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3 Things to Know About MIG Welding Power Sources
Admin • May 15, 2018
Metal inert gas welding — or MIG welding, as it is known for short — is one of the most common forms of stick welding used today. This popularity stems from the fact that MIG welding produces excellent results with a minimum of effort. An electrical impulse generated by the power source supplies the energy needed to fuse together two or more pieces of metal.
MIG welding utilizes a solid wire electrode, which feeds through the welding gun. This wire melts as it reaches the weld pool, forming the weld joint. MIG welding also relies on the presence of a shielding gas, which protects the weld area from oxidation that would otherwise lead to rust and other problems.
While the central principles of MIG welding haven't changed much in the last several decades, new options have arisen in terms of the power source used. If you would like to learn more about how the power source affects MIG welding, read on. This article will outline three key things to know about MIG welding power sources.
1. Two Main Power Sources Exist
MIG welding power sources can be broken down into two main categories: transformers and inverters. For many decades, transformers were the only choice for those interested in welding. Manufacturers have had nearly 100 years in order to refine transformers to optimize the performance of MIG welding set-ups.
Inverters, by contrast, represent a fairly new option for powering a MIG welding set-up. Inverters were developed in recent decades as computer technology advanced by leaps and bounds. Inverters use computer software to control the energy output, thus allowing automated control of the MIG welding arc for more efficient and uniform results.
2. Inverters Promote Better Welds
Transformers allow welders to create functional, long-lasting welds when working with mild steel. Yet ensuring consistent results becomes more difficult when it comes to welding other metals. Even when working with steel, the results welders get with transformers simply may not be good enough.
One common problem is weld spatter — in other words, droplets of molten wire fly out of the weld area and harden elsewhere on the base metal. To a certain extent, weld spatter is an unavoidable aspect of MIG welding, especially when using a transformer as a power source.
Weld spatter often happens as the result of excessive amperage or insufficient voltage. Even experienced welders have a hard time responding quickly enough to changing circumstances to prevent these issues when working with a transformer. An inverter, on the other hand, can automatically adjust variables to reduce the likelihood of weld spatter.
Furthermore, an inverter can limit weld spatter by varying the waveforms it produces. Pulsed waveforms allow the inverter to control the likelihood and speed of weld spatter. As a result, the welder bears less of the responsibility for limiting weld spatter by varying the wire feed speed.
3. Transformers Are Usually More Durable
Transformers retain one key advantage when it comes to their longevity. Simply put, the simpler nature of a transformer makes it better able to withstand the rigors of daily use. This advantage stems from transformers' relatively longer history. Manufacturers have been able to analyze lifespan data and make changes to promote better durability.
Inverters, by contrast, simply haven't been around long enough to allow such detailed analysis. Of course, future inverters will likely boast much better lifespans than those currently on the market, making them more and more attractive as time goes on. For more information about what it takes to ensure the best results from MIG welding or to get welding work done, please contact the experts at Sam's Welding, Inc.
Most Popular Types of Welding
Are you hiring a welder to get something fabricated or repaired? Sam's Welding Inc. offers the following types of welding in El Cajon: Gas metal arc welding. Perhaps the most popular of them all, this method is also known by its abbreviations GMAW or MIG, for metal inert gas. It’s an average of five times faster than electrical arc methods and includes four material transfer options: spray, pulsed spray, globular and short circuiting. Shielded metal arc welding. A form of stick welding commonly known as SMAW, this process uses electrical current to form an arc between the rod and metals in production. Uses include industrial fabrication such as the construction of iron and steel structures. Gas tungsten arc welding. This method is known as TIG or GTAW and requires the most skill, as heat is continuously regulated by means of a foot pedal. If amperage is set too high, you can end up burning holes in the metal. If it’s too low, the weld won’t flow properly. It’s especially useful for combining thick pieces of stainless steel and ironless metals. Flux-cored arc welding. Unlike MIG and TIG, FCAW keeps contamination out by means of a flux. This process doesn’t require a shielding gas, can be done outdoors and is quite efficient. Working with different positions such as horizontal, vertical and tee joints requires different machine configurations. Serving San Diego, CA Whether you need several hundred pieces or just one, we’re happy to take on the project for you. We are combat veteran owned and have more than two decades of experience handling military projects with success. We serve El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, and the entire county. We have expertise with the design and fabrication of gates and fences. You’re welcome to walk into our San Diego shop or call us anytime at 619-281-2709 .
Whether you have some new projects lined up to modify and enhance your home or there are some significant repairs that need to be done to some of the metalwork, you want to have a professional metal welder on the job. There are numerous specific instances in which having welding done by a certified military group such as Sam’s Welding Inc. in El Cajon is worth your investment. Perhaps you need a car welder to perform some precise car part welding or you need to ensure the safety of a premises with some security door welding . Of course, not everything that involves metal fabrication or repair is on a large scale. More often than not, welding is needed for smaller things that see use on a daily basis, such as: Staircases Hand railings Gates Fences As far as stairs are concerned, our professionals can help with anything from a new hand railing to a completely new and complex spiral staircase. Even if the work needs to be done outside on fences and gates where the materials need to be more durable, our nearly four decades of experience in the field have given us the knowledge of how to complete jobs in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and keeps you and your loved ones safe. Serving El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee Metalwork, whether it is basic framing or a more elaborate fence job, has a large impact on our lives every day. Therefore, when the time comes in which you decide to invest in modifications, fabrications, or repairs, you’d better be sure that you have qualified people doing the work. That’s what you’ll get when you call Sam’s Welding at 619-281-2709 . If you live in El Cajon, La Mesa or Santee, ask about our walk-in and mobile services to maximize our availability to you.
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