Welding positioner

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I got lucky.Saw a picture of a dirty looking pile of bits online at a large shop selling used welding equipment.Took a gamble based on the brand and the spec. Polysoude is a high end orbital and automatic welding specialist and the hardware is usually made by Messer, a top end German company.It came like this, mostly assembled but the table had just been loosely refitted.

Cleaned up nicely.

I then made a backing plate for the spare 10" chuck I had lying around - it was absolutely worn out for lathe work, but ideal for this.



Murphy's Golden Rule: Whoever has the gold, makes the rules.
Reply:It was originally meant to plug straight into a Polysoude automatic TIG welding machine, but I need manual control, and I'm not about to buy an auto TIG welder.The motor/gearbox is a German made 40v DC motor with a 225:1 planetary gearbox, into a 10:1 final drive on the table. I bought a 40v DC power supply and a PWM controller to drive it.A fwd/rev switch, a 2 amp fuse holder and a foot pedal too, as well as some plugs/sockets for wiring.


I am still waiting on the plugs/sockets coming, as I want this box to be a standalone with no trailing leads.Currently with the 225:1 gearbox it has a speed range of 0.14-1.4 rpm. It's a bit slow for smaller stuff, and no good at all for MIG, so I'm on the lookout for a 64:1 gearbox of the same make.Murphy's Golden Rule: Whoever has the gold, makes the rules.
Reply:Nice find. I'm sure you'll sort it. Right now it's good for tig work.
Reply:It looks great 👍. I made all my tooling for welding it save money and got what need for work.Dave

Originally Posted by Munkul

It was originally meant to plug straight into a Polysoude automatic TIG welding machine, but I need manual control, and I'm not about to buy an auto TIG welder.The motor/gearbox is a German made 40v DC motor with a 225:1 planetary gearbox, into a 10:1 final drive on the table. I bought a 40v DC power supply and a PWM controller to drive it.A fwd/rev switch, a 2 amp fuse holder and a foot pedal too, as well as some plugs/sockets for wiring.


I am still waiting on the plugs/sockets coming, as I want this box to be a standalone with no trailing leads.Currently with the 225:1 gearbox it has a speed range of 0.14-1.4 rpm. It's a bit slow for smaller stuff, and no good at all for MIG, so I'm on the lookout for a 64:1 gearbox of the same make.
Reply:That is great bit of luck finding that. I kept looking online: Ebay, craiglist , and most were overpriced, trash, or both. I built my own with two pillow block bearings,  a 1-1/2" shaft 2 spcrockets, and #40 chain.  All I could find in the rubbish pile was a 90vdc motor, with a 60:1 reducer, which takes a little work to get the right speed. I'm hoping to get something set up with a digital read out, but I might have to use a RaspberryPi, or Arduino to do it cheaply. I have gotten the most use from it cutting large diameter holes in aluminum and Stainless steel plates(plasma cutter). Have used it for some TIG work, but no MIG work yet. Nice pictures.CheersAirco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60DPrimeweld 225 ac/dcPrimeweld mig180Miller AEAD-200
Reply:Just what you need is more computer problems in welding.  I do like computers and use in fab work since the 1980's. But I try not to use any electronics in welding .Dave

Originally Posted by albrightree

That is great bit of luck finding that. I kept looking online: Ebay, craiglist , and most were overpriced, trash, or both. I built my own with two pillow block bearings,  a 1-1/2" shaft 2 spcrockets, and #40 chain.  All I could find in the rubbish pile was a 90vdc motor, with a 60:1 reducer, which takes a little work to get the right speed. I'm hoping to get something set up with a digital read out, but I might have to use a RaspberryPi, or Arduino to do it cheaply. I have gotten the most use from it cutting large diameter holes in aluminum and Stainless steel plates(plasma cutter). Have used it for some TIG work, but no MIG work yet. Nice pictures.Cheers
Reply:Great find. Several years ago there were some welding positioners at a Ritchie Bros. sale. Man did I wish I had a shop to put them in. The most expensive one with foot pedal and all went for about $200 but it was a 1000lb. positioner. Pallets of 10lb rod ovens were going $10. Welding machines like Dimension 452's sold for about $300 and older machines for less than $100. I know 3 phase aren't desirable for most individuals but they were selling dirt cheap.