Attn: All 250/320 ext owners must read!

[performance]

As you know the 250 ext has had some issues with low end starting/foot pedal operation and have worked with the factory to resolve it. The problem is known and experienced generally by all. We have of course suspended further sales on the unit. We have worked with the factory for a final resolution . We will be returning ALL units in our possession back to the factory. This is a ONE time return being approved by the China import office. Any customer with a 250EXT should call for a refund from us or a exchange for another unit so we can get these back to the factory. The deadline to arrange this is Dec. 5 2012. If you choose to keep your welder, or if you do not contact us by this date, the warranty against part breakage will remain, but the problem will not be resolved any further as we have exhausted our recourse of action on the US side. Please do not delay so that we can definitively resolve this matter that has gone on too long.

[performance]

We are working on a new, completely revised version of the 250EXT. NEW MODEL WILL BE POWERTIG 255EXT It has wave form control, but the amplitude adjustment has been deleted. It is more similar in feature to the 210 ext, and is smaller than the current 250EXT design. It is in early phases of testing and is estimated to be ready for release next year in MARCH . If an exchange is being considered on this unit, this is the time gap you should expect for the same type unit...but should be worth it. You still need to follow the deadline.

[JimMinKent]

Mark and Oleg,

Count me in. I'd like to return my current EXT, albiet reluctantly, for refund as Mark has asked, and end up with the new 250EXT, it looks real good from the pictures. I like the integration of digital selection and a knob for adjustment. I'm willing to be an early purchaser, and show my support to Everlast and take part in this new product introduction.

Also, Thank You for going to battle for us

Keep me on your customer list, and thanks again.

Jim

[JimMinKent]

Okay then, it's the new PowerTIG 255EXT that I want to end up with!

Thanks for the clarification.

Also, the latest image of the panel shows a lot of consideration has gone into it's design. It is really well executed, very useable, intuitive, clean, with appropriate use of graphics, a very nice improvement.

Jim

[everlastsupport]

Just making a statement here...

I can't tell you how much I like the new 210EXT design (newer EXT/digital). I'm glad we went in that direction on the new 255EXT. I know the 250EXT has the low amp pedal issue, that does not make it a bad welder but for the ones that it bothers, here's the time to fix it.

And yes, I've used the foot pedal with the 210EXT and new design works just fine on low amp starts.

[zoama]

What's the new 255ext price ?

[Oleg]

What's the new 255ext price ?

same pice as current model

[Rambozo]

I like the new layout. I think this is a cleaner design than even the 210EXT, with just the single knob. Very intuitive looking. The smaller package is a plus as well. I look forward to hearing more about how the testing is going and more of the features (hidden menus) and such as it gets closer to shipping.

[Mike J]

Hmm, interesting.

I am willing to be that Oleg and crew went to the factory making the 210EXT and had them do this one up - and dropped the factory that screwed up doing the 250EXT. That is just a guess, but I hope that seems to be the case, since the company that makes the 210EXT look like they know what they are doing.

A fundamental change is around waveforms vs. individual amperage control on a square wave. What to be really competitive - why not both?

Cheers,

Mike

[performance]

Mike, I wouldn't speculate on the stock market if I were you.

[jakeru]

Congrats - this is encouraging news for what will become the new "flagship" Everlast TIG machine!

Like Mike said, I feel like there is actually a *lot* you did right on the 250EXT, and I hope the new factory will be much more accommodating than it seems like the old one was. If so, you definitely made the right decision to "dump" the old factory.

The starting point of the overall machine and user interface is looking really sweet - congrats to Mark, or whoever else is responsible. That said, I hope it's not too late to solicit feedback on the specs and design for this new machine. With that said, here is my wishlist:

1. Too bad you can't do independent amplitude control like the 250EXT, but the four different waveforms are a great start. (Could you make at least one of those options, or give an option to provide binary "unbalanced" waveform that would give, say, 30% or so more current on the EN side than the EP side, for providing the bulk of the useful benefit that independent amplitude controls of the 250EXT would provide?)

2. The cooling system should be designed for low DB operation. (Consider using different/better/"more aerodynamic" fan blades, such as those found in my Super200P, or other quiet fan blade designs I've seen. Picture available on request).

3. You haven't mentioned duty cycle specs, but I think it almost goes without saying, that the machine should support at least as much as the 250EX and 250EXT (60% @ 250 amps).

4. The starting circuit should be reliable, and support a wide range of conditions, including low AC amps settings (I think if you are going to borrow the transistor-based starting circuit of the 210EXT, it will help!)

5. The AC balance adjustment limit should be "ample" toward low EP% end (or high EN%) - at least 90% EN, like the 250EX, but preferably allow even more extreme settings. (Like something in the neighborhood of 95-99% EN.) If it helps reduce costs at all (or trade for other more desirable features), consider dropping some of the range offered toward the high EP% settings. Anything above ~60% EP is of very little value.

6. The "out of the box" AC balance setting should be optimized for being a good general purpose aluminum welding settings. (In particular it should not be 50%, because this is not a very useful setting.) Rather, it should probably be somewhere more along the lines of say, 30% EP, for taking the heat off a smaller diameter tungsten.)

7. Would be nice to have an increased max amp output beyond 250, (such as the ability to output around 280-300 amps peak, which the 250EXT could do in AC mode by using the amplitude control to boost EN). Basically, boosting it as high as you can practically and reliably off of 240V 1-phase operation (even if at a reduced duty cycle) would be extremely desirable. This would allow us to more quickly puddle (and satisfactority weld) large and thick weldments (especially aluminum) while using inexpensive, pure argon.

8. The AC balance units should be made more harmonious with the non-EXT Everlast machines, by specifying the AC balance in straightforward "%EP" units (rather than the funky "+/-% from 50%EP" units used in the first generation EXTs.)

9. Give us much pulse frequency and AC frequency adjustment range to play with as you can within reason (without adding a lot to the cost.)

10. A switched plug for the water cooler, that automatically turns the cooler on/off when needed (such as, in tandem to whenever the 255EXT machine is switched on/off) will add value by helping us to avoid damaging our watercooled leads by forgetting to turn on our coolers (and, potentially save you guys $ on some warranty repair headaches as well!)

12. An on/off switch that is conveniently located on the front of the machine is more convenient to access than on the back, so consider putting one on the front.

12. A reprogrammable or replaceable chip, to allow aftermarket software/firmware upgrades, could potentially add a lot of longer-term value to the machine too.

13. Good quality accessories are going to be a nice touch, especially a good quality footpedal (and from what I've heard the 210EXT footpedal seems like it may have been a winner, so you might consider using the exact same one). On the torch, I'd recommend using a slim, conventional (non-euro) handle, like you did on the 250EXT with its flex-neck WP-20 (which actually looked like a really great setup). Silicone rubber ("superflex" style) welding leads on the TIG torch, a brass ground clamp, etc. could be a really nice value-adding touches.

Hope this helps you guys. Cheers and keep up the good work!

[performance]

Jakeru, you just added a grand to the cost of the machine! Overall the basic design and parameters are going to closely match the EX/EXT units.

The cooling system will not change. It is still the same High Output fan design we use on all our units. It's not as much an issue with an improper blade design. It is aggressive to move a lot of air. This isn't your laptop with a low volume fan. You ask for duty cycle, we give it. But we have to give it around a design that works for us.

We have deleted the water flow function sensor on the unit. It is a cost item and an extra circuit to give issue. IF you want to prevent damage, simply use a fuseable lead. It is likely we can wire the plug to switch on but... This is a minor issue and the responsibility of the customer to manage the flow. Any damage resulting from not turning the cooler on is the operator's fault as it is and not part of the warranty.
The switch will not be added on the front. The plastic molds are cast. It is VERY expensive to make any changes to the mold. There was not enough room as it was.

The pulse and AC frequency range will be oriented around practicality and stability of the unit and not wild extremes that are of limited value.

The output is going to be 250 amps. That is the practical "target" limit we are shooting for in this unit on single phase. It's a range that works for us in our sales figures. If you need more, the 320 EXT is available now.

The super flex and all that stuff will be available as an additional purchase as of now.

We made the decision to drop the amplitude off of a variety of inputs. I did not agree with it, but it is gone. The basic features are already in development, so we are not able to make much changes at this point.

[todmorg]

When will there be more details on the 255EXT?

With the return deadline only 10 days away on the 250EXT's, it would be nice to have some information on the 255's before then.

Todd





...

[DVA]

I like the new layout. I think this is a cleaner design than even the 210EXT, with just the single knob. Very intuitive looking. The smaller package is a plus as well. I look forward to hearing more about how the testing is going and more of the features (hidden menus) and such as it gets closer to shipping.

The 255 EXT will not be smaller. The 255 EXT will be slightly larger than the current 250 EXT from what I was told.

[performance]

No, DVA not true, you may have misunderstood. It will be smaller than the current 250 EXT, maybe slightly larger than the EX. We posted pictures here of it, so you can see it. I know its hard to get a relative comparison from the picture, but it's not as big.

[redbeard]

What is the "VRG" (if my eyes are seeing that right) stick mode?

Hate to shoot holes in the "intuitiveness" of the panel right off the bat, but regarding the AC balance, the panel graphic contradicts itself. Will the number displayed match the wording of "CLEAN(%)" i.e. EP% or will it be the EN% as depicted by the LED/arrow in the negative half of the wave?

I do hope the testing includes a thorough check to make sure that the programming matches the user interface. That was one of the things on the original machine that caused me, as a TIG n00b especially, a great deal of confusion and frustration.

[DVA]

No, DVA not true, you may have misunderstood. It will be smaller than the current 250 EXT, maybe slightly larger than the EX. We posted pictures here of it, so you can see it. I know its hard to get a relative comparison from the picture, but it's not as big.

I must have misunderstood our conversation. I thought you were saying the 255 EXT would be larger than the 250 EXT. That is nice that it is a smaller package.

[Gwaltnak]

I'm in! Do I need to call or should I just tell you here that I'd like to be put on the list for swap-out?

[performance]

You need to call to arrange the ship back and officially tell us what your desire is. ext 201 can handle this.

[DVA]

Do we need to ship back everything with the welder, Pedal, GTAW Torch, Stick Lead, Ground, and Regulator?

Who is paying for shipment back to California?

Also for the 255 EXT, can we be provided with the projected specifications including size of the machine.