Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Platinum, Sun Jun 25 2017, 10:15AMHello everybody haven't posted here in a long time, but I am looking for some help with an upcoming project after I move into my new house, its not very complex. I'm a fabricator welder by trade and me and a friend are starting to do jobs at his unit so I'm about to buy a Parweld XTS 142 arc welder, I've got about 5 years welding experience and I also worked in automation and control for 6 months making custom high powered electrical panels and I was brought into fabricate the buss bars things like 100 by 10 flat copper etc I then went back to my old job to go back into fab and welding. So like I'm looking to buy a Parweld XTS 142 arc welder which is 140 amp output far more power than what I intend to use it for and that is TIG welding stainless, so I need to also buy a TIG torch with a valve. So the help I need is because it's an arc welder the circuit is also live on the welding electrode now TIG is switched, can I use an SCR on the electrode terminal on the inside of the welder to turn it into a switched welding supply as in a hand operated switch on the gun? Also I have a small high voltage circuit off eBay which is an enclosed voltage multiplier I think and need to run from 1 or 2 18650 which I have already tested so I was looking at a small mains transformer on RS UK for 8 pound with a output of 6vac I intend to rectify that and add that to the high voltage unit and also add a another small switch on the torch and then the switch for HV start would be where my index finger would be to press momentarily and a thumb switch to maintain the arc via the SCR, would and SCR work? Would the little HV unit destroy the inverter welder?
Any help welcome thanks
Also anyone willing to help me and if possible trade a HF start circuit or SCR I will give a SSTC driver board the exact same one here, left the board and coil at s friend house while I pack thing for my new house told him not to use it and now is not working status led is green but 2 ICs are missing and one possibly failed you can get the information needed to repair it here
look for SSTC 2Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
hen918, Sun Jun 25 2017, 11:32AM
I would recommend just buying a TIG /Arc / Plasma Cutting hybrid. It might cost another £100 but you would really be risking it with high voltage around an inverter welder not designed for it.
Edit: If you were to use the cheaper welder, could you not tap-start the arc as you would when arc welding? You could also use a beefy Solid-State Relay on the input to stop the arc on command, however I'm not sure how the welder would like the power being cut whilst arcing.
hen918, Sun Jun 25 2017, 11:32AM
I would recommend just buying a TIG /Arc / Plasma Cutting hybrid. It might cost another £100 but you would really be risking it with high voltage around an inverter welder not designed for it.
Edit: If you were to use the cheaper welder, could you not tap-start the arc as you would when arc welding? You could also use a beefy Solid-State Relay on the input to stop the arc on command, however I'm not sure how the welder would like the power being cut whilst arcing.
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Platinum, Sun Jun 25 2017, 11:45AM
Unfortunately a plasma, TIG/MMA welder will cost in excess of a good thousand pound except those Chinese ones which I won't take the risk even a half decent manufacturer I'd struggle to get one for 700 pounds. A well known manufacturer will give a good warranty and use reputable manufacturers for their semiconductors and accessories such as troches and cables and consumables as obviously they don't last for ever. Thermalarc make a 175 AMP arc welder which has the same insides as the same welder they sell as their 175AMP HF/HV start TIG welder I think they are priced around 340 for the TIG set up. Surely someone would recommend a HV choke, I will look into the relay though thank you
Also yes I can scratch start the TIG welder but this would include tungsten inclusion in the weld and contaminates, and in turn will not make the tungsten last very long. Also it would make a world of difference if I could make or break the circuit myself with a simple switch and HF start would make a big difference in weld and tungsten quality,
Platinum, Sun Jun 25 2017, 11:45AM
Unfortunately a plasma, TIG/MMA welder will cost in excess of a good thousand pound except those Chinese ones which I won't take the risk even a half decent manufacturer I'd struggle to get one for 700 pounds. A well known manufacturer will give a good warranty and use reputable manufacturers for their semiconductors and accessories such as troches and cables and consumables as obviously they don't last for ever. Thermalarc make a 175 AMP arc welder which has the same insides as the same welder they sell as their 175AMP HF/HV start TIG welder I think they are priced around 340 for the TIG set up. Surely someone would recommend a HV choke, I will look into the relay though thank you
Also yes I can scratch start the TIG welder but this would include tungsten inclusion in the weld and contaminates, and in turn will not make the tungsten last very long. Also it would make a world of difference if I could make or break the circuit myself with a simple switch and HF start would make a big difference in weld and tungsten quality,
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Finn Hammer, Sun Jun 25 2017, 04:31PM
Platinum,
With regard to the chinese welders, I also had my reservation, but after buying this unit:
I feel different.
It immediately enabled me to weld alluminium, and stainless of course.
Quality is not so bad, and I recommend it.
I have had several years of welding experience, on shipyards, but that was 30 years ago.
Cheers, Finn Hammer
Finn Hammer, Sun Jun 25 2017, 04:31PM
Platinum,
With regard to the chinese welders, I also had my reservation, but after buying this unit:
I feel different.
It immediately enabled me to weld alluminium, and stainless of course.
Quality is not so bad, and I recommend it.
I have had several years of welding experience, on shipyards, but that was 30 years ago.
Cheers, Finn Hammer
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Platinum, Sun Jun 25 2017, 06:42PM
Unfortunately my budget is not that high but could stretch a little to about 600 pound, but would like to spend as little as possible for now(as most other would), I do TIG at work on a regular basis, my intent is custom exhaust manifolds and other small jobs, I don't need aluminium capabilities or atleast not yet. The machine you linked could I ask what quality are the components like? Thanks
Also I only need about 100amps max but more is obviously more versatile, does anyone know or have a schematic to a HF start circuit in a welder or know the basics/fundamentals of how they work
Thanks
Platinum, Sun Jun 25 2017, 06:42PM
Unfortunately my budget is not that high but could stretch a little to about 600 pound, but would like to spend as little as possible for now(as most other would), I do TIG at work on a regular basis, my intent is custom exhaust manifolds and other small jobs, I don't need aluminium capabilities or atleast not yet. The machine you linked could I ask what quality are the components like? Thanks
Also I only need about 100amps max but more is obviously more versatile, does anyone know or have a schematic to a HF start circuit in a welder or know the basics/fundamentals of how they work
Thanks
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
hen918, Sun Jun 25 2017, 07:57PM
The high voltage across the output terminals is caused by a high voltage pulse from a charged capacitor discharging via a spark gap and the primary of a coupling transformer with the secondary in series with the output.
This website will tell you mare about it:
hen918, Sun Jun 25 2017, 07:57PM
Platinum wrote ...
...
Also I only need about 100amps max but more is obviously more versatile, does anyone know or have a schematic to a HF start circuit in a welder or know the basics/fundamentals of how they work
Thanks
...
Also I only need about 100amps max but more is obviously more versatile, does anyone know or have a schematic to a HF start circuit in a welder or know the basics/fundamentals of how they work
Thanks
The high voltage across the output terminals is caused by a high voltage pulse from a charged capacitor discharging via a spark gap and the primary of a coupling transformer with the secondary in series with the output.
This website will tell you mare about it:
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Platinum, Sun Jun 25 2017, 08:34PM
I see thanks for sharing that, it's a relay switched neon transformer circuit with an output on the one of the welding terminals, I have a very small ignition transformer which by the sound and size is a simple IC controlled voltage multiplier, intact the arc characteristics are very similar to HF that welder use if anything the output is higher on my small ignition device, although 3.6vdc would drop the power of it but still be very suitable for HF start, I assume a simple filter would protect the welders inverter circuit, that only leave a switch for power to be made and subsequently interrupted, I have yet to find a suitable relay to do this though, and an SCR would not work?
Thanks
Platinum, Sun Jun 25 2017, 08:34PM
hen918 wrote ...
The high voltage across the output terminals is caused by a high voltage pulse from a charged capacitor discharging via a spark gap and the primary of a coupling transformer with the secondary in series with the output.
This website will tell you mare about it:
Platinum wrote ...
...
Also I only need about 100amps max but more is obviously more versatile, does anyone know or have a schematic to a HF start circuit in a welder or know the basics/fundamentals of how they work
Thanks
...
Also I only need about 100amps max but more is obviously more versatile, does anyone know or have a schematic to a HF start circuit in a welder or know the basics/fundamentals of how they work
Thanks
The high voltage across the output terminals is caused by a high voltage pulse from a charged capacitor discharging via a spark gap and the primary of a coupling transformer with the secondary in series with the output.
This website will tell you mare about it:
I see thanks for sharing that, it's a relay switched neon transformer circuit with an output on the one of the welding terminals, I have a very small ignition transformer which by the sound and size is a simple IC controlled voltage multiplier, intact the arc characteristics are very similar to HF that welder use if anything the output is higher on my small ignition device, although 3.6vdc would drop the power of it but still be very suitable for HF start, I assume a simple filter would protect the welders inverter circuit, that only leave a switch for power to be made and subsequently interrupted, I have yet to find a suitable relay to do this though, and an SCR would not work?
Thanks
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
johnf, Mon Jun 26 2017, 09:18AM
Buy a cheap tig welder
They get down to US$400 here in NZ ie 180amp hf start Chinese
adding hf start to an ordinary DC arc welder will vaporise your rectifier diodes unless you know how to stop the HF getting back into the welder. I did this to my big 500A DC arc welder and the replacement 900amp 1200PIV diode cost more than a cheap Chinese TIG welder when I added an aftermarket HF unit made by lincolln.
johnf, Mon Jun 26 2017, 09:18AM
Buy a cheap tig welder
They get down to US$400 here in NZ ie 180amp hf start Chinese
adding hf start to an ordinary DC arc welder will vaporise your rectifier diodes unless you know how to stop the HF getting back into the welder. I did this to my big 500A DC arc welder and the replacement 900amp 1200PIV diode cost more than a cheap Chinese TIG welder when I added an aftermarket HF unit made by lincolln.
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Platinum, Mon Jun 26 2017, 09:47AM
Okay it looks like the better option is a Chinese welder, I'll see if I can find one with a good warranty
Platinum, Mon Jun 26 2017, 09:47AM
johnf wrote ...
Buy a cheap tig welder
They get down to US$400 here in NZ ie 180amp hf start Chinese
adding hf start to an ordinary DC arc welder will vaporise your rectifier diodes unless you know how to stop the HF getting back into the welder. I did this to my big 500A DC arc welder and the replacement 900amp 1200PIV diode cost more than a cheap Chinese TIG welder when I added an aftermarket HF unit made by lincolln.
Buy a cheap tig welder
They get down to US$400 here in NZ ie 180amp hf start Chinese
adding hf start to an ordinary DC arc welder will vaporise your rectifier diodes unless you know how to stop the HF getting back into the welder. I did this to my big 500A DC arc welder and the replacement 900amp 1200PIV diode cost more than a cheap Chinese TIG welder when I added an aftermarket HF unit made by lincolln.
Okay it looks like the better option is a Chinese welder, I'll see if I can find one with a good warranty
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Finn Hammer, Mon Jun 26 2017, 09:53AM
In the case that you don't want ac welding current for alluminium, you can get a much cheaper unit at the same shop on german ebay. Just get a foot pedal too, so you can adjust current on the fly.
The quality of the tig torch looks like it is on par with the Parweld unit. It is the better end of chinese semi pro gear. Not quite as refined or roboust as Migatronic and Kemppi, but at a fraction of the cost
Cheers, Finn Hammer
Finn Hammer, Mon Jun 26 2017, 09:53AM
In the case that you don't want ac welding current for alluminium, you can get a much cheaper unit at the same shop on german ebay. Just get a foot pedal too, so you can adjust current on the fly.
The quality of the tig torch looks like it is on par with the Parweld unit. It is the better end of chinese semi pro gear. Not quite as refined or roboust as Migatronic and Kemppi, but at a fraction of the cost
Cheers, Finn Hammer
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Platinum, Mon Jun 26 2017, 11:34AM
Hey Finn, what do you think of Hawk tool TIG machines? They also seem to be good value judging by the looks of them and the torch, they range anywhere from 160 amp basic machines to ACDC full waveform and pulse control 220 setups at a fraction of the cost of say a Miller or Lincoln, also i was told Parweld are Chinese as are thermalarc
Also their torches looks almost identical to a WP26 I've used in work
Platinum, Mon Jun 26 2017, 11:34AM
Hey Finn, what do you think of Hawk tool TIG machines? They also seem to be good value judging by the looks of them and the torch, they range anywhere from 160 amp basic machines to ACDC full waveform and pulse control 220 setups at a fraction of the cost of say a Miller or Lincoln, also i was told Parweld are Chinese as are thermalarc
Also their torches looks almost identical to a WP26 I've used in work
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Finn Hammer, Mon Jun 26 2017, 07:05PM
I don't particularly like the Hawk machine you just linked to, it is too basic for my liking.
What I look for these days, is a microprocessor controlled machine, that has pulse welding ability, and a memory function, so you can store "lucky" settings (or deliberately usefull settings, if you like), and start up from there, instead of having to dial parameters in, from scratch, at every startup.
A machine like this has a control panel like the machine I just linked to, and quite many machines seem to share the same layout. It enables you to make a custom setup of parameters, where you control gas pre flow, start current, ramp up time, welding current, ramp down time, end current, gas post flow, as well as pulse frequency and pulse duty cycle.
This German distributor has the best of the crop, price taken into account, at least that is what I seem to have found. If you intend to weld exhaust parts in thin wall tubing, pulse can be an asset, although a foot pedal probably is the better option for one off welds. That is what I have found recently.
A foot pedal is an amazing asset to a welder. If you weld every day, you pretty much know what amperage is required for the job, just by looking at it, but I don't weld every day anymore, so being able to adjust the power on the fly, in real time, has made me a very happy welder indeed.
I am working on a Fusor project, and need to make vacuum tight work on stainless steel, often on thin wall tubing, and the pedal really helps get the right heat into the weld.
Cheers, Finn Hammer
Finn Hammer, Mon Jun 26 2017, 07:05PM
Platinum wrote ...
Hey Finn, what do you think of Hawk tool TIG machines? They also seem to be good value judging by the looks of them and the torch, they range anywhere from 160 amp basic machines to ACDC full waveform and pulse control 220 setups at a fraction of the cost of say a Miller or Lincoln, also i was told Parweld are Chinese as are thermalarc
Also their torches looks almost identical to a WP26 I've used in work
Hey Finn, what do you think of Hawk tool TIG machines? They also seem to be good value judging by the looks of them and the torch, they range anywhere from 160 amp basic machines to ACDC full waveform and pulse control 220 setups at a fraction of the cost of say a Miller or Lincoln, also i was told Parweld are Chinese as are thermalarc
Also their torches looks almost identical to a WP26 I've used in work
I don't particularly like the Hawk machine you just linked to, it is too basic for my liking.
What I look for these days, is a microprocessor controlled machine, that has pulse welding ability, and a memory function, so you can store "lucky" settings (or deliberately usefull settings, if you like), and start up from there, instead of having to dial parameters in, from scratch, at every startup.
A machine like this has a control panel like the machine I just linked to, and quite many machines seem to share the same layout. It enables you to make a custom setup of parameters, where you control gas pre flow, start current, ramp up time, welding current, ramp down time, end current, gas post flow, as well as pulse frequency and pulse duty cycle.
This German distributor has the best of the crop, price taken into account, at least that is what I seem to have found. If you intend to weld exhaust parts in thin wall tubing, pulse can be an asset, although a foot pedal probably is the better option for one off welds. That is what I have found recently.
A foot pedal is an amazing asset to a welder. If you weld every day, you pretty much know what amperage is required for the job, just by looking at it, but I don't weld every day anymore, so being able to adjust the power on the fly, in real time, has made me a very happy welder indeed.
I am working on a Fusor project, and need to make vacuum tight work on stainless steel, often on thin wall tubing, and the pedal really helps get the right heat into the weld.
Cheers, Finn Hammer
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Platinum, Tue Jun 27 2017, 09:36AM
Thanks for sharing Finn. I've seen one about 320 pound for a 180amp seems good value, any other welding machine with the ability to memorize settings and pulse would be bordering 900 pounds or there abouts. One last question have you or anybody else here used any of the Chinese plasma cutters? Some say they last a few years some say a few seconds of cutting and they are finished
Also a pedal would make a world of difference in thin wall tubing as would slope down/up and pre/post flow. I've never really used pulse extensively but itndpes help to weld thinner walled intricate fabrications with more speed
Cheers
Platinum, Tue Jun 27 2017, 09:36AM
Thanks for sharing Finn. I've seen one about 320 pound for a 180amp seems good value, any other welding machine with the ability to memorize settings and pulse would be bordering 900 pounds or there abouts. One last question have you or anybody else here used any of the Chinese plasma cutters? Some say they last a few years some say a few seconds of cutting and they are finished
Also a pedal would make a world of difference in thin wall tubing as would slope down/up and pre/post flow. I've never really used pulse extensively but itndpes help to weld thinner walled intricate fabrications with more speed
Cheers
Re: Long time since I've been here looking for help with project
Kolas, Fri Jul 14 2017, 12:52AM
Yeah, I have to agree with the pedal note. I was using one for aluminum (as a student) and thought I hated the pedal. Later, I realized it was the aluminum that I hated. It just seems to jump out of the puddle onto the electrode. WTF?
Afterwards, I gave the pedal a second try with stainless. What do you know; I really LOVE the pedal!!! I've always been one to believe that travel rate and puddle quenching from added filler metal can compensate for welding current, (to some degree) but no more puddle cracking.
When it comes to cheap Chinese stuff; the old adage is definitely true with these devices: you get what you pay for. With that said. Plasma cutters are purposefully designed to destroy "consumables."
As far as an HF/HV starter is concerned. I'd recommend caution when adding one to a discrete machine. But do note that welders are designed to manage HV spikes innately as the output inductor can/will cause a spike if the arc is broken due to excessive gaping while at welding current. Since this is generally the way lift arc units must be terminated, they happen quite frequently. In addition to that; the HF/HV pulse is not needed continuously unless you're using AC.
Kolas, Fri Jul 14 2017, 12:52AM
Yeah, I have to agree with the pedal note. I was using one for aluminum (as a student) and thought I hated the pedal. Later, I realized it was the aluminum that I hated. It just seems to jump out of the puddle onto the electrode. WTF?
Afterwards, I gave the pedal a second try with stainless. What do you know; I really LOVE the pedal!!! I've always been one to believe that travel rate and puddle quenching from added filler metal can compensate for welding current, (to some degree) but no more puddle cracking.
When it comes to cheap Chinese stuff; the old adage is definitely true with these devices: you get what you pay for. With that said. Plasma cutters are purposefully designed to destroy "consumables."
As far as an HF/HV starter is concerned. I'd recommend caution when adding one to a discrete machine. But do note that welders are designed to manage HV spikes innately as the output inductor can/will cause a spike if the arc is broken due to excessive gaping while at welding current. Since this is generally the way lift arc units must be terminated, they happen quite frequently. In addition to that; the HF/HV pulse is not needed continuously unless you're using AC.
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