ThermalArc 185 TSW Inverter Setup 4 Aluminum?

[drb930]

Hi All,

Can someone tell me how to set up this machine to wild 3/16'-1/4" Aluminum?
I need to know the Hz, Amps, Balance, what size and kind of tip?
It doesn't tell exactly in the Owner Manual.
Also anyone recommend any good books for this?

Thanks,
Dave

[Jay O]

Turn the machine up all the way, turn post flow up to 10 sec., leave hz at 60 and adjust balance to 90 percent. Use 3/32 lanthanated tungsten sharpened to a point. If you want to cheat a little maybe turn on the pulser and set it at its lowest pules setting and set the percent at 60. If your doing pratice Ts the turn up the hz to 100.

[Broccoli1]

This is for the TA185

http://www.aceengineering.ca/Temp/TIGWeldingChart.pdf

Conrad Turbo on Hobart put it together so thanks go to him

[drb930]

First thanks for the help.
Here is a picture of the set-up page.
What the manual doesn't explain very well is exactly how to set up the machine?

Thanks,
Dave

[drb930]

Sorry, here is the page.

[Broccoli1]

Std, Slope, Repeat, Spot: Select Std

Select A/C
"t1"- is Pre Flow
"Hot Start" Sets the peak starting amps above the base welding amps
"Weld"- set amps
A/C freq
A/C balance
"t2"= Post Flow

[woi2ld]

i did'nt know u could sharpen th tungsten for aluminum.....c'mon , is that a mistake....How would it stay sharp..?

explain a little.

[Supe]

Originally Posted by woi2ld

i did'nt know u could sharpen th tungsten for aluminum.....c'mon , is that a mistake....How would it stay sharp..?

explain a little.

Inverter machines should not be run with pure tungstens. Ceriated and a few other select electrodes are recommended, and will keep their point up to a reasonable amperage.

[Broccoli1]

Yup-

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...Book_Chpt4.pdf

[drb930]

I still can't get this thing to weld aluminum, just makes a big blob?

[MikeGyver]

Originally Posted by drb930

I still can't get this thing to weld aluminum, just makes a big blob?

A little better description would help... Are you an experienced aluminum TIG welder? basically what I'm asking is it the machine or you.

[drb930]

Originally Posted by MikeGyver

A little better description would help... Are you an experienced aluminum TIG welder? basically what I'm asking is it the machine or you.

No, I am not an experienced aluminum welder.
I'm sure both me and the machine have a part in this problem.

[lugweld]

DRB,

You do have your torch in the negative right? Pure argon or argon helium?
I'd question what JayO has told you. Its not a good setting for a beginner...
And, I'd say you'd want a little more frequency, especially to start, that will make the arc a little more controllable and keep the arc from spreading out too far. Try 120 Hz. 60 hz will make it fat but 120 will give you a lot more stability and focus your heat.

Nix the pulse.

Balance (and if I remember right TA uses electrode negative for their setting), you'll need about 65%-70% on balance. 90% can leave you with issues. Go ahead and make sure you have plenty of cleaning. A big blob can indicate you aren't getting enough cleaning and you are trying to shove the rod in under the skimmy oxidation. 3/32 or 1/8" tungsten for the job....thoriated, lathanated, or ceriated.

A little helium added to your argon will help the heat thing out...Stay around 25%...

If you are using the foot pedal, he is correct, you'll want maximum available power to get things kicked off, but you shouldn't be hard against the stop all the time, though at 185 amps it will suck 99% of what you can get out of it to get 1/4", particularly at low AC frequency.

[drb930]

I not sure about adjusting the balance.
When you walk through the settings it goes from HZ to balance.
Balance only goes up to 65?

[DSW]

1/4" with that machine will probably need to be balls to the wall almost FT. You are probably overreaching that machines capability some. It's doable, but not really for someone with next to no experience doing alum tig.

My guess is part of your issue is whats very typical of other guys who try to do alum tig. Alum is a great heat sink and sucks heat away from the weld very quickly. You need a lot of amps right at the start to get the puddle going. "Advanced" tricks like helium and frequency control will not help you with problems with the basics. They only allow an experienced user to stretch the capabilities of the machine slightly. For 1/4" I'd want to be set at 250 amps or so given a choice. That will allow you to quickly get the puddle going and then start backing down as the piece heats up. Most newer alum tig welders, go too slow and don't use enough amps. Alum needs to be welded fast, much faster than steel. The normal reaction of guys used to steel or just learning is to slowly try and creep up on the amps. All this does is heat up the whole plate. Also many don't prep the material well. The oxide coating that naturally forms on alum melts at a higher temp than bare alum. That means if you take your time, the inside is molten well before you burn thru the oxide layer. When that happens everything melts at once and you have a big blob.

Best advise to learn alum tig... learn steel well 1st. Steel will allow you to easily see and understand how amps and speed effect the puddle. Once you can do 1/8" steel in all positions, then you might be ready to move on to 1/8" alum and start learning how to do this all over again about 3 times faster. With alum you really don't have time to think about what you need to do. You need to have the basics of heat control down to the point you automatically react and make adjustments in amps and speed without ever thinking about it.

[David R]

I own a TA185. Ad wave balance is the % time positive at the electrode. 35% still gets good cleaning. Lower and black spots
may appear on the weld.

You have one nice aluminum welder. Turn the balance to 65% + and 3/32 tungsten will drip off at full amps.

[lugweld]

Ok, I was thinking TA used %-...like Miller.35% it is.