- Thread starter AWH
- Start date
backpurge
Member
- Messages
- 2,397
Its a matter of turning the volts and wire feed up (making sure you keep them in balance) until, instead of getting an individual droplet transfered with each short circuit, you get a constant stream of droplets transferred across the arc without any short circuiting occurring. The main difference you will initially notice is the noise
You need to have a machine capable of running reasonably high volts and amps (probably above 250a depending on wire size) and preferably a 4 roller drive to ensure good feed at higher speeds
The reason it is better on aluminium is because of the increased heat you are putting into the weldpool which in turn improves weld quality.
To be honest you are better off using spray transfer whenever possible on all materials
backpurge
Member
- Messages
- 2,397
What do the inductance settings look like on a MIG unit? Is there a diagram etc? are they on the front panel or inside the machine itself?
Provided the machine offers the option of different inductance settings you adjust it either by putting the work return lead into different sockets or by a rotary dial or keypad control
Drains
Yeah, nah.
- Messages
- 7,718
- Location
- Sefton, South Island, NZ
AWH - spray kicks in above 25v, ish, not 250. As BP says it sounds different - gone the crackly frying bacon, to a nice hum, no spatter, an arc that sits off the weld material with a visible pinch in the middle which cones towards the work.
The majority of 240v sets won't run spray as they won't go over 25v open circuit, and a minimum 200A. Better inverter sets should. You also need a low co2 gas mix - the higher the co2 the higher the voltage you require to go into spray.
Most 240v sets won't offer an inductance setting. Otherwise it is, as above, a selection of sockets for your weld cable, or a knob to twiddle. Or in the case of my old Lincoln Arcmaker, a gurt handle to wind round.
The majority of 240v sets won't run spray as they won't go over 25v open circuit, and a minimum 200A. Better inverter sets should. You also need a low co2 gas mix - the higher the co2 the higher the voltage you require to go into spray.
Most 240v sets won't offer an inductance setting. Otherwise it is, as above, a selection of sockets for your weld cable, or a knob to twiddle. Or in the case of my old Lincoln Arcmaker, a gurt handle to wind round.
backpurge
Member
- Messages
- 2,397
Drains
Yeah, nah.
- Messages
- 7,718
- Location
- Sefton, South Island, NZ
Thanks guys for your help...most enlightening...the 250v was my mistake.
The machine is a Uni-mig 250 single phase 240volt inverter.
It has an external dial with 1- 10 inductance settings.
The specs. say it has a 54 no load voltage (what ever that means?)
Welding current adjustment of 10 - 250 a
Welding voltage of 11 - 29
Material being welded is 3 & 4mm 5083 Aluminium.
Wire 1.2
Further comments on the inductance settings welcome.
Cheers
The machine is a Uni-mig 250 single phase 240volt inverter.
It has an external dial with 1- 10 inductance settings.
The specs. say it has a 54 no load voltage (what ever that means?)
Welding current adjustment of 10 - 250 a
Welding voltage of 11 - 29
Material being welded is 3 & 4mm 5083 Aluminium.
Wire 1.2
Further comments on the inductance settings welcome.
Cheers
heinz57
Welder, mig, tig, mma, fcaw! God save the King!
- Messages
- 118
- Location
- Bristol, South West
heinz57
Welder, mig, tig, mma, fcaw! God save the King!
- Messages
- 118
- Location
- Bristol, South West
What about ultra thin sections of mild steel for example? would s. circuit be less likely to blow through than spray? Cheers.
Sparkey
Bouncing along!
- Messages
- 5,156
- Location
- France
Heinz, you can't use spray transfer on thin material....it would work like a plasma cutter on thin stuff!
So yes, you would defo want to stay in dip! (short circuit)
backpurge
Member
- Messages
- 2,397
As Sparks says you can't use spray transfer on thin material, this was one of the main reasons for the development of pulsed MIG as it gives you the weld quality/integrity of spray with the heat input of dip
The only reason spray was brought up was it was part of the original question
The only reason spray was brought up was it was part of the original question
Drains
Yeah, nah.
- Messages
- 7,718
- Location
- Sefton, South Island, NZ
If you're in spray, none.
Otherwise, inductance settings are something nobody will ever give you an answer to. You want to reduce spatter without putting on loads of inductance unless you're at the top end of dip, pre spray. Why? loads of inductance can reduce fusion of the weld, too little gives a harsh spattery weld. It's a good reason for having only two induction settings (as many machines have), as having a dial from 1 to 10 is a bit of a nonsense. Keep it low for low volts, high for high volts in dip... In spray it doesn't matter.
HTH!
if you have an inverter mig i expect you have a dial for arc voltage and one for inductence (looks like a _nnn_ symbol) or big industrial will have a few earth lead conections/transformer tappings
as everyone say it effects the way the transfer of wire from big drips forming on the end of the wire with an open arc to real sort arc and wire pushing the torch back
you can get some small migs that have a second tapping/conection for alloy/mig brazeing theas are mainly aimed at bodyshops
spray transfer is what you want for ally as the wire touching in will cause feed problems (wire buckling) as the wire is soft
it looks like the wire pinches off before the wire touches in with an open arc that is longer than normal and tiny little balls of molten metal hitting the weld pool
thinner wire will help i used to say hard and fast to get best ally mig results
i do push and then pull back a bit and torch angle is critical to avoid blacking
as everyone say it effects the way the transfer of wire from big drips forming on the end of the wire with an open arc to real sort arc and wire pushing the torch back
you can get some small migs that have a second tapping/conection for alloy/mig brazeing theas are mainly aimed at bodyshops
spray transfer is what you want for ally as the wire touching in will cause feed problems (wire buckling) as the wire is soft
it looks like the wire pinches off before the wire touches in with an open arc that is longer than normal and tiny little balls of molten metal hitting the weld pool
thinner wire will help i used to say hard and fast to get best ally mig results
i do push and then pull back a bit and torch angle is critical to avoid blacking
