Buried-arc welding of metal work pieces with through-the-arc seam tracking

1. A method of welding, comprising:

forming an arc between an electrode and a metal material,

moving the arc along the metal material along a seam in a first direction, wherein the arc produces an elongated cavity and a first obstruction and a second obstruction;

oscillating the arc in a second direction, wherein the second direction is distinct from the first direction and lateral to the seam;

detecting at least a first reference point on the first obstruction, wherein the first obstruction is within a molten pool and on a first side of the seam relative to the weld direction; and

detecting at least a second reference point on the second obstruction wherein the second obstruction is within the molten pool and on a second side of the seam, opposite the first side of the seam relative to the weld direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the first reference point is carried out by determining a change in at least one characteristic of the arc.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic of the arc is a length of the arc.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic of the arc is an impedance of the arc.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a position of the arc is controlled based at least in part upon the detected first reference point.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the arc is formed in at least a portion of a first metal component and in at least a portion of a second metal component, wherein the first metal component is disposed next to the second metal component.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein there is no gap between the first metal component and the second metal component and the arc is disposed within the gap.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein there is a gap between the first metal component and the second metal component.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is a consumable electrode.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing filler wire to deposit additional metal.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a position of the arc is controlled based at least in part upon at least one of the detected first reference point and the detected second reference point.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the position of the arc is controlled based at least in part upon each of the detected first reference point and the detected second reference point.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the position of the arc along a lateral direction essentially perpendicular to the elongated cavity and the molten pool at the bottom of the cavity is controlled based at least in part upon each of the detected first reference point and the detected second reference point.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second direction is essentially perpendicular to the first direction.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps are carried out in the order recited.