Doing something wrong! (aluminum)

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Aparently I am doing something wrong. I have a DVI2 set to the chart recomended settings, voltage set to "6" and wire speed set to "90"  input is 230 volts, gas is 100% argon at 25 cfh. base metal is 1/4"  bead looks ok in my newby eyes but penetration is non exsistant.What am I doing wrong?Thanks for your help!!!
Reply:that setting is probably for steel, aluminum needs more power since it has better thermal properties --Gol'
Reply:A bevel on the plates wouldn't hurt either.Yup
Reply:the settings I used were for aluminum. of course this is my first attempt at it but I would figure even without a bevel it would penetrate more than that! am I way off base? or is this normal for a newbe that dont know nothing? LOL
Reply:I would set the heat up as high as it will go, and work my way down.  You will find it takes a hell of a lot of heat to weld Alum.
Reply:What wire size are you using? .030 or .0351/4 inch aluminium is going to need ~200 amps the welder can give you 175 cranked to max, also thats a lot to push through small wire. bigger .045 or .060 would help carry the curent, but I don't know if you can run it in that machiene.If you had to make it work, helium might help drive the heat in a little deeper.Lincoln PT185 TIGLincoln 175 MIGLincoln 240 amp AC StickLind Needle Arc plasma welderPlasma cutter, soon???
Reply:Pre-heat could help too. The start looks even thiner on penetration as a lot of the energy was going into the pieces to heat them up as opposed to melting the localized weld area.You are wired up electrode positive? Just checking.Last edited by Timberwolf; 09-08-2008 at 11:18 PM.Lincoln PT185 TIGLincoln 175 MIGLincoln 240 amp AC StickLind Needle Arc plasma welderPlasma cutter, soon???
Reply:Hide/seek,A few things:Looking at the picture, 1.  Starting at the right, you were well off the joint low, then trainsitioned to the middle, and finished off the joint high, almost completely off the joint.  It looks like your helmet isn't letting you see the joint well.  What filter are you using?2.  Burnit has it exactly.  Bevel that joint, root thickness should be no more than the diameter of the filler metal you're using to weld it.  Only a few machines (not many of them electric arc) have the capability to punch through 1/4 inch.3.  Timberwolf has it as well.  Use 75He/25Ar.  You'll put a heck of a lot more heat into the joint for the same amps.4.  Once you've beveled the joint, gap the root pass.  The gap should be the diameter of the filler metal (to start with).  Cut two pieces of filler metal, and place them between the joint at each end when you're tacking.  This will allow the root pass to consume the edge prep of the root, and then make multiple passes to fill the bevel.Keep at it, newby, your technique looks good, travel ties in well, toes are tied in, just really, really, cold trying to butt weld 1/4 inch.Best regards, KbnitI r 2 a perfessional
Reply:Great, thanks for the replies I will try them, also I am using .030 wire. also using a auto darking hood I will lighten up a little