R-Tech AC/DC Tig settings

[PSweeney]

My pals bought a AC/DC tig. I do a little DC tig but was wondering if somebody with this machine could advise some base setting for welding 1mm ally sheet lap joints ?

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

You need some lanthanated or ceriated tungsten. 1.6 or 2.4 will do. Are you on a foot pedal? I would go with some 2.4mm filler. Wouldn't bother with pulse. About 65% cleaning balance 80 to 100hz and somewhere between 20 and 35a. Foot pedal makes it easier. Clean the bits well and practice first. The pulse may make it easier if you know how to set it up. Means you can pump more heat in for a fraction of a second while you dip the filler it stops the pool freezing too much when the filler is added but also helps to stop the surface overheating and cab improve how the weld looks. Getting all your machine parameters set just as you like are a personal preference to a point and much harder to get right than dc welding

 

[whm_fab]

ive recently got an R-tech to do AC, im still very much getting to know the machine, but im fairly close (without pulse) with 1.6 ceriated, 1.6 4043 filler, 110hz, and about 45a on 1.5mm sheet/plate. cleaning balance really depends on your parent material. it would be wise to give it a good rub with a s/s wire brush that you use for alu only and after a rub with thinners/acetone etc
point worth noting though for better beading as lawnmower boy pointed out rightly i could do with 2.4 filler.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

What sort of ally are you wanting to weld? 5 and 6 series Al alloys weld the best with something like sifalumin no.27 it contains a little bit of magnesium which helps but I don't know why!

 

[PSweeney]

thanks guys will give it a bash this weekend

 

[whensparksfly]

what type tungsten do you all use for aluminum and steel .i have always used red tip and white tip

 

[Paul.]

what type tungsten do you all use for aluminum and steel .i have always used red tip and white tip

Traditional choice for steel and stainless on DC is thoriated, (Red), you can also use ceriated (grey) or lanthanated (Gold),
White are zirconiated and meant for AC on aluminium, they will run on DC but don't hold a point well and the arc can be unstable,
Ceriated and lanthanated will perform well on both AC and DC, and are often described as multi strike,

 

[chevy2]

Most of above settings will work but i'd use a 1.6mm filler rod instead of a 2.4mm as its closer in diameter to the material you're welding, if not you may tend to be welding hotter than needed to get the bigger filler rod to melt in the pool,
The 1.6mm filler will help if you're joints aren't dead tight, you wont get that 2.4mm rod to melt if the gap opens and you need to drop the amps and get some filler in.