MIG ali

[wyn]

Maybe the surface of the aluminium has got dirty or oxidised since you first cleaned it, especially if you're practicing with lots of runs on the same plate.

 

[madkayaker]

maybe

 

[Robotstar5]

Maybe the surface of the aluminium has got dirty or oxidised since you first cleaned it, especially if you're practicing with lots of runs on the same plate.

Had similar happen with robot mig when it strikes "silica" and fails to arc up

 

[madkayaker]

the runs are close together so maybe over spill of contaminants

 

[Luke]

The soot's proper name is 'smut'. you need gas flow akin to a jet engine. cleanliness is everything.

my experiences are here

 

[runnach]

I'd certainly not have gas flow rate at jet engine proportions, been said often, too much gas causes turbulence, which in turn = contamination. I have also found mig welding al/al, with too high a gas flow rate tends to flatten weld profile, anyone else found this??

 

[Luke]

Ok, i might have been exaggerating, in the thread i linked to, I mention a more specific 20 lpm.

 

[runnach]

Ok, i might have been exaggerating, in the thread i linked to, I mention a more specific 20 lpm.

LOL...........I personally think 20lpm too high Luke, did you have probs running gas at the norm, say 10>12lpm?

 

[madkayaker]

what's that in disposable

 

[runnach]

what's that in disposable

No idea MK, do they not read off in LPM??

 

[wyn]

what's that in disposable

Number 15 on the dial

 

[Luke]

LOL...........I personally think 20lpm too high Luke, did you have probs running gas at the norm, say 10>12lpm?

Yes, lots of smut. I steadily increased gas flow until the smut cleared, at which point i stopped increasing gas flow.

what's that in disposable

erm, about 30 seconds?

 

[runnach]

Yes, lots of smut. I steadily increased gas flow until the smut cleared, at which point i stopped increasing gas flow.

Interesting, can't say I've ever had to reach a good welding condition, especially with gas flow rate in the manner you mention above. I wonder if you do not mind me saying, was perhaps down to, too long an arc length while welding???

 

[Luke]

possibly, as you can see from the thread date, i haven't done any recently.

 

[madkayaker]

good job i took the rubbish plastic dial so i can get higher flow. Can a pub gas bottle reg be used on argon?

 

[Robotstar5]

Can a pub gas bottle reg be used on argon?

I think they use different fittings & CO2 regs used to be lower working pressure than Argon.

 

[JayRS4]

good job i took the rubbish plastic dial so i can get higher flow. Can a pub gas bottle reg be used on argon?

As long as your reg is up to the higher pressure i`ve got an adapter somewhere (from co2 to argon), i`ll chuck it in the van with Omni`s stuff next week if you like

 

[madkayaker]

that would be good thanks

 

[JayRS4]

No worries, think i saw it digging around today, poor van, bets on how far it will get?

 

[madkayaker]

10 miles short of back