Specifications

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

The ARC/TIG welder, as its name suggests, is designed to be used for both Metal ARC/

TIG welding. To accomplish this, two sets of welding leads are required, one for each

method employed.

Tig welding leads are not supplied with the machine. These are readily available from

your CLARKE dealer.

1. ARC WELDING

Shielded Metal Arc welding employs the heat of the arc to melt the base metal and the

tip of a flux covered electrode.

The electrode and the workpiece are part of an electric circuit. This circuit begins with

the electric power source and includes the welding cables, an electrode holder, a

workpiece connection, the workpiece, and an arc welding electrode. One of the two

cables from the power source is attached to the work. The other is attached to the

electrode holder.

Welding commences when an electric arc is struck between the tip of the electrode

and the work. The intense heat of the arc melts the tip of the electrode and the surface

of the work close to the arc. Tiny globules of molten metal rapidly form on the tip of the

electrode, then transfer through the arc stream into the molten weld pool. In this

manner, filler metal is deposited as the electrode is progressively consumed.

The arc is moved over the work at an appropriate arc length and travel speed, melting

and fusing a portion of the base metal and continuously adding filler metal. Since the

arc is one of the hottest of the commercial sources of heat (temperatures above 9000

(5000

C) have been measured at its centre), melting of the base metal takes place

almost instantaneously upon arc initiation.

If welds are made in either the flat or the horizontal position, metal transfer is induced by

the force of gravity, gas expansion, electric and electromagnetic forces, and surface

tension. For welds in other positions, gravity works against the other forces.

The process requires sufficient electric current to melt both the electrode and a proper

amount of base metal. It also requires an appropriate gap between the tip of the

electrode and the base metal or the molten weld pool. These requirements are

necessary to set the stage for coalescence.

The sizes and types of electrodes for shielded metal arc welding define the arc voltage

requirements (within the overall range of 16 to 40V) and the current requirements (within

the overall range of 20 to 550A). The current may be either alternating or direct,

depending upon the electrode being used, but the power source must be able to

control the level of current within a reasonable range in order to respond to the

complex variables of the welding process itself.