ChristianHF
Member
I purchased a new Mig machine 2 weeks ago and have used it both this weekend and last. Last weekend it ran fine aside from occasionally it would act like the wire speed was suddenly slowing without any interaction with the control knob what so ever. Went through the usual diagnostics, didn't make any headway, asked on a few boards and it was suggested I check the liner. Pulled the liner a few days later, found it crushed slightly. So to keep my project going I went to the LWS and purchased another put it all back together and figured I had the problem solved.
So welding today was a little more frustrating. The machine would alternate between acceptable and very porous welds, almost like the gas was intermittently turning on and off. The gas was on the whole time, flow meter was set for 20 CF/Hour, every time the trigger was pulled (that I was watching) the flow meter ball would float up to the 20 CF/hour mark but the weld was behaving like there was no shielding gas. 75/25 argon/CO2 and the same bottle that was making clean, non porous welds last weekend. So again I started diagnosing, checked my ground, cleaned it down to bare metal and tried again. Same result. I checked that the machine end of the gun was seated fully, checked that the o-rings on that end were in tact and they were. Again, intermittent porous welds. I looked at the cable closely and noticed it appeared to have been crushed in the same spot as the liner. From what I could tell from what I was able to find on the internet it appears that the gas flows around the liner in the cable and I have to believe that this is now my problem. I have nothing in the shop that could have crushed either the liner or cable like this and I know to not walk on it or roll over it with anything, so I have to assume shipping damage.
Anyone think I am on the right track here or is there something else I should be checking? I want to make sure the problem isn't on my end before going back to the manufacturer with this. Thanks in advance for the help.
Chris.
So welding today was a little more frustrating. The machine would alternate between acceptable and very porous welds, almost like the gas was intermittently turning on and off. The gas was on the whole time, flow meter was set for 20 CF/Hour, every time the trigger was pulled (that I was watching) the flow meter ball would float up to the 20 CF/hour mark but the weld was behaving like there was no shielding gas. 75/25 argon/CO2 and the same bottle that was making clean, non porous welds last weekend. So again I started diagnosing, checked my ground, cleaned it down to bare metal and tried again. Same result. I checked that the machine end of the gun was seated fully, checked that the o-rings on that end were in tact and they were. Again, intermittent porous welds. I looked at the cable closely and noticed it appeared to have been crushed in the same spot as the liner. From what I could tell from what I was able to find on the internet it appears that the gas flows around the liner in the cable and I have to believe that this is now my problem. I have nothing in the shop that could have crushed either the liner or cable like this and I know to not walk on it or roll over it with anything, so I have to assume shipping damage.
Anyone think I am on the right track here or is there something else I should be checking? I want to make sure the problem isn't on my end before going back to the manufacturer with this. Thanks in advance for the help.
Chris.