Reliability of Tig machines

[dutchman]

Is reliability of Tig machines as big an issue as with Mig machines? I guess Mig machines are more prone to defects because of the wire feeding system, but that's just a guess.
Can anything be said about the most critical/unreliable components of a Tig machine; what are they?
BTW are Tig welding temperatures the same as Mig welding temperatures?

 

[irondarren]

reliability on a Inverter based TIG, i woud say is a big issue. Inverters are a complicated piece of electronics, not the sort of thing you can self repair. Mig's are generally transformer based and are relatively simple, so with basic knowledge of elctrics its easy enough to repair

 

[dutchman]

OK, thanks for that info.

Is this a dumb question?

BTW are Tig welding temperatures the same as Mig welding temperatures?

By now I know the heat is primarily determined by the Amps. Are Amp settings and voltage for welding 1.5mm steel the same for MIG and TIG?

 

[irondarren]

Mig and Tig work on a slightly different idea, Mig relies on voltage, with the amperage being determined by the wire speed and wire size. Hence many mig machines are CV or constant voltage, TIG is similar to arc in terms of being constant current (amperage)

 

[matt1978]

Reliabilty with Tig inverters is only an issue if you purchase something 2nd hand or off Ebay and therfore have no warrenty or back up.

Lorch have been making Tig Inverters for over 15 years now and have a repair rate of around 0.2/0.3%. Thats not to say that they never breakdown, but nothing that is man made is 100% reliable, but atleast when you buy quality equipment with a proper back up service, you also buy piece of mind incase something does go wrong. In our case 3 years piece of mind.

 

[irondarren]

3 out of a 1000 going wrong is a dam good ratio Matt, i think you will find the industry average is much higher than that. But as they say pays your money and takes your choice. One of the advantages of buying high quality equipement, is normally a very high degree of reliability and good service back up should something go wrong. Which isn't something you get with cheaper makes.

 

[matt1978]

Yeah, its good but thats what most of the Big well known names work too. Fronius, ESAB, EWM etc. You would obviously know of people who have had problems with machines even tho they are working to 0.3% repair rate, its just that the volume of the machines they sell is also much bigger.

 

[lexi]

You fail to mention the biggest disadvantage of buying quality equipment............explaining it to SWIMBO. This is where I feel the big companies could help more by offering fitted kitchens and weekends away at health farms....

Alex

 

[matt1978]

You fail to mention the biggest disadvantage of buying quality equipment............explaining it to SWIMBO. This is where I feel the big companies could help more by offering fitted kitchens and weekends away at health farms....

Alex

I'll pass your comments on to our marketing department!! Haha