Arcmaster 185 Setup help needed

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Just purchased the Thermal Arc Arcmaster 185 the other day and would like some assistance with some basic setup tips. I've read through the entire manual and though it gives some good tech info, It does'nt really explain on how to program/ setup the parameters for a newbee to TIG welding like myself. Anyone with experiance on this unit please help me out. I'm trying to TIG some 1/8" alum plate for practice and I'm not having much luck. I'm sure I have the the setup incorrect.
Reply:Originally Posted by TRIPPJust purchased the Thermal Arc Arcmaster 185 the other day and would like some assistance with some basic setup tips. I've read through the entire manual and though it gives some good tech info, It does'nt really explain on how to program/ setup the parameters for a newbee to TIG welding like myself. Anyone with experiance on this unit please help me out. I'm trying to TIG some 1/8" alum plate for practice and I'm not having much luck. I'm sure I have the the setup incorrect.
Reply:Thanks, not to sound any greener than I am, are these settings for Standard,Slope,Repeat,or Pulse mode?
Reply:Tripp,very nice power supply!  Seems very complicated, what with all those options, I could trade you a very simple DC scratch start setup if that would simplify things for you.But seriously, I looked at a picture of your front panel, and here's what I think you've got.Standard = no upslope or downslope of the current, and no pulsing of the current, you start and stop the arc and control current via the foot pedal.Slope = you program upslope and downslope of current, when you press the foot pedal and start the arc it the current increases per the upslope time you program, when you release the foot pedal the current downslopes and the arc stops.Repeat = not really sure, somehow upslope/weld/downslope you program is repeated.Pulse = allows pulsing of weld, set peak amperage, background amperage %, peak time, and pulse frequency.
Reply:Originally Posted by TRIPPThanks, not to sound any greener than I am, are these settings for Standard,Slope,Repeat,or Pulse mode?
Reply:Thanks for all the help guys. Last night went back out to the machine and programed all the settings Scott recomended into the machine, minus the 100% tungston rod (red). Being new to this I didn't quite understand the differance between the tungston. Long story short, Started welding and had a "thermal nuclear meltdown". Smoked the tungston rod and destroyed the collet. Nice! I'll be at the supply house tomorrow replacing these items with the right ones. I did't realize that what came with the machine would'nt work. I specifically told the guy I needed everything for alum. Scott, one of the settings will not go as high as you were sugesting. I believe it's the freq. (Hz) or the wave balance. I'll re-verify when I try it again. I understand tha TIG welding (the pretty nice factory welds) take time to achieve. But man it seems that I would be able to figure out at least an ugly alum weld by now. I hope it's the tungston (wrong color) that is the majority problem. Feedback please.
Reply:Thermal sends out 2% thoriated (red) with their Machines. These work very well too.http://cgi.ebay.com/3-32-2-LANTHANAT...QQcmdZViewItemMake sure your tig torch is hooked up to the negative dinse connector.The freq. goes all the way to 150HZ and the the balance should be on 25 on your dial ( 75% electrode negative) I got mixed up because The miller I used has it the other way on #. I have owned a GTSW 300 , a TSW 300 and now the Arcmaster 185. You would think I would remember these things. Your wave balance will go to #10 max and that is the direction you need to head. It will go to #65 the other way and will blow your tungsten up. Too much heat into the torch and not enough going in the work piece. Run as much as you can get away with. It will help keep your torch cool and your tungsten sharp.
Reply:So that's why I blew up the tungsten....LOL! I've looked at pictures of my welder on the internet and it shows it coming with all red tungsten electrodes it comes with three sizes. mine came with gray. Not sure yet if these are the same as the reds. Just to be clear on this: Are'nt the electrodes color coded at the back end ?
Reply:Yes, they are color coded. From what country also matters. Grey could be orange here in the states.http://www.diamondground.com/Guidebook0105.pdfhttp://www.diamondground.com/
Reply:OK, I think I'm heading the right direction finally. Picked up the right tungsten and new collet today. Got home and realized where I was screwing up. I didn't have the electrode projecting past the cup correctly. It was actually recessed a bit prior to balling the tip. That's what caused my overheat in the cup and melted down the collet. Got it all back together and with Scott's settings I was able to butt weld some scrap and add filler. It actually worked correctly. Thanks for all the help I'll keep checking back to learn from time to time.
Reply:I found this from the owneer's manual of the TA 185 TSW, which should have come with your machine:AC/DC - Push the AC/DC button to select DC (Direct Current) output or AC (Alternating Current) output. The green LED will light to indicating the output selected. When AC output is selected the Wave Balance and AC output Frequency Parameters are active and can be set through the control knob when selected with the Scroll Buttons.Pulse - Pushing the Pulse button, turns ON or OFF the Current Pulser. The green LED will light when the Current Pulser is active. With the Pulser active the PEAK Current, Base Current, Pulse Width and Pulse Frequency can be set through the Control Knob when selected with the scroll buttons. Selection is indicated when the green LED lights.Digital LED Display — Welding current and parameter values are displayed in this window. The display will show settings in Hertz (Hz), Seconds (sec,), Percent (%), and Amperage (A) indicated by the lighted LED above the screen. Internal warnings such as over temperature, low or high input voltage applied are signaled to the operator by a warning sound and error message on the screen. The warning sound will activate when the power source is turned off. Control Knob — allows the operator to adjust the output current within the entire range of the power supply, also used to set each parameter value in the Sequence Graph. Pushing the knob inward displays the actual welding voltage.Detailed description of each parameter can be found in the Owner's Manual. PRO WAVE 185TSW SETTINGSEquipment: 185TSW power supply with TIG kit, argon shielding gas, 3/32" 2% thoriated tungsten (red) or lanthanate (gray) ground to a 30 degree prep.Aluminum: AC current1/16" (.062) — pre-flow .1 sec., hot start 20, amperage 70, Hz 100, balance 20%, post-flow 6.0 sec.     For pulse settings - set pulse width 60%, peak current 100, background current 30, Hz 1.01/8" (.125) - pre-flow .1 sec., hot start 20, amperage 150, Hz 80, balance 20%, post-flow 6.0 sec.     For pulse settings —set pulse width 60%, peak current 150, background current 50, Hz 1.03/16"-1/4" - pre-flow .1 sec., hot start 20, amperage 185, Hz 60, balance 20%, post-flow 8.0 sec.     For pulse settings — set pulse width 60%, peak current 185, background current 125, Hz 1.0MS or SS: DC current1/16" (.062) — pre-flow .1 sec., hot start 20, amperage 70, post-flow 6.0 sec.   For pulse settings - set pulse width 60%, peak current 80, background current 30, Hz 1.01/8" (.125) - pre-flow .1 sec., hot start 20, amperage 125, post-flow 6.0 sec.   For pulse settings — set pulse width 60%, peak current 125, background current 50, Hz 1.03/16"-1/4" - pre-flow .1 sec., hot start 20, amperage 185, post-flow 8.0 sec.   For pulse settings — set pulse width 60%, peak current 185, background current 75, Hz 1.0K1A320500 2E185TS' QUICK SET-UP GUIDEPro-Wave 185TSW Front Panel DescriptionProcess Functions: Push the Process button toscroll through the three processes (STICK, LIFT TIG, HF TIG). The green LED will light as the process is selected. When in STICK mode the output contactor is activated. A remote device will need to beconnected when in the TIG modes to activate the  output Contactor.••TIG Mode Functions — Push the Mode button to scroll through the four TIG modes (STANDARD, SLOPE, SLOPE w/REPEAT, SPOT). The green LED willlight as the TIG mode is selected.STANDARD — TIG operation using remotedevices to control contactor & current.SPOT SLOPE — TIG operation using a remote contactordevice to step through weld sequence. SequencesMODE BUTTON include; Initial Current, Up Slope, Weld Current,Down Slope, Final Current.SLOPE w/REPEAT — Additional Slope functionfor current control while in the Weld Current sequence activated through the remote ON/OFF device.For a detailed description of the Slope, Slope w/Repeat functions see your owner's manual under the Slope Mode Sequence section.NOTE: All Slope functions operate with a Remote ON/OFF switch device only.SPOT — A timed HF TIG operation using a remote ON/OFF device.Parameter Functions — are set using the Scroll Buttons and Control Knob.VRD — Voltage Reduction Device is active when in the STICK process. The green LED will lightindicating VRD is activated. When in TIG processes the green LED will not light indicating VRD is inactive.Scroll Buttons — Used to step through the Sequence Graph. The green LED will light to indicate parameter to be set.M A320500 1
Reply:Thanks for all the info sail2u. Being new to TIG it was some what difficult to understand what the adjustments did and what they needed to be to get rolling. I'm starting to do OK with a lap or edge butt joint but when I try to do a 90 deg butt I end up undermining to vertical piece. I'm working with 3/32" and 1/8" plate. Even when I crank the amp down to 100A it seems there is still to much heat
Reply:Disclaimer: I've only tig'd one or two 90 degree jointsYou might also play around with the angle of the torch with respect to the upper/lower piece - in other words, point the torch more at the bottom piece (hold torch 'more vertical') to put more heat into the bottom piece and less into the vertical piece.- John
Reply:If you have printer, this is a cheap handbook--you can choose which chapters to download and/or print:   http://millerwelds.com/education/TIGhandbookand:     http://millerwelds.com/pdf/gtawbook.pdfand:     http://millerwelds.com/education/tec...ips/index.html