"Wes" wrote in message
...
I periodically use a miller wire feed welder at work but lately it doesn't
work so great.
I am not an ace welder by any means but usually I can weld something if I
can position the
workpiece that doesn't embarase me.
We use .035 copper clad wire, a co2/argon mix for shield gas.
I don't get that frying bacon sound while welding but instead get a sound
that makes me
think the wire is burning up in flight if that makes sense. I've played
with wire speed
and voltage (yes, this thing has voltage instead of current markings).
I used another welder in another part of the shop and the difference was
like night and
day. I don't know where to start troubleshooting this thing. Ideas?
Wes
Can you give a little better description of the sound, or what the wire is
doing? Is it burning back to a globule on the end of the wire? Are you
feeling the wire poking the base metal? The first is if the speed is too
slow. The second too fast.
What do your finished welds look like? Do some on the flat and see if you
can arrive at a happy medium. On most makes, there is a chart on the
inside of the door that will give you some guidelines and parameters.
A problem with MIGs is the control board, that senses what the machine is
doing while welding and makes adjustments. It also stops the machine if
something gets too far out of kilter. This is one of the most common things
electronically that can go wrong with it.
Other than that, how old is the liner? If very old, go to a .045 liner no
matter what size wire you run, it can be oversized and not make a
difference. Check the tip as stated by another poster. Check the rollers
for looseness. Check the nut on the reel so it's not too tight. Several
basic things, but once they are all okay, it's time to have it checked
electronically by someone who knows.
My buddy just got his Miller fixed, and it was $250 for a new control board.
Hope yours is something simpler.
Steve
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