Tips for Improved TIG Starting, Regulation

B-11

OPERATION

B-11

TIPS FOR IMPROVED TIG STARTING

If start power is set within the incremental range

mode, the machine tries to start electrode positive at a

1. Start Current:

relative setting of 1. If the arc fails to establish it will

repeat the start sequence each time by incrementing

For the best AC or DC TIG starting characteristics it

the amount of electrode positive energy by 10% (0.1)

may be necessary to adjust the start current on the

up to the start power limit setting or until the arc estab-

front panel depending on the tungsten size. In gener-

lishes. For comparison a start power limit of 2 if

al, larger tungsten requires more energy to establish

reached will have twice the energy of the starting point

an arc than smaller tungsten. As an initial guideline,

of 1. If the tungsten has too much of a ball on it or

set the start current according to the following recom-

appears to be super heating during starts the start

mendations:

power limit can be turned down. In the manual setting

range, the start power will not keep incrementing up to

Tungsten Size (in.)

Start Current (Amps)

a limit. Instead the start power stays at whatever level

0.020, 0.040 1/16th

6-10 Amps

is set. For example a setting of 0.5 will start the

3/32 th

10-12 Amps

machine with half the normal starting energy of 1.

1/8th

12-15 Amps

STICK CRISP MODE DYNAMIC CURRENT

2. DC Strike Current:

REGULATION

Aside from start current, DC strike current can also be

When running E6010 electrodes DC Crisp mode is

adjusted from the set-up menu to get a hotter or softer

recommended. The V310-T AC/DC has a special

start when DC TIG welding. Strike current is an initial

dynamic current regulation that is ideal for the whip-

spike of current that lasts a few milliseconds before

ping technique common to E6010 electrodes.The

the machine goes to start current. In general, the fac-

machine regulates the welding current based on

tory default of 15 amps works for most applications. If

changes in arc length. As the arc length is increased

welding on very thin materials with small diameter

and the arc voltage increases, the machine will reduce

tungsten, strike current can be turned down to mini-

its welding current below the set point.

As the arc

mize burning through the weld material. Like-wise for

length is decreased and the arc voltage decreases the

larger diameter tungsten strike current can be turned

machine will increase its current.

up to put more energy in the tungsten.

FIGURE B.8

3. AC TIG Start Power:

For AC TIG welding AC start power can be adjusted

from the set-up menu to aid starting if required. The

V310-T AC/DC when set to AC TIG will try to initiate

the arc with positive polarity until the arc is estab-

lished. Positive polarity puts more energy into heating

the tungsten but the drawback is that is can cause the

tungsten to ball excessively or to super heat. Note

super heating of the tungsten can be noticed if the

tungsten is glowing red or orange during starting. Start

Power can be adjusted within two ranges:

Range

Mode

0.5 to 1

Manual Setting

Arc Force Control – Arc Force is a setting that helps

1.2 to 5.0

Incremental setting

reduce sticking the electrode into the weld puddle.

Increasing the arc force percentage will provide a

higher boost of current when the electrode is about to

short into the weld puddle. In Stick Crisp mode since

the current is dynamically regulated based on the arc

voltage, shorting the electrode to the work will be rare

- therefore, adjustments to the arc force percentage

will not be as noticeable in Stick Crisp mode com-

pared to Stick Soft mode.

V310-T AC/DC TIG