Dan The Welder Man
Member
- Messages
- 15
- Location
- Uk, Leicestershire
Hi All,
I was hoping you could help with a potential electrical fault. Apologies for the long post but I want to convey all the info I can.
I have recently inherited the Kemppi Minarc MIG 180 Adaptive. I've not had it for long but it worked perfectly in automatic mode (not yet tried manual mode) up until today. I went to use it this morning and during a tack weld, the machine 'cuts out' and the wire feed stops. I squeezed the trigger and an intermittent and random ticking sound can be heard but no wire is feeding though the nozzle. I also noticed the overheating indicator light was on. It could not have overheated because I had only made a few tacks. After allowing 10 minutes to cool down the issue remains.
My first thought was a potential issue with the wire feed motor - a loose connection somewhere maybe? I adjusted the wire feed speed (by adjusting material thickness in automatic mode) to its lowest setting and surprisingly the wire fed through the nozzle unlike before. Increasing the speed and the issue began again. Turns out the wire would only feed though the gun at slow speeds!? With wire speeds greater than approx. 3 metres/min, the intermittent ticking starts with no wire feed.
I tried again, this time in manual mode and the wire fed at higher speeds right up to the maximum suggesting its not a motor problem!
I therefore tried laying a weld down in manual mode and on immediate contact with the workpiece, the machine cuts out again and the ticking kicks in again. I noticed on contact, the wire would spark then immediately cut out leaving a glowing wire for a second or two fixed to the workpiece. When pressing the trigger with the wire fixed to the workpiece the usual ticking sound can be heard and no wire feed but there is also another internal electronic 'ping'. This only occurs when the trigger is on and the wire is in contact with the workpiece - when not in contact with the workpiece, just the ticking can be heard.
I opened the machine up and on first impression nothing looks out of place, however I have not yet removed the main PCB as it is installed facing into the machine.
Before I start looking at the electronics, has anyone come across this problem and know of a fix? Does this sound familiar or is this known to be a fault? Is there an obvious first place to look? The welder went from working fine to this problem the following day so I'm thinking a component may have failed?
I'd really appreciate any feedback so that I can hopefully get this welder fixed.
Happy to provide more info/ pics if that helps.
Thanks, Dan
I was hoping you could help with a potential electrical fault. Apologies for the long post but I want to convey all the info I can.
I have recently inherited the Kemppi Minarc MIG 180 Adaptive. I've not had it for long but it worked perfectly in automatic mode (not yet tried manual mode) up until today. I went to use it this morning and during a tack weld, the machine 'cuts out' and the wire feed stops. I squeezed the trigger and an intermittent and random ticking sound can be heard but no wire is feeding though the nozzle. I also noticed the overheating indicator light was on. It could not have overheated because I had only made a few tacks. After allowing 10 minutes to cool down the issue remains.
My first thought was a potential issue with the wire feed motor - a loose connection somewhere maybe? I adjusted the wire feed speed (by adjusting material thickness in automatic mode) to its lowest setting and surprisingly the wire fed through the nozzle unlike before. Increasing the speed and the issue began again. Turns out the wire would only feed though the gun at slow speeds!? With wire speeds greater than approx. 3 metres/min, the intermittent ticking starts with no wire feed.
I tried again, this time in manual mode and the wire fed at higher speeds right up to the maximum suggesting its not a motor problem!
I therefore tried laying a weld down in manual mode and on immediate contact with the workpiece, the machine cuts out again and the ticking kicks in again. I noticed on contact, the wire would spark then immediately cut out leaving a glowing wire for a second or two fixed to the workpiece. When pressing the trigger with the wire fixed to the workpiece the usual ticking sound can be heard and no wire feed but there is also another internal electronic 'ping'. This only occurs when the trigger is on and the wire is in contact with the workpiece - when not in contact with the workpiece, just the ticking can be heard.
I opened the machine up and on first impression nothing looks out of place, however I have not yet removed the main PCB as it is installed facing into the machine.
Before I start looking at the electronics, has anyone come across this problem and know of a fix? Does this sound familiar or is this known to be a fault? Is there an obvious first place to look? The welder went from working fine to this problem the following day so I'm thinking a component may have failed?
I'd really appreciate any feedback so that I can hopefully get this welder fixed.
Happy to provide more info/ pics if that helps.
Thanks, Dan