Power I-MIG questions

[Piledriver]

Thanks, I don't seem to be getting reply notifications, I'll have to check my prefs.
(I had to change the default subscription mode to "on")
I ran through some research just getting a solid MIG unit and seperate TIG...
Tried to buy a close to new condition TA 251 fabricator for cheap, but too late...

Anyway...

I wanted to check in and make sure you didn't think I was a drive by troll giving you a hard time--- I appreciate the feedback.

I already built an interface box with a 24V PWM controller for the spoolgun, (can be 110v, 220v or run off the welders output (at least with the POS I have)
Used a Dewalt drill controller (drill died from gravity poisoning) it ALMOST fit in the handle, but I didn't feel like hacking up a spoolgun. (wiring mods? no problem, those are reversible)

interfacing ~anything to ~anything is doable (given sufficient documentation, or time sucking reverse engineering)
I've done junk like that as a small part of my job for 20++ years.(now i feel old)

To go off on a slight tangent... With inverters, as you mentioned earlier IIRC, it's ~minimal effort to have both CV and CC modes implemented.
.
Rather than trying to go with MIG and have a lame TIG function, do any of your ACDC TIG inverters have a CV mode? >:"-)
I don't mind throwing the $$$ at it if it will stick and REALLY do what I want. I don't really care if it has a feeder even, just as power supply.
I could do with a 225 or 250. setup, esp if the pulse modes worked in MIG too.
(I suspect that would be... popular...)

For the MIG work I have been doing to date, the spool gun setup has been excellent, mostly out of position auto body stuff
The 20' super flexible cable works out awesome...

I don't weld every day (or even every month, which is why I like a 5 year warranty)
... and I hate wire that's been on the spool for ages, the little spools are OK, so far.
That would change with a decent power supply I'm sure.

If I ever need big spools, feeders can be had ~cheap, and are appear ~trivial to interface as they ALWAYS have excellent documentation.

Given a decent power supply (and decent documentation) it would be a no brainer for me.

[performance]

None of our AC/DC inverters have a mig function. No one does as far as I know. You simply will need two machines. Pulsing is not the same in MIG as in TIG either.
Good luck.

[Piledriver]

Well, you can't blame a guy for trying

An ACDC TIG + MIG all in one unit with a pulser (even if the MIG relied on am external control box+spoolgun or feeder) would be a pretty much killer product.
It would seem fairly trivial to implement, esp if all the MIG specific bits were in an external feeder/interface.

DC CC + CV power supplies (with internal or external pulsers, that seem to work in both modes) have existed for ~decades.
CC aluminum spray MIG dates back to WW2, but sadly CC and MIG on steel pretty much blows for real use.
(although it does work for some definitions of "works")

I''m genuinely curious:
I understand why TIG vs. MIG pulse settings might be vastly different, but the functions are ~identical, no?
Duty cycle, freq and base settings... the ramp up/down are common for TIG use as well, although optional and may use different time constants.

I'm curious as to what the fundamental differences are.

[performance]

No, the functions aren't
In MIG, you are typically pulsing voltage. In tig, it is amperage.
The issue from a practical standpoint, from what I understand, is a technology conflict with HF and MIG drive components. It's not saying it can't be done, but the cost and effort required to make a unit so described is not practical. Plus, in the industry, what would the incentive be? This would kill the potential profit to be made by the big guys by selling individual units. I think that would be another issue that would prevent it's development. I am a firm believer, that if you can afford separate units, you should buy them , unless space or other practical consideration enters the picture. One failure could deny the use of all your welding capability until it is fixed.

[Piledriver]

"The issue from a practical standpoint, from what I understand, is a technology conflict with HF and MIG drive components"

I agree completely, and one would certainly want to to automagically inhibit HF/lift start when the MIG interface is plugged in... easily done.
...but even certain AC/DC Tig units seem to have silly, show-stopping issues with their OWN HF start, which is why I'm looking. Again.
(Hey, even Miller had problems on the early Synchrowaves)

Also, for a great deal of the customer base, "One failure could deny the use of all your welding capability until it is fixed." is simply life.

I'm visualizing the cost delta between owning two identical (and sadly, hypothetical) "250ZX ACDC CC/CV" units (and an external feeder or spool gun that can be swapped) and a similarly capable stand alone Pulse MIG unit and ACDC pulse TIG unit would be so slim as to be invisible, esp to a small company that might suddenly need "extra" TIG or MIG units on occasion.

If either blew up and was out for service, you would still have full process capability.
THAT'S a killer feature by itself.