What is Inverter welding machines?

An Welding, while very physically demanding, can be very rewarding for those who enjoy working with their hands. Welders need good eyesight, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. They should also be able to concentrate for long periods of time on very detailed work, as well as be in good enough physical shape to bend and stoop, often holding awkward positions for long periods of time. Welders work in a variety of environments, both indoors and out, using heat to melt and fuse separate pieces of metal together. Training and skill levels can vary, with a few weeks of school or on-the-job training for the lowest level job and several years of school and experience for the more skilled welding positions.

A home artisan, and even more so a professional, often cannot do without working with metal. Having your welding machine will help you make gates with your own hands, weld hinges or fix children’s sledges. Welding is a simple matter. Modern inverter welders are simple and convenient to use. We propose to analyze how inverters differ from transformers and how to choose a model. We give a rating of the best options for different Welding machines price, an overview of popular samcut and weld engineers.

Inverter or transformer welding machine.

According to statistics, transformers are the most common in the professional field. The inverter is the leader in the household and professional fields. Let’s compare these two types of equipment.

The transformer puts a strain on the network and to use an electrode with a cross-sectional area of ​​3 mm, it must consume more than 6 kW of power. Inverters consume several times less. Similar electrodes smaller than 4kW should be used. Another plus of inverter welders is losing their compact dimensions and weight of about 4 kg. Transformer devices are large, and they are almost twice as large.

The advantages of transformers are their versatility. Such devices are capable of operating in almost any condition, including continuous operation. At the same time, the inverter is very sensitive to humidity and needs to prevent overheating and blockage in cold weather.

The mains voltage directly affects the operation of the inverter welding machine. The arc will be unstable during jumps, except for models equipped with surge protection. The arc of the transformers is resistant to transients. The stability of the welding current is not affected by changes in the input voltage. In terms of cost, the price of inverters is 2-3 times higher than that of transformers.

Classes of inverters welding machine.

Inverter welders generally fall into three categories, depending on the field of application.

• Household – used by home craftsmen in the country or the garage. Also, it is worth giving preference to such models for novice artisans. They are suitable for short-term, low-volume jobs. For such devices, the welding current indicator varies from 120 to 200 A.
• Professional – find application among employees of small commercial companies. Such models are perfect for the manufacture of small structures, pipe repairs. Unlike household appliances, they can use them for continuous operation. The welding current indicator varies from 200 to 300 A.

It is customary to single out more semi-professional units. In this case, the master receives a high-quality seam, an average duration of continuous work. Also, in the assortment of specialized stores, there are industrial-grade welding inverters. They are used in the construction industry in the installation of pipelines and other objects. The devices are designed for high loads and harsh conditions. The indicator of the welding current reaches 500 A.

Specifications of Inverter Welding Machine.

When buying a welding inverter, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

• Welding current;
• Open circuit voltage level;
• Power supply voltage;
• Work at maximum current.

The welding current indicator is the most important characteristic. It determines the thickness of the workpieces be welded. The welding current is measured in amperes. So, for welding workpieces with a  thickness of 2-12 mm with an electrode with a cross-section of 3 mm, a welding current of 100-150 A is sufficient. To work with workpieces of 10-40 mm with an electrode of 5 mm. A current of 170-270 a will be required. The maximum current is usually called Imax. 

When working with thin sheets a minimum welding current (IMin) is required. When welding stainless steel or steel with a thickness of less than 2 mm. It must be heated to the minimum current, In this case a minimum level of device configuration is required. The lower limit is often 10A.

The open-circuit voltage level indicates the nominal value in volts without load. This indicator is designated as Uxx, measured in volts. This characteristic indicates the stability of the welding arc and ease of ignition. The acceptable range of values is 40-90 V. 

The inverter can operate in a single-phase or three-phase network. Stable voltage is often rare. However, welding inverters are not demanding on the voltage level. Some models are capable of “pulling out” the electrode 3 mm even with a voltage of 150 volts. The operating voltage indicator is shown as a range of values ​​or a percentage of the margin of error. When operating from a gas generator, it is necessary to take into account significant voltage drops.

Run at maximum current or duty cycle (DC). This parameter is measured as a percentage. It indicates the duration of continuous operation at maximum current for a 10-minute cycle. If the device’s characteristics indicate a duty cycle of 40%, then at the maximum current level, it can work without interruption for 4 minutes. After that, you will need the remaining 6 minutes.

Additional functionality of inverters welding machine.

Welding inverters may have some additional functions. Their presence is not critical. However, it greatly simplifies the work with the device. 

Hot Start: This implies an increase in amperage for a few seconds during ignition. Thanks to this, it burns more stable, and therefore even a beginner can cope with ignition without problems. 

ARC Force – when the electrode approaches the metal surface of the workpiece, the current increases, which prevents it from sticking.

Anti Stick: If the tip of the electrode touches the workpiece, the current will stop. This allows it to be easily turn off the workpiece. If this does not happen, a short circuit will occur.