Mig wire speed

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I own an Thermal Arc 211i and was wondering if the wire speed display was fairly accurate so I ran it thru several speeds as viewed on the wire speed indicator on the face of the machine and measured the length of wire out the end of the nozzle at the end of six seconds.  Here are my results:   200 on meter, 20" of wire X 10 = 200,  300 on meter, 26" of wire X 10 = 260,  400 on meter, 32" of wire X 10 = 320,  500 on meter, 36" of wire x 10 = 360 and 600 on meter, 40" of wire X 10 = 400.  I was wondering if anyone here has done this test with their machines and what were your results?  Best regards,  Bob
Reply:Did you set the voltage to the appropriate setting while checking the wire speed? IIRC, the wire speed is a function of voltage, so if you were on the same voltage setting the entire time, it may skew your results.
Reply:Walker, no I did not, but I will check with appropriate voltages.  Thanks,  Bob
Reply:wire speed controls the amps on a mig welder the voltage shouldnt affect the wire speed buttt if you have a newer machine it could have a run in control that will keep the wire speed down for easer bead starts
Reply:Here goes again.  These settings are from the door chart and my findings are what follows.  Basically the changing of the voltages changed very little with my original findings without me changing the voltages but here goes with the changing of the voltages.  220 @ 16v on the meters, 21" = 210,  274 @ 19.5v on the meters, 24" = 240,  326 @ 22v on meters,  25.5" = 255,  484 @ 23v on meters,  35" = 350, and 600 @ 25v on meters,  40" = 400.  While I know my measurements could be slightly off, they are really not even close for the most part to what the meter reads.  So has anyone else tried this test on your machines?   Best regards,  Bob
Reply:Good point by abec about the run in. If you have run in, find out time how long it is, and how much wire feeds while unit is running in and subtract the time. A few second at 400ipm would make a big difference compared to the same at a lower speed.  My millermatic stuff is dependant upon voltage, but also reads in percent not ipm.In the end, though, the only thing that matters is how it welds at different parameters.
Reply:i belive mine is activated when you strick the arc it ramps up to full wire speed thats on my miller stuff
Reply:I just discovered that my Hobart Handler 150 has some built in variables... specs indicate 160-954 ipm with a dial from 0-10...  On the 1st TAP, speed 0, I get 115ipm, on TAP=2, speed 0, I get 230ipm.  I will need to check all 4 TAPs and some of the speeds from 0-10 to chart its actual parameters.  Nothing is simple!GlenMiller Dynasty 200DX - Millermatic 350P - Hypertherm Powermax 45Want to sell!! - Hobart Handler 150
Reply:Anyone else out there who owns this model machine that has tried this test, and if so, what are your results?  Best regards,  Bob
Reply:Originally Posted by abeci belive mine is activated when you strick the arc it ramps up to full wire speed thats on my miller stuff
Reply:You don't have a feedback from the wire feeder & really don't need one for a manual mig machine. The feeder motors these days are stepper motors (brushless) and are maintenance free, the downside to steppers is they can slip (miss steps) and as speed and/or resistance increases they slip more.Take your torch off and leave the trigger cable hooked up and check it with no resistance. I like to use several 3 counts instead of 1 six count. Also I always set the spindle break for the wire roll to as light as possible except when using really high wire speeds.My Lincoln PM300 does much the same (but not as bad as you're reporting). It's a little different between the normal Binzel mig torch and  the BOA bore welder when they are hooked up (but not much). The Lincoln has a pretty good feeder but you expect that with a much higher price machine and it has no feedback either.Anyway as mentioned above, with manual mig you decide if things are right. So any reference you have in setting up is better than nothing, you just have to adapt to it. Also if you are getting 400IPM that's gonna give you all the amps you can use with .030" and more than you really want with .035" using a 200amp class machine.Good luckMatt
Reply:Thanks to all who have replied, this machine as stated above by abec, current must be sensed to get motor up to the selected speed, the start speed is slow so as to start the weld and then the speed changes to what ever the selected speed on the meter requires.  Best  Bob