[quadrod]

I have and alpha tig 200x and when I am welding in AC mode, I get some popping. Does not seem to matter if using hi a/c hz or in pules mode. Welding thin aluminum, .035".

[LtBadd]

I have and alpha tig 200x and when I am welding in AC mode, I get some popping. Does not seem to matter if using hi a/c hz or in pules mode. Welding thin aluminum, .035".

Do you see something going on with the arc, or is it coming from the machine?

[quadrod]

It is with the arc. Not in the machine. What does an unstable arc sound like?

[LtBadd]

It could be at the very best, difficult to accurately describe a sound and diagnose this issue.

Can you take a short video and post that?

Does the weld show some anomaly that you could post a photo of?

Does the tungsten look normal after making a weld?

[quadrod]

Here is a video, can't see much but you can hear what I'm talking about.

[Sandow]

Can you show us the tungsten after welding and the weld itself?

-Sandow

[quadrod]

Will try and get a pic tomorrow of tungsten, it is an .040" 2% lanthenated running at 25-30 amps. on .035" 6061 t6 aluminum tubing. I get the same popping with a 3/32 tungsten too. My welds are not pretty so don't laugh at them.

[MinnesotaDave]

That sounds a lot like the rattle you get with too high of argon flow rates.
What are you set at for flow?

[quadrod]

I called AHP today and asked about the popping on A/C welding and found out that this machine will only go down to 20amps min. Welding this thin aluminum tubing is right at the min amps when I start, I had my son watch the amp readout and am fluctuating between 25 and 30 amps when in the bead. So this is not a problem with the machine, I just have to watch my start amps. Thanks for the reply's and putting up with a noob.

[Skylineauto]

I had something like this with my Syncrowave. Later realized it was my arc length. For me it was the machine turning on the HF to reestablish the arc.