2013 200DX 240 Volt Version First Impressions

[Kempy]

Yes and this can change a little if you use 100% Argon or 100% Co2 or argon Co2 mixes and then a little Helium mix changes thing again or the size of wire to thickness of steel, aluminum or grade of material to many variables or as Rambozo put it as a good start is baseline 1 amp per .001" on most material but aluminum alloys change alot on types of welders and now with welding advancements as Advanced Squarewave, Soft Squarewave,Sinewave and Triangle Wave with AC balance and in AC Frequency with Independent AC EP-EN or EN-EP then comes the type of Tungstens that change things again. Welding is so much fun. I learn new things weekly some times daily every day it changes like yesterday I welded 1/4 armor plate.

[performance]

Kempy,

You won't be welding TIG if you use so much as a smidgeon of CO2. It jsut ain't gonna happen.

[Odyknuck]

So I understand I could weld 3/8" aluminum with the 200DX if I pre heat the material? I ask because I am in the process of deciding on buying a TIG machine. I am down to the 200DX and the 250EX. I do not want to find myself with a machine that is under powered. At this point I do not know if I will ever need to weld 1/2" thick aluminum however would be nice if needed and I had the proper welder. Decisions, decisions!

[bswinn]

My understanding (please someone with more experience chime in and correct me if I'm wrong) is that the thickness ratings on most welders are for "one pass" welding. Meaning the 200DX should be able to do 3/8" Aluminum with one pass. If you go any thicker you'll need to do multiple passes.

Like I said...I very well could be wrong but that is my understanding of all the "suggested thickness" ratings.

[cbmkr]

So happens i was working on a fence bracket for a machine in the wood shop and was adding a 3/8" flat to a piece of 3/8" x 3" flat bar. 200DX was flawless heated up quick made short work of the weld. 160 amps 15cf gas 1/8" 4043 filler. Maybe Mark or someone can shed some light on the thickness rating. But as far as i am concerned for what i am doing it will be just fine on 3/8"

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[vicrc]

Yeah its not bad on 3/8 , surprised you only need 160A (maybe because your close to the edge?) I was at 200A and I thought my fingers were going to melt. But once the aluminum got warmed up, finishing up the welds on 3/8 is pretty easy.

I don't know how long we can run a bead at full 200A before the machine thermals (overheat)? Also is it bad to thermal the machine?

I also wonder if there is a benefit of using 1/8 tungsten from 3/32?

[EchoSixMike]

200amps is 60% duty cycle, thermal overload is bad. Preheat a little with a torch for the thick stuff, not a big deal; Prop with a piece of wood, a TIG finger or some other insulator and go to work. I like to prop up a large work piece on an insulating material(I've got some asbestos bricks, shh, don't tell anyone), so there's less heat loss via metal to metal contact and ground directly using copper cable instead of the table. S/F.....Ken M

[vicrc]

If your even thinking 1/2" aluminum, I would go for the 250EX.

I was only thinking 1/8" and thinner material and settled on the 200DX because it had some features that I wanted that would work with thinner stuff like pulse, it just so happen I wanted to make some slightly heavy tooling stuff and did some 1/4" plates and machine did excellent.

[Kempy]

Thanks for correction I guess I should have said in general the new style weld work different then old ones with Tig gases and Mig gases.

Kempy,

You won't be welding TIG if you use so much as a smidgeon of CO2. It jsut ain't gonna happen.