Full Product Manual

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TERMS RELATED TO MIG/FLUX-CORED SETUP
Amps. (A) Amps are directly related to wire feed speed in MIG and Flux-Cored operation. The type of wire, the diameter of the
Wire and the Wire feed speed govern the amount of current that flows as wire is fed. This is comparable to the rate of “flow” of
water. While Amps aren’t shown on the panel, WFS controls the Amp output of the unit.
Burn-Back. The Burn-Back setting is the amount of time that the welder keeps the wire energized after the drive stops feeding.
This reduces the need for trimming the wire by melting the wire back to a length preset by the timer. Ordinarily, the wire Burn-
Back Setting should be set for .1 or .2 seconds. Excessive burn back time will result in the wire burning back and even into the tip.
To maximize the effectiveness of the Burn-Back function, momentarily hover over the weld after welding has stopped to maintain
continuity and allow the Burn-Burn Back to do its job.
Control. The Control setting governs the function of the torch switch as well as selects Spool gun operation. In 2T mode, the torch
switch is simply pressed and the unit begins to feed the wire according to the programming on the panel. In 4T mode, the torch
switch is pressed to start the arc (begin the run in) and then released to slope up and weld. To stop welding in the 4T mode, the
torch switch is pressed again, to down-slope and nally released to terminate the arc. The 2T/4T mode is selectable for spool gun
use. Ordinarily, 2T operation is selected. NOTICE: The Use of the Spot/Stitch function allows use with 2T only.
Crater. The weld crater is the sunken area left at the end of the weld where the weld pool solidied. This divot is detrimental to
welds and cause cracking or create a point of weld stress as the weld metal tends to shrink at this point. The crater should be
lled before terminating the arc. In best practice, this is done during the down-slope stage of the weld cycle.
Down-Slope. During the weld cycle, the machine output may be gradually decreased as you begin to ll the crater. The amount of
time set determines the crater ll time that you have available. The Down-Slope reduces the wire speed slowly until it reaches the
End setting. Down-Slope is not always necessary, particularly during basic 2T operations such as tacking. Set Down-Slope to 0.0
when not needed in 2T mode. It is manually signaled when the torch trigger is pressed and held for the second time in 4T mode.
End. The End is the nal stage of the weld cycle. This is measured in inches per minute, and is displayed as WFS (Wire Feed
Speed). This is the nal, or destination WFS used when the weld arc is terminated. This is determines how “low” the wire feed
speed goes. If instant arc termination is desired set the End WFS to the same main WFS.
Inductance. Inductance controls the amount of fluidity of the weld puddle. A fluid puddle is associated with a softer, smoother arc.
A flatter weld is the result. A colder puddle, with less wet-in, and lower fluidity often results in a taller, or even “piled-up” appear-
ance to the weld. As Inductance increases, the raspiness of the sound increases, and spatter tends to disappear. With an extreme
amount of inductance, though. spatter begins to reappear at the very end of the range. Too low of an Inductance leads to a high
pitch whine, and spatter may tends to increase, with a high ridge developing in the center of the weld. However, low inductance
levels are good for thin materials, reducing burn-through. Increasing Inductance increases the fluidity, and general heat of the
puddle. Often referred to as Welder Slope or Welder Choke, the Inductance controls the current rise time after the arc has shorted
out during the short-circuit weld process. As the current rises after a short circuit, the wire begins to burn back to a point where it
pinches off and transfers to the puddle. This happens many times a second in reality, in rapid repetition. The Inductance can be
tuned for improving arc performance out of position, and on thin materials. It can also be used to compensate for performance
issues when using different shielding gases or metal types. The importance of Inductance cannot be overstressed. With older
style machines, Inductance was xed. In fact, many manufacturer’s even today choose to x their inductance at a pre-set level. All
machines have some inductance. However, the amount varies by manufacturer. This is what leads some owners to prefer one
brand over another as people prefer (without knowing it) a different level of inductance over another. Adjustable inductance en-
sures that the unit welds equally well with steel as it does with stainless steel, or that it welds similarly with steel and a 75/25 Ar/
CO2 mix as it does with a 100% CO2 mix.
Use the following suggested ranges for Inductance settings and ne tune thereafter for preference and application:
MIG C25: 65-75%
MIG 100: 30-50%
MIG Stainless: 80-95%
MIG Aluminum: 50– 70%
Flux-Cored:40-70%
NOTICE: Setting Inductance to 0 does not turn it off! This only serves to create worse arc performance and unsatisfactory weld
behavior. For best results only ne tune Inductance after Volts and Wire Feed Speed have been dialed-in. Extremely high induct-
ance levels may cause starting issues as well.
Section 2 Setup Guide
UNDERSTANDING MIG FUNCTIONS