The article provides an overview of the sources with the results of the study of arc welding processes, justifies the relevance of studies of the radial distribution of current density in the anode spot of the plasma arc. The results of the study of the radial distribution of the current density across the active spot on the plane water-cooled probes, which are one of the arc electrodes, and the results of studies of the conversion of the plane probe data into the radial distribution of an axially symmetric function are presented. The radial current density distribution functions and the current density distribution characteristics are experimentally obtained.

Keywords: plasma welding, control system, current-voltage characteristic, shielding gas, burner circuits, plasma arc, sounding