprehensive comparison of the droplet transfer process of anode and cathode under the different IWA polarity arrangement, the process of anode and cathode in the IWA polarity arrangement of the anode on top and the cathode on the bottom is more stable than that in the IWA polarity arrangement of the anode on the bottom and the cathode on top, mainly because the cathode spot force under high current do not hinder the cathode droplet.
Keywords: cross-coupling arc; droplet transfer; inter-wire arc (IWA); polarity arrangement.