A question.

[Julian_P]

On a MIG welder where does the current get fed into the wire? Is it at the feed rollers or maybe in the torch tip?

I was looking at my Clarke 160T and I can't see any obvious connections.

Julian.

 

[shenion]

It is fed to the wire through the contact tip.

 

[Robotstar5]

It is fed in at the tip, proper name is a contact tip for obvious reasons

 

[Julian_P]

Ah OK thanks. Another daft question, why when you pull the trigger does the arc not happen between contact tip and wire thus causing an instant blockage and no further pregress?

Julian.

 

[Shox Dr]

Because the tip is made from copper

 

[shenion]

Ah OK thanks. Another daft question, why when you pull the trigger does the arc not happen between contact tip and wire thus causing an instant blockage and no further pregress?

Julian.

Because it is always in contact with the wire. It also has a significant contact area.

Now, when the tips get old and worn, they they start arcing and causing problems.

 

[Julian_P]

Thanks I see.

Guess what stupid me did? Swapped the wire from 0.6 to 0.8, went to swap the tip and found I'd already got the 0.8 tip in Didn't seem to make any difference that I noticed!

Julian.

 

[Robotstar5]

Running 0.6 through an 0.8 tip has probably caused some arc damage, fit a new tip.