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Size Of Weldment On Aluminum?
Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:13 pm
by rahtreelimbs
A few weeks ago I was welding on 1/4" aluminum. The parts were approximately 6 ft. long. Using my HTP Invertig I was using 220 amps with 3/32 tungsten (all i had). Fast forward to last night I was experimenting with 1/4" pieces 2" x 6" welding the 6" sides together. I was able to weld these at 185 amps using a different machine. Other than amps both were set the same expect using 1/8 tungsten on the smaller pcs.
Does the much larger material draw more heat out of the weld thereby needing more amps?
Re: Size Of Weldment On Aluminum?
Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:47 pm
by MinnesotaDave
Absolutely the case.
More mass = more heat needed for the same thickness. Especially for aluminum since it transfers heat so efficiently.
Mild steel not so much.
Stainless even less of a change.
Re: Size Of Weldment On Aluminum?
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 4:09 am
by Troy Boy 72
MinnesotaDave wrote:Absolutely the case.
More mass = more heat needed for the same thickness. Especially for aluminum since it transfers heat so efficiently.
Mild steel not so much.
Stainless even less of a change.
I totally agree with Dave on this but i also have found that stepping up to the next size tungsten ( 1/8 , 3.2mm ) for 1/4 inch material helps as well , seems to have a little more oomph in it for some reason, also dropping my ac frequency to 60 hz helps as well . this is just my opinion running an everlast 210 ext.
Cheers Troy