It's not that easy aluminum - Passport +

admin

Found some 3/4" aluminum channel. The nut plates are going to look good. Just as soon as I get the new welder and my aluminum welding down a little better. I'm blaming the welding equipment right now. Took the whole set up back to the welding shop, spoolgun, tank of argon, regulator and all. I told them to show me what it can do and get the clock out of it's stomach . They'll call the Miller rep to get to the bottom of my problem? It is my problem, but I don't think it's me. 1) When I plug it into 220v and turn on, there's a tic, tic, tic that's coming  from the bottom front of the unit.2) broken plastic mig control cable locking ring.Running on 120v or 220v. Every 1 or 2 seconds there's an arc. Along with the aluminum spray in the back ground. I have spray, ARC, I don't have spray,ARC, I have spray, ARC, I don't have spray. Makes it impossible to weld aluminum.just running beads.new 16' piece from metal sard. coupon 1/8 aluminum angle.argon running at 25 cfhSpoolmate 100 - wire .030 ER 40 431) could be bad bottle of argon.2) volts, wire speed set to door chart. 7/100)3) tried from 3/8 to 1" distance.4) pushing gun5) tried 220v no difference in arcing problem.spool guns are heavy.Last edited by Vern2; 01-16-2010 at 06:54 PM.
Reply:Sounds like some problem with the contactor circuit.  I'm sure Miller will take care of it.  Untill then, it's pointless to try welding with it and you may make the problem bigger by continuing to use it that way.  Let us know how it welds on aluminum once you get it repaired.  I have the Passport but it's the older model that doesn't accept a spool gun.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Wow! I didn't hear, "give us more information". The tic, tic, tic is not real loud. But I can hear it 3 or 4 feet away. It doesn't sound like a relay.I don't have it. It's at Phx welding. It's not there main office.What the welding aluminum does. It starts off with the spray then an arc. The spray stops and I'm still moving the gun. The spray comes back. Then it arcs again, spray goes away. Mean while I'm adjusting height to stop the arc. If I just keep about 1/2 to 3/4" and not pay any attention to the arc adjust my speed. It does a good job of laying down a decent  bead. Its about 3/8" wide has a nice crown and dimes. It's very hot leaving at times a long crater in the 1/8" base. Like I say using 7/100 on 120v. I have a monitoring system on the house, so I know I'm getting good volts. Just the last couple hours you can see I'm well over 120v, No spikes. Runs in 120 to 122v range. That may all change when the 10k watts solar gets turned on.Last edited by Vern2; 01-17-2010 at 08:53 AM.
Reply:The local welding shop gave me a contaminated bottle of argon. Problem solved.