Explanation needed....

[jrg8m]

Hello all, Hopping someone might be kind enough to give me quick explanation of a few welding proccess.. 1) Diferance between "Tig" and "Heli-arc". 2) Differances between ac/dc welding and explanation of syncronized welders<?>.. 3) Typical welder used for alluminum & SS & ferrous/nonferrous. Machines for the Mid to lighter side (home shop)... I relize this is quit a request and would just like to thank you all in advance for any help you might offer.... I am looking to purchas a set up for my home shop and allthough I am green, I am ambitious. So i am looking to get a machine that will offer me the broudest range as I grow into it... Thank you much Jr.

[Sberry]

Tig and heli are basically the same. What are you going to weld in this home shop? You have something specific?

[jrg8m]

Well, I am a artist but am more on the industrial side.. I build a lot of different sculpturs, but would like to refine said sculptures and do more alluminum and SS work.... Cleanly.. I have built a few trailers for my old man and enjoyed working in those regards... And I am dieing to try and build a bike frame and maybe someday waaaay down the road even a motorcycle frame... I have a small wire feed mig that I have used for years and a tiny arc welder that I started on but I relize that a upgrade is the only way to get me moving... I have a very basic understanding of the differant proccess but I tend to understande the straight shot explanation from someone who uses them rather then trying to piece together the bits and pieces that I read about... Thanks. The home shop referance I guess was in regards to power.. Woundering if I will need to dedicate a breaker/line for the upgrade or if I will have to pull a new 220 line... Hopping to stay on 110 odviously... Hope this helps. Thanks again...

[Sundown]

Put a 240V in, at least 50 amps. If you are going to tig and want a quality unit with enough power and you want to do aluminum then go with an inverter that will need a 30 amp/240V curcuit, something like a TA185, Dynasty200, HTP 201, etc ... it's a large investment but will pay off in the long run.

[Pumpkinhead]

TIG and HeliArc are the same thing, HeliArc is a process trademarked to Esab, TIG, HeliArc are correctly known as GTAW.
Excepting for the Al, you could stay with 110v with a Miller Maxstar 150ST*, for both stick and TIG as it's only DC, for Al you'll need AC, so as George said, TA, Miller, Lincoln, HTP, Esab all have units, although they vary greatly in power requirements and physical size.

[Clay Walters]

TIG and HeliArc are the same thing, HeliArc is a process trademarked to Esab, TIG, HeliArc are correctly known as GTAW.
Excepting for the Al, you could stay with 110v with a Miller Maxstar 150ST*, for both stick and TIG as it's only DC, for Al you'll need AC, so as George said, TA, Miller, Lincoln, HTP, Esab all have units, although they vary greatly in power requirements and physical size.

Guess my wires are crossed because two of you said the same thing essentially. But...I thought "Heli-Arc" was orginally a trademark reference to MIG (prior to GMAW) by Linde. Reference being using Helium prior to Argon and later CO2 and blends.

A "google" produced this "Greetings Anthony James!

I would encourage you and others on this thread to check out the history of thermal joining website or do a google search online and look for the link: "History of welding" associated with miller welding equipment. You'll find the accurate history of "Heli-Arc welding".

The reason I'm not posting the website is because when I initially did, I went back to it to test if it would function off this thread, and it did not!

Just in case no one wants to go flying around in cyberspace looking for this info, I'm taking the liberty to post it here:

"Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) had it's beginnings from an idea by C. L. Coffin to weld in a non-oxidizing gas atmosphere, which he patented in 1890. The concept was further refined in the late 1920s by H.M. Hobart, who used heium for shielding, and P.K. Devers, who used argon. This process was ideal for welding magnesium and also for welding stainless and aluminum."

"It was perfected in 1941, patented by Russell P. Meredith who worked for Northrup aircraft where it was further developed and named "Heliarc" welding. It was later licensed to Linde Air Products, where the water cooled torch was developed." "

Clay

[Sparkeee24]

Howdy Howdy! I would like to know what your max material thicknesses are for each of the materials you want to weld. This can determine alot. Also, a 240 Volt dedicated line is HIGHLY advised!!! This allows the use of a higher end machine with more output, though at a great cost, one CAN still get a decent machine, though smaller that runs on 120 volts. A 240 Volt 60 amp circuit would be best. IF you have the funds, I would recomend 2 machines. A TA 185, for all your AC tig neads, and precision pulse applications and such. It can stick weld also. Then I would also recomend one of the multi-process machines, like the Invertec V-350 Pro! Though expensive, it can do all your processes (except AC tig for alluminum) But it is fantastic with alluminum wire feed. For something using the same brains, with a bit less power but still very significant, would be one of the 350P bye Miller or 350MP bye Lincoln. Both of these machines have built in wire feeder units, AND are setup for spoolguns and/or push/pull The lincoln has better programs, and pulse on pulse for beautiful alluminum mig welds. the miller has pulse features too, but is not designed as a multi-process machine. The Lincoln 350MP can do it all (except AC Tig, for alluminum). With the Tig process, you must have AC for alluminum. one portion of the sin wave deposits material, the other portion cleans the surface of oxides allowing for good metalurgical properties and ease of use. You can weld all your materials with the TA-185, but it will be slow, just bye the nature of the process. great for precision stuff. GMAW or MIG is ideal for mass production or things like trailer building and thick multi pass sections (with the correct filler wire). Also, GMAW can be used for all metals as well, though more difficult for the precision materials and applications as the process is more automated. Yes these machines are expensive, but that comes with versitility and features. good luck, Brian Lee Sparkeee27

[Pumpkinhead]

Clay,
Excuse me for not including the complete lineage of a process, but Esab is the former Linde Union Carbide. So, HeliArc is a trademarked process owned by Esab

[Clay Walters]

Clay,
Excuse me for not including the complete lineage of a process, but Esab is the former Linde Union Carbide. So, HeliArc is a trademarked process owned by Esab

No sweat - I don't see anything to excuse! I'd heard HeliArc was a trade name and honestly; I thought it was MIG so I did a "google" and found that post in another thread on another forum. Seemed appropriate to share. Didn't know Linde was a division of Union Carbide before doing the google either!

Regards,

Clay

[jrg8m]

Thanks for the great info! It's starting to become much clearer... Still a bit confused about the AC DC... Could someone please break this down? And the syncrowave<?>

Sparkee... I guess as far as the material thickness goes a safe answer would be 1/4" max and that would be a once in a while thing... Mostly thin stuff nothing structural mostly art, small repairs and some small scal fab like bike/motorcycle frames and such...

Thanks all for the help.. Christmas is getten close and if I hope to score a new set up I better be ready to make a choise....

Hopping to stick with a 110 unit but the logic behind the 240 and such is something I cant ignor....

Thanks again all.....!!!!

[Sparkeee24]

Howdy Howdy! Please disregard my earlier recomendations for the 350 class machines. This are far more then you would nead, not just a little bit more. Look into a 200 amp class machine. the Miller 210 is a real winner out there, and you can hook up a spoolgun directly to it, so you can have awesome alluminum welds, and steel welds, as well as stainless steels and the more exotics, through the spool gun. It lets you buy very small rolls at a time, for that occasional odd stuff. That would be my recomendation.....or, if your EXTREMELY patient, you can go tig for everything, and get something like a TA 185, or syncrowave 200. You won't nead anymore machine then those. Good luck! Brian Lee Sparkeee27

[Pumpkinhead]

Clay,
You piqued my interest, did you run across this:
http://www.weldinghistory.org/

[jrg8m]

Howdy Howdy! Please disregard my earlier recomendations for the 350 class machines. This are far more then you would nead, not just a little bit more. Look into a 200 amp class machine. the Miller 210 is a real winner out there, and you can hook up a spoolgun directly to it, so you can have awesome alluminum welds, and steel welds, as well as stainless steels and the more exotics, through the spool gun. It lets you buy very small rolls at a time, for that occasional odd stuff. That would be my recomendation.....or, if your EXTREMELY patient, you can go tig for everything, and get something like a TA 185, or syncrowave 200. You won't nead anymore machine then those. Good luck! Brian Lee Sparkeee27

Thanks Sparkeee! This is the type of set up I had invisioned... The options for small rolls of assorted material is exactly what I think would be best for me!! Very pleased with all the great help it means alot thank you all....

Hopfully the next post will be a update on my new rig<fingers crossed>!!

U guys rule!