Thread: TIG Controls explained.

Hi guys, I would appreaciate a hand with the following three newbie TIG welding questions.

1) what is pulse control and when do you use it. Is this the output current pulsing up and down?

2) what is 2T/4T and when do you use each of these

3) When is not having a foot controller advantageous. I have only ever welded with foot control.

Cheers,

Brendan

I'm also new to TIG but did a bit on it at TAFE a couple of weeks ago.

A pulse unit is used for greater control of bead shape & penetration.

Dunno what 2T/4T is.

I have only used a foot switch.

You can get a torch with a remote slider control on it & it would be useful in difficult places where it would be hard to position & use a foot pedal.

Pulse; Higher amps and a less fluid weld pool. This lets you run higher peak amps which will let you weld quicker and or have more control over the weld pool, the pulsing lets each pool cool down between pulses and solidify giving more control.

2T 4T, is it a cig welder, if so it sounds like the trigger interlock, 2T-depress trigger to start let go to stop. 4T-depress trigger to start, you can now let the trigger go now and continue welding, then depress trigger to stop. I may have this back to front.

Pulsed TIG welding is extremely beneficial when welding thin gauge steel and stainless steel. It allows the operator to tailor the amount of heat to the application, decreasing distortion and heat input. Pulsing can also help teach beginning TIG welders because it provides a rhythm for adding the filler rod (i.e., add the filler rod during peak amperage pulse).


4T means you can still tig weld when you release the switch on the handpiece of tig torch,
4T is often used in conjunction with upslope controls. Upslope meaning that the current can be stepped up after a set time period of arc

2T means when you release the switch on the headpiece of your tig torch the current cuts off.



Foot control or hand piece thumb control. After using the handpiece now for a couple of years for a while, I feel the foot control would be oversize and in the way.Thumb control on the handpiece is unobtrusive and there when its needed not in the flaming way like a big clunky foot pedal.


heres a link that may help explain setting up pulse
http://www.pro-fusiononline.com/welding/pulseparams.asp

Grahame

Thanks heaps for you replies fellas.

When im welding with the foot pedal at TAFE, sometimes I use it to back off the amps when I notice the weld pool getting too big. This is something you couldnt do with a hand control as its just on or off....but I guess this is a good way of forcing you to get more accustomed with your machine and choose the right settings from the start. Do you agree?

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

...You can get a torch with a remote slider control on it ...

Originally Posted by 19brendan81

Thanks heaps for you replies fellas.

When im welding with the foot pedal at TAFE, sometimes I use it to back off the amps when I notice the weld pool getting too big. This is something you couldnt do with a hand control as its just on or off....but I guess this is a good way of forcing you to get more accustomed with your machine and choose the right settings from the start. Do you agree?

Nup, you are thinking of the the trigger guns used for MIG.
The TIG torches with a remote have a slider that you can move with your thumb just like the variable foot pedal.

The tig torch at TAFE has an on off button exactly like a mig...there is definately no slider on it.

Arh, right. In that case, the foot pedal would be better than the trigger.