https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-amPG_FxUXo
this is the fronius delta spot welder, very cool!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqEbw7HjYF0

 

seems the MFDC spot welders are what is recommended for aluminum, now just have to figgure out who makes them and price?

 

You need a LOT of power to spot weld aluminum correctly.

 

What's on that ribbon in the bottom electrode the first spot welder

 

talked to tj snow a company that makes aluminum spot weld machines:
mid frequency converter machines only run on 3 phase electricity which I dont' have.
100kva 200amp is minimum needed for 1/16th aluminum
I'd have to spend aroudn $1000 just to have a dedicated 200 amp line run to the machine.
single phase
10-15 welds a minute
120-200 emery cloth clean up on electrodes.
Price $20,000
18" throat
5" cylinder
7 feet tall
7 fet long 3 to 4 feet wide.
2,000 lbs.
entron weld conrol
obviously too expensive I think I will just try the scrap steel in a $150 harbor freight unit and see how it works.
I was hoping for something better, but from my limited knowledge and research there is not anything. I was hoping for something less than $2000
No sense spending big bucks if the results are not there. .

 

If this hits the news big enough I think Harbor Freight will have one out in the spring catalog. :laugh:

 

anyone use this kit? on 1/16 aluminum sheet metal? I'm thinking the aluminum would banna peel away, but maybe the clamps prevent that. hot cracking?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-LSuFsqoWc

 

What are you trying to do? Just Tig weld it.
Then go dip your torch in water........ And shock yourself

 

Then go dip your torch in water........ And shock yourself

Experience?

 

Better grab 🍺,

 

um yea, just hit it with an instantaneous 200A+ blast from a tig. Just clean the surfaces as clean as possible of the oxide film with the normal SS brush/acetone deal in order to set the balance as high as possible to get the most penetration.. Worst case scenario drill the side facing the tungsten tip with a 1/16-5/64" drill bit to make sure the puddle goes all the way through. Easy enough.

 

the whole point of a spot welder is to weld things quickly. drilling holes and tigging it is about the slowest possible method, no thanks. and to all the trolls I've got you on my block list you are wasting your time I dont' even read your drivel.

 

It will still be faster taking into account how long it will take you to find your magical super cheap aluminum spot welder at the end of the rainbow. You'd-a-have-it done by now.

 

You can weld 1/16" aluminum with a spool gun if you get your machine and gun set just right. That would be quicker than the pinch weld spot welders. Many years ago I was involved in aluminum satellite dishes. They were 1/16" aluminum and were spool gunned. No one wanted to spend the time tigging all the joints.... and we didn't spot clean or prep the joints. If you are dead-set on spot welding several thicknesses of aluminum together without welding the edges, then you'll need to continue your search for the spot/pinch welder.

Doug

 

Since we call it resistance spot welding, key word resistance. I presume the current supplied must be very high to heat aluminum. With no shielding gas is flux needed?

 

I've never seen flux or shielding gas used in my research. Gonna try this:
[video=youtube;gcgC3V3mkcw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcgC3V3mkcw[/video]

 

this was one of the first videos I stumbled upon googling, but I just thought there had to be a more expensive higher quality way to do it, (but not $20,000) maybe not?

 

Looks like it works pretty good to me.

 

I wonder if using thinner steel would transfer more of the heat to the aluminum?