Tuesday, October 14, 2008

MIG Process Tips and Basics of MIG Welding

When you are looking for tips on how to make your MIG Welding better and safer it is important to remember why you are using this method. It is also important to know some advantages and limitations of this method before you get started.

Some of the advantages of using this method include:

§ You can use it with any commercial metals so you don’t' have to worry about compatibility.
§ You are doing a continuous weld and it pulls electrode wire off a spool.
§ You can perform this method in many different positions.
§ Your weld deposition rate will be higher than any other alternative process.
§ You make more money because you can work faster.
§ You can learn to manipulate the gun fairly easily.
§ You can also adapt the process to other types of applications like mechanical and robotic.

There are a few limitations to this method however. These are things you need to know:

§ You are going to pay more for your equipment and it can be more complex to work with.
§ You might have a little difficulty in hard to reach places because the torch is bulky and has several cables.
§ If you have wind or drafts around while you are using this method you can compromise your gas shielding.
§ You'll need to dedicate some time to training to get the correct parameter selection.

With these things in mind, here are a few tips to make your welding process better:

1. Remember that most MIG Welding applications will use a direct current polarity. Really the whole process regulates itself so once you set the parameters you won't have to change another thing.
2.The electrode extension is that part that helps determine the arc you will have when working based upon its length. You have to set the length before you start. The current will flow in the wire and it will heat the length of your wire; then the current will heat your arc.
3. The short circuit method of transfer should be used if you want to weld thin materials or large gaps in a joint. When you are using this method you are getting the lowest range of current and small electrodes. This will insure that you have low head and a small, quick weld pool that will freeze.
4. The Globular method of transfer should not be used if you can get away from it because it is so difficult to control. Its is actually possible to use it on flat services but in reality there are a few easier ways that this that will work better. It also makes spatter uncontrollable.
5.The times that come along when you need to weld at thicker sections its better to have a higher current and higher deposition rate which is what the spray transfer method will give you. You can get a spatter free stream of drops and this method can be used in all of the welding positions.

Finally, when you are purchasing Welding supplies make sure that you purchase them from a reputable dealer. Also check all of the parts to see if they are working before you make the final purchase.

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