Thermal Arc 186-foot pedal issues resolved?

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I'm looking very hard at a T/A 186 versus the Syncrowave 210.  Besides warranty support and a less established base, the one thing holding me back on the Thermal Arc are posts about the pedal having issues.  Have these been resolved?Engineer/CWI/Welder
Reply:The pedal issues were to the first 100 or so people. That was it.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:I still get the odd blip at the end of a weld, maybe it needs one more piece of tape in there. I like the welder a lot better now that I put a #9 torch on it.SqWave 200Millermatic 190Airco 200 ACHypertherm PM45Boice-Crane Band SawVictor O/A
Reply:IMO, there is only two/three ways to solve it correctly.One is to use the 600285 ft control (No preview of the welding amps while plugged in) or to put a simple switch inside the factory W4013200 foot control, to stop the madness.. Clipping a wire inside that ft control would just make it a 600285 for all practical purposes.Until the unit uses the 600285 ft control from the factory (And allow preview with it) It's not really fixed. Again IMO.Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:In another post I had read it was possibly a sample rate (software) issue.  Is it a foot pedal issue or software?  Does anyone have information from Thermal Arc on corrective solution recommended?I am currently torn between buying this unit and a HTP 221 so would like to hear the foot pedal has been solved.Thanks
Reply:Sample rate and the foot pedal are 2 different things. As I said there are no more foot pedal issues.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Why are preview amps so important???
Reply:So you can turn the knob to set your amps and weld. Otherwise you don't know what you are at.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleSo you can turn the knob to set your amps and weld. Otherwise you don't know what you are at.
Reply:Exactly. If the second switch in the foot pedal on the 186 isn't working it will always display 5 or 10 or something like that. That machine was designed to set the amperage on the foot pedal not the front panel.However it only affected the first 100 or so of the machine that were made and they have been out for decent amount of time now and everyone worries about it, but it's not a big deal at all.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by rahtreelimbsSo I set my encoder on 100 amps on my HTP 221 I know that when the pedal is maxed out I am at 100 amps.........less pedal and I am below 100 amps..............what am I missing here???
Reply:Originally Posted by OxfordYou are missing that you will not be able to see that you indeed set it to 100amps.  Put a piece of tape over the display on your 221 and then try and set it to 100 amps.FWIW, I got an upgrade package from SSC for the foot pedal on my 186.  I think it addressed some of the issues that are foot pedal related but not all of them.  My next step is to put the switch on the pedal like  Brand X did.I still get the jumpy/stepped arc on mine though, I don't think the pedal upgrade addressed any of this issue.  I need to dig out the hand controls and see if it still does it with that to rule out the pedal and then I am calling TA to have them resolve it.  It is livable but I spend time using a Miller 150sth at work and the arc/pedal movements are very smooth on that machine.  Pisses me off every time I see the jumpy arc on my TA.
Reply:Originally Posted by OxfordYou are missing that you will not be able to see that you indeed set it to 100amps.  Put a piece of tape over the display on your 221 and then try and set it to 100 amps.FWIW, I got an upgrade package from SSC for the foot pedal on my 186.  I think it addressed some of the issues that are foot pedal related but not all of them.  My next step is to put the switch on the pedal like  Brand X did.I still get the jumpy/stepped arc on mine though, I don't think the pedal upgrade addressed any of this issue.  I need to dig out the hand controls and see if it still does it with that to rule out the pedal and then I am calling TA to have them resolve it.  It is livable but I spend time using a Miller 150sth at work and the arc/pedal movements are very smooth on that machine.  Pisses me off every time I see the jumpy arc on my TA.
Reply:Originally Posted by rahtreelimbsI set it where I want it............100 amps is 100 amps............unless you say that the setting is not a concrete value!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleThat is software related according to what they told me.
Reply:Originally Posted by OxfordAny idea if they have a software upgrade?
Reply:So Gamble which is nicer to use, the 221 or the 186?SqWave 200Millermatic 190Airco 200 ACHypertherm PM45Boice-Crane Band SawVictor O/A
Reply:Most of the other arc problems was still the foot control. Spring tension, and notchy gear rack That was another issue with the ft pedal. With the fixed pedal there is none of the Jump/notched arc ramp up on DC, just a bit on AC if you move at a certain speed.(Too fast) That part is software, but really makes no difference in the weld to me. I prefer it was not there, and ramped up like the last model (third series) arcmaster, Thermal-arc 185. Still the arc is as good as it gets anyway.. When you boot up the machine it changes the ft panel to 170 amps (stick welding max) when the machine in one of the ft pedal settings, and hard to gauge setting up 100% of what ever from before. You need to have the preview for that reason if nothing else. Either un-plugged/ standard/or with a switch..Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:I dunno about the TA186, but my Invertig221 is awesome  1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC