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27th Feb 2012, 06:30 PM #1Senior Member
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- Feb 2011
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- Mornington Peninsula
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Important FYI: Kemppi MinArc 180 Adaptive 5kg Spool Problem
Well I found out the hard way today an annoying issue with the Kemppi.
Up until today I had been welding stainless with a 1kg spool and all has been well.
But today I had a job for work to weld up an RHS frame, so I promptly fitted my 5kg 0.6mm spool and upon closing the hatch noticed it didn't close to well. Thought nothing of it until I started welding!
Long story short be very very careful what size 5kg spool you get for your Kemppi. I used a CIGWELD spool and it does not fit.
The only solution was to cut off the plastic tabs that hold on the instructions inside the lid. Not critical and not a big deal but on ~$1,600 machine it's not really acceptable.
Apparently it's a known problem too. Never thought to ask that though.
Currently running with lid shut but it's not perfectly shut but it will do.
I will measure up the width of the spool and try and find another supplier/brand that has a thinner 5kg spool.
In the process I found out that the Kemppi goes BEEP when the wire feed gets jammed. Mind you, you kinda notice when you are welding.
Cheers
Justin
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27th Feb 2012, 07:18 PM #2Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 59
How old is the spool of wire ,
I remember this was a problem (a cigweld problem, when they decided to source most of their gear from china they had great fun with crappy product ,the first few containers of wire were a joke )
a few years ago but I haven't come across it in a long time not that Im a fan of the kemppi minarc series I think there's much better value out there ,
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27th Feb 2012, 07:23 PM #3Senior Member
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- Feb 2011
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- Mornington Peninsula
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- 183
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27th Feb 2012, 09:49 PM #4Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- NINGI Qld Australia
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- 68
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Yeah I think one of the quirks of buying a European built machine. Whoever you bought your machine from should have filled you in on compatible consumables though. I like my Kemppi machine too but I know that I have to buy compatible wire and fittings for it as well, just goes with the territory I think and shouldn't blame the machine, and that one in particular is deigned for compactness and portability so everything would be minimal for that reason. If a Kemppi dealer can't supply a compatible 5kg spool then that's a bigger problem I guess but surely they can.
Just measured my spool of 0.9 SS wire Talweld brand (made in Taiwan) and it's spool is 56mm x 202mm.
A couple of others lying around are 57mm wide WIA spools, (made in China) .
I just noticed too that Graham Collins made a note of this in another thread: http://www.woodworkforums.com/f160/c...2/#post1104604
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28th Feb 2012, 11:04 PM #5
My comment is that some one at Kemppi design needs a big boot in the bum.
Despite knowing about the less than desirable features on this unit - and they do, nothing has been changed.. I sent them a a nastygram soon after I purchased my unit.
For $1600 or so you deserve better than:
- A handpiece and cable that could have come from a a Leggo kit- it does not inspire confidence.
- A fixed handpiece cable. A euro fitting -sure would make it better with the portability.
- A better way to change liner cables-see above. Do you have little hands and watchmakers tools?
- The spool spindle axle? Even the nastiest migs seems to have a reasonable axle bearing that the spool runs on -Not this Kemppi.
and finally - Spool Width- Most other manufacturers seem to handle the fact that not all spools are equal.
The fella that thought this machine up was maybe absent on the day they studied design at college.
Even worse Kemppi have not upgraded or improved it and its been on the market several years.
Also note! mud dauber (barstid wasps) have been known to make nests across $350 (2009 or so) Kemppi circuit boards which then go POOF when energized .Keep them wrapped up when not in use
Grahame
- A handpiece and cable that could have come from a a Leggo kit- it does not inspire confidence.
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29th Feb 2012, 08:28 AM #6Senior Member
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- Feb 2011
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- Mornington Peninsula
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- 183
On the plus side I do like how it welds and I'm getting used to the very fine tuning of the weld.
Not 100% sure about running 0.6mm wire though but will see how that goes as I have only just started to weld steel with it. The screen display in Fe mode does say 0.6, 0.8, 0.9 options so i can only assume its ok with it.
I wonder now if the ESAB Caddy would have a been a better choice.
Cheers
Justin
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1st Mar 2012, 08:25 AM #7
Hi Justin.
The machine will run .6mm wire .You just need to be aware of the normal mig issues: they will be increased because of the small diam wire :
- Keep the cable as straight as possible when welding.
- Have the wire drive tension adjusted to the point of slipping.
- Keep contact tip in good nick and recesses a bit into cover shroud.
- make sure the spool if over wide is not rubbing
Anything that makes the wire drag will cause you grief in the small diam wire size.
Grahame
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1st Mar 2012, 09:32 AM #8Senior Member
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- Feb 2011
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- Mornington Peninsula
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- 183
Thanks Grahame
I'm going to get some 0.8mm wire as well and see how that goes.
I bought the 0.6mm reel before I bought the new MIG as I had just ran out of wire. I find that with the 0.6mm wire i need to adjust up the material thickness a bit to get the right weld.
Cheers
Justin
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