Unusual TIG setting!

[heinz57]

Last night i was TIG welding Aluminium on a Thermal Arc 350 amp machine, a brand new bit of kit but the college had the instructions locked away somewhere and the arc had this unusual feature. When i let up on the foot pedal the arc remained on for about 10 seconds every time. What was the setting that was causing this? The instructor said it was a feature to prevent pitting at the end of the weld but didn't know the right term or how to turn it off despite both of us playing with the machine. I know on the trigger control you have a down slope feature but this set up last night just ruined the last few mm of the weld, and i just didn't need it. Any ideas would be appreciated,
thanks!

 

[squazy84]

i think its crater fill,i have somthing similar on my miller syncrowave

 

[pedrobedro]

Slope down on my machine, set it to 0 to stop it doing it.

 

[heinz57]

Thanks squazy84 that's what the instructor said it was, how do you turn this feature off on your machine? is it a seperate independant button or if digital is it called 'crater fill' or does it have some symbol or tecnical name, thanks.

 

[heinz57]

Question for PedroBedro, can it still be slope down control if the machine is set up on foot pedal as mine definetely was? cheers.

 

[GrahamGKD]

My TIG machine (Lorch) does the up/down slope thing when using the buttons on the torch but this is overridden when using the pedal as far as I can see. If you know what machine it is maybe you can download the manual from the thermal arc site?

http://www.thermadyne.com/thermalarc/resource-center/literature.html

Graham.

 

[heinz57]

Cheers Graham GKD. Ive downloaded a brochure and it appears when set to slope 4T or repeat slope 4T this crater fill sequence comes on when you connect a 'remote conactor device'. It does not specify whether that device is a trigger or a foot pedal, so in theory it could be either one maybe. One thing i maybe should have tried is pressing down and letting go of the foot pedal after letting go of it the first time like with a trigger button set on 4T.
Maybe wrong but i'll try it next week. The setting i need next time is STD which either means standard or sexually transmitted disease either way i'll give it a shot, cheers for the feedback and the link mate!

 

[pedrobedro]

On my Stel if you are using a remote trigger like the pedal or a torch mounted wheel the manual says to use 2T setting only which makes sense as the button is only contacted once on and once off.

 

[GrahamGKD]

The setting i need next time is STD which either means standard or sexually transmitted disease either way i'll give it a shot, cheers for the feedback and the link mate!

Perhaps you should wear appropriate PPE just in case it's the latter.

 

[heinz57]

Yeah, i'll ask the instructor for some rubbers!!!