|
Posted by on May 25, 2006, 8:39 am
Please log in for more thread options
I have an old Miller A/BP 320 that works fine for tig on steel.
Recently a friend came up with a large quantity of 3" OD aluminum
tubing 0.25" wall thickness. I haven't done any aluminum before this.
I've had the amperage up to about 175 amps, and can't get a puddle.
Does that sound
right? AC, 1/16" electrode. If I go higher, I trip the 50 amp
breaker. I know I need a better extension cord to the welder.
Should I get a new cord and put in more amps? Or is it something else?
I haven't been too careful about using aluminum-only cutting wheels
and disks, but I don't think contamination should prevent me from
getting a puddle.
thanks,
Dave
|
|
Posted by on May 25, 2006, 11:17 am
Please log in for more thread options
dlwilson@davewilson.cc wrote:
> I have an old Miller A/BP 320 that works fine for tig on steel.
> Recently a friend came up with a large quantity of 3" OD aluminum
> tubing 0.25" wall thickness. I haven't done any aluminum before this.
>
> I've had the amperage up to about 175 amps, and can't get a puddle.
> Does that sound
> right? AC, 1/16" electrode. If I go higher, I trip the 50 amp
> breaker. I know I need a better extension cord to the welder.
>
> Should I get a new cord and put in more amps? Or is it something else?
> I haven't been too careful about using aluminum-only cutting wheels
> and disks, but I don't think contamination should prevent me from
> getting a puddle.
>
> thanks,
> Dave
That sounds about right. You're going to need between 240 and 300 amps
to get something acceptable but might be able to get that down a bit
with a good pre-heat. You're right that your breaker/cord situation is
the problem, that 50A breaker will cause you no end of frustruation
when trying to TIG aluminum.
Also, what kind of electrode are you using? 1/16" pure tungsten is much
too small to be using with 1/4" aluminum. It isn't the root of your
current problem but it will be once you get enough power to do the job.
|
|
Posted by on May 25, 2006, 11:24 am
Please log in for more thread options If you have some thinner aluminum, you might do a little practise on
it. Or cut off about 3 inches of your tubing and try that. Or preheat
the aluminum. Your problem is that the heat is being sucked away by
the aluminum.
If you are wanting to weld sections together, I would go to a larger
electrode and a breaker that will let you use all the current your
welder will supply.
Dan
|
|
Posted by on May 25, 2006, 11:55 am
Please log in for more thread options Thanks for the fast replies. I'm using a 2% zirconiated tungsten size
1/16", because that's what I've been using for the steel. What size
electrode would you suggest for 1/4" aluminum? I bought the welder
years ago from a guy who was welding aluminum t-tops for boats, and he
used a 1/8", but that was for lighter gauge tubing.
The guy who owns the shop where I keep the welder is ready to put in a
new electric panel. What size breaker do I need to use the full 300
amps of the machine?
thanks,
Dave
|
|
Posted by Ignoramus5457 on May 25, 2006, 12:04 pm
Please log in for more thread options wrote:
> Thanks for the fast replies. I'm using a 2% zirconiated tungsten size
> 1/16", because that's what I've been using for the steel. What size
> electrode would you suggest for 1/4" aluminum? I bought the welder
> years ago from a guy who was welding aluminum t-tops for boats, and he
> used a 1/8", but that was for lighter gauge tubing.
>
> The guy who owns the shop where I keep the welder is ready to put in a
> new electric panel. What size breaker do I need to use the full 300
> amps of the machine?
Check your manual.
For Miller XMT 300CC, they recommend max breaker size of 80 amps at
230V single phase. Just a data point for you. If your welder is not
inverter type, your breaker requirements may be greater.
i
|
| Similar Threads | Posted | | Sell Aluminum Extrusion,Aluminum Profiles.Aluminum Manufacturers | May 30, 2006, 11:05 pm |
| Joining aluminum to aluminum mesh | February 5, 2008, 12:12 am |
| Replace Amperage Control | July 30, 2007, 11:31 am |
| MIG welder size amperage question | June 11, 2007, 11:21 pm |
| Tungsten diameter vs. amperage question | July 2, 2007, 10:16 pm |
| Amperage by rod diameter or base metal thickness? | April 1, 2007, 11:14 pm |
| Voltage drop scenario/amperage question | November 29, 2007, 3:15 pm |
| Aluminum | March 6, 2008, 8:02 am |
| welding aluminum ? | March 21, 2007, 8:48 pm |
| Gasless Aluminum MIG? | February 23, 2008, 3:36 pm |
|
|
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap
> Recently a friend came up with a large quantity of 3" OD aluminum
> tubing 0.25" wall thickness. I haven't done any aluminum before this.
>
> I've had the amperage up to about 175 amps, and can't get a puddle.
> Does that sound
> right? AC, 1/16" electrode. If I go higher, I trip the 50 amp
> breaker. I know I need a better extension cord to the welder.
>
> Should I get a new cord and put in more amps? Or is it something else?
> I haven't been too careful about using aluminum-only cutting wheels
> and disks, but I don't think contamination should prevent me from
> getting a puddle.
>
> thanks,
> Dave