Key Questions to Ask When Ordering mma 500 welding machine

Hi Everyone, nice to be here.

I've recently gotten into metalworking... Grinding, cutting and sanding... The only thing I don't have is a welder. I've been doing a fair bit of research into buying a relatively inexpensive one but there are some questions/advice that I think I need to ask people in the know (such as yourselves) about.

Okay, so I want to buy a MIG welder. I will be using it for a variety of things, from small detail work all they way up to welding thick bars or plates together. I will be working in both mild steel and stainless.

Important things:

1. Most material I work with will be 3-10mm thick.

2. I will be working outside and running off a 5Kw petrol generator. (Does anyone have any experience of this?)

3. I was hoping to pick up the welder and accessories for maybe £350, but my research indicates that I might have to push that up to £4-500... Any recommendations in that bracket? Are 2nd hand ones better than new? (I recently bought a new Wolf generator and it is just not well built compared to a 20 year old honda one.)

4. How easy is it to adjust a MIG welder to do relatively fine detail welds?

5. How much does the gas cost, on average? How long does it last?

6. Any other advice would be much appreciated!

If your thinking of working outside on metal in the 10mm category you might be better off with a stick welder. A mig to weld 10mm will definitely not be running of a 5kva gen .

Hmm... So what's the most powerful welder that I can run off a 5kW (6kva) generator?
I suppose if it has a max output of 5kW at 230v then the maximum amps is about 20? Does that mean it would be basically impossible to power any arc welder at all? I know that people do use portable welders and generators... So how do they make it work?

With stick welding do you use a lower amperage and just heat the metal more gradually before applying the weld?

Hmm... So what's the most powerful welder that I can run off a 5kW (6kva) generator?
I suppose if it has a max output of 5kW at 230v then the maximum amps is about 20? Does that mean it would be basically impossible to power any arc welder at all? I know that people do use portable welders and generators... So how do they make it work?

With stick welding do you use a lower amperage and just heat the metal more gradually before applying the weld?

5 kva may run an inverter stick welder 3.2 , but probably not 's. An inverter will only run from a geny with Automatic Voltage Regulaton.

Hi, The problem is once you strike the arc the generator can't pick up the revs quick enough to cover the load. You end up damaging both the welder and the generator.

Colin

Yes I thought this might be a problem...


So I'm now looking at TIG/stick welders and it looks like at a medium power (80-100amps) they're going to be drawing about 3kW, and it seems reasonable to accept a 5kW genny to be able to handle that, even with the start up load.

Welding question: With a stick welder, can you weld steel of pretty much any thickness, just by applying the arc for longer before applying the weld stick?


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Yes I thought this might be a problem...


So I'm now looking at TIG/stick welders and it looks like at a medium power (80-100amps) they're going to be drawing about 3kW, and it seems reasonable to accept a 5kW genny to be able to handle that, even with the start up load.

Welding question: With a stick welder, can you weld steel of pretty much any thickness, just by applying the arc for longer before applying the weld stick?


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No MMA welding is a deeper penetrating process, but also slower travel speed. You won't run 3.2mm electrodes off a 5KW generator, i've tried, my generator is 6.8Kva, welder needs 6.3kVa, couldn't run the rods. Might have worked with but I wasn't gonna break my inverter trying.

Also I don't think your understanding stick welding properly. The stick is the electrode, the moment you strike the arc the stick becomes a consumable and start depositing metal into the pool.

No MMA welding is a deeper penetrating process, but also slower travel speed. You won't run 3.2mm electrodes off a 5KW generator, i've tried, my generator is 6.8Kva, welder needs 6.3kVa, couldn't run the rods. Might have worked with but I wasn't gonna break my inverter trying.

Also I don't think your understanding stick welding properly. The stick is the electrode, the moment you strike the arc the stick becomes a consumable and start depositing metal into the pool.

Thanks, I read up on it and understand it better now.
It seems like stick welding is the more versatile option compared to MIG welding (perhaps much slower, but time isn't an issue for me.)
If I was to get a TIG welder, I could either use it with gas, or gasless with flux coated rods, right?

I'm looking at this one to start: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-at132-130amp-arctig-inverter/
Now, it says on this page that the maximum power draw is 4.1kW, which means it could theoretically be powered by the 5kW generator, particularly if it's running at below maximum power. However, the maths doesn't add up to me. If it has a max current of 130A and a circuit voltage of 64V, then the max draw should be 8.3kW.
Is the store page wrong, or am I?

(also this one says it fits a 3.2mm tip and has a max draw of 4.1kW, but you're saying you couldn't run a 3.2 off a 6.8Kva generator... I'm getting pretty confused about how much power these things actually use. I assume they have a start up load like a power tool, and maybe that's the cause of the problem?) Your getting that all ass about face there.
Tig welders are basically stick welders, but you run the leads the other way round (electrode negative), use an inert gas like argon and use a consumable tungsten and bare metal filler rod. Since they're also stick welders you usually flip a switch which turns HF/lift start off and you're back in stick mode, so you can use standard MMA electrodes (flux coated yes) , like a normal stick welder.

Tig welding brings its own pros/cons, the biggest being it is a slow process in terms of weld deposited/time, more expensive and takes more operator skill than MIG welding.

Maximum current draw doesn't mean the welder will be able to run off an generator. You need to find the specific generator requirement and whether the generator has AVR

Features of MMA 500 Welding Machine

1. Adopt IGBT full bridge inverter circuit

With competitive price and timely delivery, yigao sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

2. Multi-protection functions provide reliability of welding machine

3. With VRD control functions

4. With ARC start and ARC force current to satisfy functional requests of different type electrode

5. Remote control current adjustment function is applicable at a long distance away from welders

6. Workable with many types of electrodes, such as acidic electrodes, alkaline electrodes, cellulose electrodes, heat resistant steel, etc.

7. Strong ability of anti-fluctuation of power supply, the ratio reaches 15% ( industrial requirement 10%.)

How to choose an MMA Welding Machine?

When selecting an ARC welder, each type meets certain criteria, and unfortunately, no one welding process is suitable for all applications.    

You should always consider:     

● Intended use, is it for occasional maintenance, production or for high-quality welding?    

● What type of material will you weld?    

● How thick is the material you are welding?    

● What power supply can you use?    

● What is the duty cycle of the machine and how will this affect the work you intend to do?    

● By answering all these questions, you are sure to find the MMA Welding Machine that best suits your needs.    

Key Issues of MMA Welding Machine

What is a warm start?     

– Hot start is a special feature of MMA or electrode welding. The machine provides a peak current when striking the arc, which significantly increases the convenience of starting the electrodes. Especially useful when working with imperfect surfaces or when using "hard-to-run" electrodes.    

What is arc force?     

– Sometimes called "digging" or "arc control", it is similar to the hot start function except that it operates during the welding process. It greatly helps to stabilize the arc, preventing it from being cut off during welding and preventing electrodes from sticking, as the machine provides a peak current when it senses a short circuit.    

What is a release agent?     

– Anti-stick is a function that the welder senses when the electrode is stuck and it disrupts the welding current to prevent the electrode from continuing to weld itself to the workpiece, making it easy to separate or break.

Manual Metal Arc (MMA)

Manual Metal Arc (MMA) also known as Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), also flux shielded arc welding also known as stick welding is the most flexible and one of the most widely used arc welding processes. It involves striking an arc between a covered metal electrode and a workpiece.

The heat of the arc melts the parent metal and the electrode which mix together to form, on cooling, a continuous solid mass. The central metal electrode or core wire acts as a consumable, providing the filler metal for the weld. MMA welding can be used to join most steels, stainless steels, cast irons and many non-ferrous materials. For many mild and high-strength carbon steels, it is the preferred joining method.

Contact us for more information about mma 500 welding machine. EACO will provide professional answers.

Additional reading:
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For more information, please visit builders warehouse welding machine.

FAQ

What is mig welder?

MIG Welder's outstanding arc performance enables you to achieve professional surface results in welding, automotive bodywork and many other thin steel welding processes. Due to its portable and lightweight design, it is very convenient for users to transport and use in limited spaces. With this welding tool, you can now experience the many benefits of the MMA welding process. This equipment is ideal for welding stainless steel, alloy steel, carbon steel and other metal materials and can be used by amateurs on a daily basis.

what is the advantages of mma arc welder?

Provide excellent arc performance;

With 110V/220V dual voltage;

Ultra-light, compact and portable design;

Overcurrent protection and overload protection ensure safety;

Ideal for light and medium duty daily welding applications;

Closed-loop feedback control, built-in fan and ultra-low voltage intelligent regulator, stable output voltage, easy to start in areas with unstable voltage.

Advanced IGBT inverter technology features high duty cycle and excellent ignition voltage, making the welder more reliable and less prone to damage or failure.

Energy saving and efficient. Inverter welders also switch very quickly and use less energy to complete the final operation.

An internal cooling fan prevents the welding machine from overheating, extending the life expectancy of the equipment.

Ideal for welding stainless steel, alloy steel, carbon steel and other metal materials.

Other supporting facilities

welding rod welding rod

The welding electrode is a fixed length of straight wire coated with filler material. The welding electrode has a fixing head by means of which the welding electrode is fixed to the welding clamp. The other end of the electrode has a ignition head, and the workpiece is glued to the ignition head to ignite the arc. The quality or trade name of the electrode is marked in the coating near the fixed head. The diameter of the welding electrode refers to the diameter of the metal rod inside the electrode. The purpose of surface coating on metal rods is to protect the welding event from the surrounding air, create slag to support the weld, and make the arc more likely to occur.

how to use mma welder 

Before welding, we must check the condition of the welding power source, cables, welding clamps and grounding clamps. The quality and strength of the welding electrodes must be checked and they must match the workpiece. The coating on the electrode must be intact.

When welding, start the welding by sharply striking the bottom of the groove with the welding electrode. Thereafter, move the welding electrode back to the starting point without stretching the arc and move the electrode easily while monitoring the width of the weld pool. Move the welding electrode so that the handle points forward. The boundaries of the slag formed after melting the weld are visible. It must be located behind the molten weld. The distance between the slag boundary and the molten weld seam can be adjusted by the welding current and the angle of the welding clamp. Throughout the welding process, focus on the length of the arc and keeping it as short as possible. During welding, as the electrode size decreases, the arc length can easily increase. The movements may be a little difficult to control at first, but are easy to get used to. When the welding rod is used up, the slag from the front weld needs to be removed and cleaned with a steel brush. Light the next electrode slightly in front of the previous weld, then move the welding electrode back to the previous weld and continue welding.

After welding, close the welding electrode by moving it slightly back to the completed weld and then lifting the electrode directly away from the workpiece.