Dialing in the Imig 205

[geezer]

If you have and IMIG 205 you will notice that the max wire speed on the readout is somewhere between
Say 304 to 307 depending on your voltage input at the welding plug.

This reading of 304/307 will run wire at over 410 IPM, plenty fast for the wire used.

No matter, what we are interested in is: what are the amps put out by the welder at the reading on the dial.

For 0.035 wire the reading is approx. 65 higher than the amp output. That is to say a reading of 165 on the dial = 100 amps and visa versa.

For 0.030 wire the reading is approx. 95 higher than the output. That is to say if you want 100 amps, dial in 195 on the dial and visa versa.

65 and 95,,,,,,,,,good numbers to remember.

The rule of thumb for welding is 1 amp for every .001 of metal thickness, not exact but a good starting point; so for example: welding 1/8 material (0.125) using 0.035 wire needs 125 amps + 65 = 190 on the dial readout and so forth.

Tweaking and final adjustment are subject to material type and conditions etc. are always needed but at least you have a starting point to work from.

Voltage settings are a little harder to remember:

I start at 1/16 and increase voltage, one volt for every 1/16 in metal thickness, for example:
1/16 = 18 v, 1/8 = 19 v, 3/16 = 20v, 1/4 = 21v etc.

Ballpark numbers to be sure, but we all have to start somewhere.

If you are an IMIG 205 owner and you find this helpful, some feedback would be nice.
I own 2 of them and they are a great machine in my view. I find myself using them more and more each day for both Stick and Mig.

[ogorir]

for reference, the wirespeed readout on my 200 goes from around 85 @ 6ipm to 299 @ 640ipm.

in the commonly used range, the readout is roughly proportionate to double the wirespeed.

[performance]

After it warms up, remeasure your wirespeed....You may be surprised...And after it breaks in things will usually drop a little.

[Txcheddar]

If you are an IMIG 205 owner and you find this helpful, some feedback would be nice.
I own 2 of them and they are a great machine in my view. I find myself using them more and more each day for both Stick and Mig.[/QUOTE]

This is very helpful and appreciate the starting point. Can you please include some starting pointers for the 205P's pulse function and explain the three dials. I am confused about the settings. I am "assuming" the volts setting is set a little higher on the pulse side than the other, but i am unsure. I have no idea what the freq dial does but making some assumptions there too. Please help.

I hope this thread is not dead. I do see its from 2009.

[performance]

TX,
Setting pulse on a MIG is not easy, unless you are well experienced welder, and understand what is going on from a technical standpoint. It is a very advanced feature. There's a lot of theory involved, and giving a starting point for setting pulse correctly is not easy through this medium. For every Volt/Amp value you set, there is a different pulse setting that is optimized. You have to be able to see, hear and feel what you are doing. Pulse is really pulsed spray. You need 90/10 Ar/Co2 (most common gas available although 85/15 might work) to even begin to make this work. (FOR Steel) Frequency sets the number of times per second the unit pulses. The unit pulses voltage at two values...high and low. The Time on expresses the amount of time it stays in the high side vs the low voltage side of the pulse. The whole idea is to lower the heat input by averaging the input of heat. The unit will spray but the pulse will drop out of spray long enough into globular transfer for the metal to cool, but not really long enough to transfer any metal if it is properly set.

[Txcheddar]

Ok. Lets say you are using your starting point formula and welding .125 as you listed previously. In your expierence what would you set your pulse settings at to start. What would you expect to see, hear or feel. And what would you change first if it did not seem correct?

[performance]

TX,
Are you aware what spray arc is and what pulse spray is? Please go on the web and read in detail about it first if you aren't. It's complicated theory and too detailed for me to spend hours on a primer here. There are volumes written about it. Not something easily covered in this forum. And as I said, for each Volt/Amp setting, there is a different ideal pulse setting. MIG Pulse is not for beginners to spray arc welding (if that is the case), especially not when it comes to manually setting up one. Digital MIGs that have pulse are preprogrammed with optimum settings because it isn't easy to do...but When it's right you'll know. It doesn't sound the same as regular MIG, more like an angry bee...hive. Here's a good place to start: http://www.praxair.com/praxair.nsf/0/c56dbfa8e80d0dbd85256ab300140b28/$FILE/P-8126.pdf

[Txcheddar]

[QUOTE=performance;41264]TX,
Are you aware what spray arc is and what pulse spray is? Please go on the web and read in detail about it first if you aren't. It's complicated theory and too detailed for me to spend hours on a primer here. There are volumes written about it. Not something easily covered in this forum. And as I said, for each Volt/Amp setting, there is a different ideal pulse setting. MIG Pulse is not for beginners to spray arc welding (if that is the case), especially not when it comes to manually setting up one. Digital MIGs that have pulse are preprogrammed with optimum settings because it isn't easy to do...but When it's right you'll know. It doesn't sound the same as regular MIG, more like an angry bee...hive. Here's a good place to start: http://www.praxair.com/praxair.nsf/0/c56dbfa8e80d0dbd85256ab300140b28/$FILE/

I don't know if there is an appropriate response I could give to get an answer. You have two machines. Can't you set the machine to your example and give a setting for pulse? And not give convoluted answer.

[Txcheddar]

Okay, finally got running today thanks to Airgas. They were great! Been playing around with the settings and pulse settings. Does not seem as technical as every one makes it sound. Took some getting used to the volts dial. The arc force dial is different too. But after I was going strong with all that I turned the pulse on. It seemed the volts dial and freq dial performed best set higher than the non pulse related dials. It also performed nicely on out of position welds. Sticks the weld right up in there or sprays it and sticks it where you want it. Not much prettier than the non pulse weld. I was expecting dimes. But after using flux core for the last few years, it's nice!

I did notice while using the pulse time on dial there was some popping that seemed to slow or increase at time depending on the setting? Normal or ????

Otherwise at times when I thought things were set right heard a nice humming, seen the glob stage etc...like you said "a glue gun".

[everlastsupport]

Okay, finally got running today thanks to Airgas. They were great! Been playing around with the settings and pulse settings. Does not seem as technical as every one makes it sound. Took some getting used to the volts dial. The arc force dial is different too. But after I was going strong with all that I turned the pulse on. It seemed the volts dial and freq dial performed best set higher than the non pulse related dials. It also performed nicely on out of position welds. Sticks the weld right up in there or sprays it and sticks it where you want it. Not much prettier than the non pulse weld. I was expecting dimes. But after using flux core for the last few years, it's nice!

I did notice while using the pulse time on dial there was some popping that seemed to slow or increase at time depending on the setting? Normal or ????

Otherwise at times when I thought things were set right heard a nice humming, seen the glob stage etc...like you said "a glue gun".

Head for the grocery store for some PAM or Airgas for the anti-spatter spray and sounds like you are good to go. TIG is fun, but MIG is fast...

[performance]

Popping is where you are getting transfer into the globular range and not in spray. What gas mix were you using?