#1
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DC TIG on aluminum
Years ago a friend showed me how his Thermal arc inverter could weld aluminum with DC. With an inverter the DC is more like Square wave AC. I recall that it worked well. Anyone else doing this?
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Bill Funk |
#2
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I don't think their is any difference on DC between an inverter and transformer machine. Heliarc was the original Gas Tungsten Arc Welding for Aluminum. It used helium and DC. The Saturn V aluminum parts where welded with DC. Also tube mills have used DC for high speed welding of seamed tubing.
DC produces welds with less porosity than AC but cleanliness is more important. Also a much narrower bead.
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Greg |
#3
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DCEP or DCEN?
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Steve |
#4
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DCEN, On DCEP the Tungsten cannot handle many amps. around 10 or 15% of DCEN capacity.
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Greg |
#5
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Quote:
DC very common when using 100++ amps .....
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Kent http://www.tinmantech.com "All it takes is a little practical experience to blow the he!! out of a perfectly good theory." --- Lloyd Rosenquist, charter member AWS, 1919. |
#6
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DC tig
DCEP with a big tungsten and water cooled torch. No cleaning action with DCEN.
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Bill Funk |
#7
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I really doubt my 300 amp water cooled torch could weld .063 Aluminum with 1/8" tungsten(largest torch can use) on DCEP. Almost all DC Aluminum using helium is DCEN. Even if it works I dont know why I would want a wider bead and less penetration than AC. Seems AC with balance set more to cleaning would be a better option?
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Greg |
#8
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DC tig on Al
Reason I brought this up is: I got a smoken deal on a Maxstar 200LX. NIce machine, but no AC. I wanted something more portable than my Sychrowave, but I also wanted to do aluminum.
IN my quest I found just what I was looking for. This should be fine for the tacking I do before OA finish on body panels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHkx8cca-SQ
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Bill Funk |
#9
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Inverter DC
I am not an electrical engineer, but this is how I understand the inverter DC. The argon can only turn into plasma with higher voltage. Hence the need for High Frequency arc stabilization on AC transformer. The time at or near zero volts is longer with transformer AC. Lots of short pulses in an inverter will behave differently and allow alternate methods.
inverter.jpg
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Bill Funk |
#10
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Quote:
Bill, your "transformer DC" graphic looks exactly like what is used for "DC generator" illustration .... so does this mean that DC transformer is exactly as flat as DC generator? (I use a 200A motor-generator unit for my stick welding on aluminum .... )
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Kent http://www.tinmantech.com "All it takes is a little practical experience to blow the he!! out of a perfectly good theory." --- Lloyd Rosenquist, charter member AWS, 1919. |
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