- Thread starter rmjsugwas
- Start date
JayRS4
Si vis pacum, para bellum
- Messages
- 931
- Location
- Woking, UK
I wouldnt mind knowing either. Maybe a list of wire materials and sizes with there min and max advised voltages or material thicknesses, simialar to what youd get with MMA rods.
To narrow it down, 1.6mm 5xxx ali wire, would it be overkill for 4.5mm plate, would prefer to use the MB36, but it`s 4mtr and was hoping going as big at the torch could might help feed problems.
To narrow it down, 1.6mm 5xxx ali wire, would it be overkill for 4.5mm plate, would prefer to use the MB36, but it`s 4mtr and was hoping going as big at the torch could might help feed problems.
backpurge
Member
- Messages
- 2,397
You can weld that thickness ok with 1.2mm wire, I would say anything over 6mm but it is very much a personal choice
You should find 1.2mm wire is cheaper per kilo than 1.0mm, deposition rates are a lot higher because even though the wire diameter has only increased by 0.2mm the cross sectional area is a lot higher (can't be bothered doing the maths but it is right)
You need to run higher settings, I think you need to be up to at least 9m/min wire feed speed before you hit spray transfer which you should be using on that thickness plate, get your travel speed up using stringer beads and try to avoid weaving unless welding vertical up, you can suffer from lack of fusion/penetration due to the far bigger weld pool
You should find 1.2mm wire is cheaper per kilo than 1.0mm, deposition rates are a lot higher because even though the wire diameter has only increased by 0.2mm the cross sectional area is a lot higher (can't be bothered doing the maths but it is right)
You need to run higher settings, I think you need to be up to at least 9m/min wire feed speed before you hit spray transfer which you should be using on that thickness plate, get your travel speed up using stringer beads and try to avoid weaving unless welding vertical up, you can suffer from lack of fusion/penetration due to the far bigger weld pool
Omniata
Member
- Messages
- 3,191
- Location
- UK
backpurge
Member
- Messages
- 2,397
1.0mm wire is 0.785mm²
1.2mm wire is 1.131mm²
Cheers fella, that's why I'm just a knobstick welder
backpurge
Member
- Messages
- 2,397
You might just get away with it, will depend on joint design, fit up, position, length of joint etc, etc. With ally you would generally go for a bigger size wire than the equivalent in steel.
Personally I would always try and weld ally in spray transfer whenever possible to get best results, you may be pushing it a bit on this thickness material to get a 1.6mm wire into spray as it may be a bit hot
Of course a lot will depend on the power source/wire feeder you are using as well
