What AC Frequency and balance do you typically run?
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What AC Frequency and balance do you typically run?
Miller 200DX, 1/8" 6061 aluminum practice scraps.
What frequency and balance do you guys run?
My machine was pre-set at balance 75 and frequency 120. I just lowered the balance and upped the frequency to 175 and found I could get deeper penetration with a much thinner bead.
Discuss
Evan
What frequency and balance do you guys run?
My machine was pre-set at balance 75 and frequency 120. I just lowered the balance and upped the frequency to 175 and found I could get deeper penetration with a much thinner bead.
Discuss
Evan
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Re: What AC Frequency and balance do you typically run? (2kjettaguy)
Most machines don't have adjustable frequency, only the inverter machines as far as i know. The standard machines are stuck at 60hz. From what i understand, the higher frequency allows a more focused arc, almost like welding steel. The balance is going to determine how wide and deep the arc is. Lowering the balance is what gave you more pentration and the higher frequency gave you a thinner bead. That's how i understood it anyways, my pos doesn't have adj. freq.
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Re: What AC Frequency and balance do you typically run? (tony1)
Tony, so your saying by adjusting the balance, you can control the thickness of the puddle/bead? I am struggling with making a nice narrow bead. Whenever I do aluminum, everything seems so much different than when doing steel. For one, the sound is way different...not just that low hummm sound. Is this right? I would like to be able to forma very small puddle on Al like I do on steel, but havnt been able to do that so far. Any ideas? Using 180SD.
Sorry for hijacking...just seemed like the right thread to post on...
Kyle
Sorry for hijacking...just seemed like the right thread to post on...
Kyle
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Re: What AC Frequency and balance do you typically run? (blueoval557)
Well, you're not really going to get it to weld like steel. The difference in sound you hear is the continuous high frequency, where as it's only on startup with steel. The balance **** will change the depth and width of the bead. Try playing with that and you'll see the difference. The amperage will have alot to do with how it looks as well. Since you can't read heat in an alum. weld like you can in a steel weld, it's hard to judge where you should be sometimes. Don't expect a bead like with steel though, it's not going to happen with aluminum.
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Re: What AC Frequency and balance do you typically run? (tony1)
I did some test beads varying the settings. I'll post up the results when I get a chance 
I found a setting I liked for overall welding of aluminum and I did some decent beads with it! I'm still getting the hang of the different joints in aluminum. Focusing the puddle is very important
I found a setting I liked for overall welding of aluminum and I did some decent beads with it! I'm still getting the hang of the different joints in aluminum. Focusing the puddle is very important
Thread Starter
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Re: What AC Frequency and balance do you typically run? (blueoval557)
OK, so it took me months to take the pictures 
Here they are! Close ups of the welds are available if needed. This is alot to photograph in detail. Settings are drawn onto the metal in blue. The machine's a Dynasty 200DX
Evan
Here they are! Close ups of the welds are available if needed. This is alot to photograph in detail. Settings are drawn onto the metal in blue. The machine's a Dynasty 200DXEvan
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Re: What AC Frequency and balance do you typically run? (2kjettaguy)
Just to clarify:
AC Balance lets you control the cleaning action of the AC arc. The number represents the percentage of arc time spent in electrode negative (EN.)
- Higher balance = more time EN. Less cleaning action, more penetration.
- Lower balance = less time EN. More cleaning action, less penetration, potentially more tungsten erosion.
AC frequency lets you control the focus of the arc cone.
- Higher frequency = narrower, tighter focus.
- Lower frequency = wider, broader focus.
I generally run the balance between 70-75 and the frequency between 100-120Hz. Those ranges seem to be pretty standard for "general purpose" work. You can emulate a transformer machine by running Balance somewhere around 65-70 and Frequency at 60Hz.
Of course you can always turn the pulser on and add a whole other factor to the equation.
AC Balance lets you control the cleaning action of the AC arc. The number represents the percentage of arc time spent in electrode negative (EN.)
- Higher balance = more time EN. Less cleaning action, more penetration.
- Lower balance = less time EN. More cleaning action, less penetration, potentially more tungsten erosion.
AC frequency lets you control the focus of the arc cone.
- Higher frequency = narrower, tighter focus.
- Lower frequency = wider, broader focus.
I generally run the balance between 70-75 and the frequency between 100-120Hz. Those ranges seem to be pretty standard for "general purpose" work. You can emulate a transformer machine by running Balance somewhere around 65-70 and Frequency at 60Hz.
Of course you can always turn the pulser on and add a whole other factor to the equation.
