Basic Question MIG: Voltage Tap vs. Wire Speed

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Hello: Can wire feed speed be adjusted for each voltage tap independent of material thickness? I understand that at low settings there will be insufficient penetration on thicker material and the opposite on thin. What I am trying to do is determine the "sweet spot" for each of the 6 voltage taps available on my HF Dual MIG 171, using 1/2" Steel as my test piece to prevent burn through at the higher settings.I would like to establish combinations that I can select from depending on material thickness, given I can get travel speed and contact tip distance right. Thank you for your patience in reading this, if this is too basic please accept my apologies. Hope for some expert guidance. Take care. Burt.
Reply:Not really a good idea since the half inch steel will take on the heat much differently than the thin metal you would weld on the lower settings.
Reply:MJD:Thank you for the response. I was wondering about the heatsink effect of the thicker material. I was hoping it would not be significant. Is there another way short of testing each material thickness one at a time and finding the corresponding voltage tap and wire speed that you could suggest?  Including the material thickness  introduces one more variable to the problem.  Maybe I should just pick a material thickness, say 3/16", and plug away at it until I get it right then move on. Guess there is no "easy way" to do this. Take care and thanks again. Burt
Reply:There is no way a HF mig will burn through 1/2 plate even with both settings maxed out if you have proper welding technique and setup!Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Ya. deffinately not going to burn through 1/2 plate! If your machine has 6 taps, devide the max output amps by 6, then you will have a general idea of amps for each setting. So if it maxes at 180amps that's 180 divided by 6 = 30 amps per tap. So 1=30ish 2=60ish 3=90ish and so on... Then you can go to millers website and look at their voltage to thickness chart... Should give you a general starting point for each thickness you want to weld.Also flux welding is a whole nother ball game compared to mig gas welding.. Your weld puddle with flux core wire acts more like a stick welding weld puddle.. So watch your puddle and let it flow like a rod would. And pulling instead of pushing May help you out on thicker stuff. It will give you a more controllable puddle and it's easier to see how the filler is laying into the puddle! Just my opinion on it. Hope it helps you!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:There should be a chart in the manual or under the hood of your machine. Those are ballpark tap/wire feed settings to get you started. Find that. If you are not please with the penetration, go to the next metal thickness setting. Remember the tap/current is your coarse adjustment for metal thickness/penetration, and your wire feed is your fine adjustment to get the proper arc length(bacon sizzle for drip transfer, hiss for spray).Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks to everyone that responded. I picked the 1/2" plate as something I absolutely would not burn through, thinking it could cover the capability of the machine. Yes there is a table in the "manual" that gives starting points for wire size, thickness ranges, tap and wire speed settings.  Had not found it to be especially accurate, but that could just be me learning. Will revisit that reference and try to get the speed right for each setting of the voltage tap. Must remember TAP = Coarse and WIRE SPEED = Fine. I just need to get more seat time but 90* and High Humidity are rough on a 71 year old beginner. Thanks again and take care. Burt