Looking for TA185 and TA200 owners/users

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Just wondering from those of you who use TA 185 and TA200 Tig welders how thick a metal you can weld in the TIG side. Thanks for any assistance.Harold MulderMiller 211 AutosetHTP 201 Invertig with water coolerHardinge Cataract Quick Change Lathe
Reply:Hello Harold, that answer can have quite a few variables. Thickness, along with overall size of the part will allow for welding very thick parts provided they aren't really large(ie., big heat sink). Machine settings can also have a large effect on thickness that can be successfully welded. If the part is really clean(physically and material make-up wise) that will generally allow you to set the AC balance to favor the DCEN side of the current and realize greater heat input while welding and allowing for thicker sections to be welded. The hertz adjustments can further influence additional heat input and concentration, as you increase the hertz the focus of the arc energy is narrowed and allows for greater penetration and localization of the arc energy, this also allows for welding of increased thicknesses. If you are trying to weld thick parts, don't use pulse, by using this feature you will detract from the overall heat input and somewhat limit the thickness that can be successfully welded. Even tungsten choice can possibly have effects for successful welding of thicker sections. When the tungsten becomes unstable at it's tip you can lose effeciency and also experience tungsten erosion and spitting, this can introduce impurities into the weld pool, possibly contribute to contamination of the tungsten electrode and cause additional resistance and loss of efficiency to the output that is being provided. I'm sure others can provide additional and possibly more technically correct points and I look forward to those responses. Best regards, AllanEDIT: ran out of time for the moment, should also consider preheating. When preheating there are limitations that should be adhered to if you need to maintain the maximum amount of strength for the weld or weld repair. A lot of the time aluminum items that are welded and require maintaining the original strength of the material will need to be heat-treated following the welding or repair, not doing this will cause loss of strength of the welded portion so this should be a consideration. Shielding gases can also influence the efficiency and energy transfer realized with the GTAW process. Argon is generally the most common shielding gas, Argon/Helium mixes are next, and finally pure Helium rounds out your choices. Consider that flow rates need to increase as the amount of Helium does, cost follows this same scenario. I don't believe that most home hobbyists would benefit from using the Argon/Helium mixes or the Helium when trying to justify cost and benefit.Last edited by aevald; 05-01-2010 at 04:51 PM.aevald
Reply:Ive welded up to 20mm thick steel with a TA200.  Not with a single pass and not with no joint preperation.Joint prep is the key to welding thicker sections.Recently while welding 16x50mm flat bar, it was preped with a double v and welded both sides to get a full pen weld which this job required.
Reply:I weld up to 1/4" aluminum with my TA185.  That's a v-groove and more than one pass.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Thanks that's info I was looking for.Harold MulderMiller 211 AutosetHTP 201 Invertig with water coolerHardinge Cataract Quick Change Lathe