Question about duty cycle

[Big Barn]

Terry, you do know they make a adapter to use annular cutters in a drill press. My large craftsman actually has a 3/4 chuck I can put a annular cutter into.

Yes, Bill I know. I have a Morse taper to 3/4 Weldon adapter for my big drill press. Don't think I'll bother with one for that little excuse of a drill press with "supposed" 1/4 HP motor.

If I lived closer, I'm sure Steve would let me break in his new mag drill.

Terry

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Lincoln are the ones who came up weldor to distinguish the difference between a machine and the person using it. It can be confusing sometimes. It doesn't matter what duty cycle a machine has if the person using it has a lower duty cycle.

Haha! I've got a cousin that between drinking beer and talking, he's only good for about 10% duty cycle while working - a welder for him could be really small and underpowered - may never even get turned on

 

[Sodo]

Thanks Gary I shall never type weldor again, unless the context does not carry the meaning. Also sounds like "duty cycle" may have run its course too (at least on a tractor sub-forum).

 

[Shield Arc]

Lincoln are the ones who came up weldor to distinguish the difference between a machine and the person using it. It can be confusing sometimes.

I read that some where too. I've also read where people had paper worked rejected by the engineer of record for using the term weldor.

 

[paulharvey]

Thanks Gary I shall never type weldor again, unless the context does not carry the meaning. Also sounds like "duty cycle" may have run its course too (at least on a tractor sub-forum).

I just wouldn't want something that had a 10% (or less!) Duty cycle at the amps I would use. That's probably a single rod, maybe two; then sitting there for 9 minutes, that's no fun.

 

[Sodo]

I just wouldn't want something that had a 10% (or less!) Duty cycle at the amps I would use. That's probably a single rod, maybe two; then sitting there for 9 minutes, that's no fun.

My welder is an inverter-type, and it has a cooling fan that turns on when needed. Maybe that makes a difference. I agree that 10% might me an indicator of "something,,,,,"

I stopped by my LWS and told my Miler salesman about my experience with the 20% MultiMatic200 (that he sold me).

He repeated the general rule where with a 20% rating, you can weld for two minutes at the top power setting (3/8" thickness), then you have to let the machine cool for eight minutes.

He said that he would expect that on the settings I was using (3/16" thickness settings)- that weld time would be about 4 minutes. For example weld for four minutes then let it cool for eight minutes. He was quite surprised that I welded for 25 minutes and quizzed me hard about how much time I stopped - going to the next weld. I stopped as long as it takes to move, to the next weld, maybe 1 second or two. I was testing ya' know, like a marathon. It was pretty much 25 minutes continuous welding. I would not weld like that intentionally (except sometimes its getting dark, which seems to happen often!).

I think what Mark@Everlast wrote tells it how it is - that it's marketing driven. When you see the amount of "weight" that buyers (even hobby/maintenance) put on duty-cycle, a MFR would be foolish not to tap into that desire. You don't spend marketing money educating people, you spend it wisely by tapping into what the customer is already educated to accept. It becomes a requirement when all the other mfrs are doing it, they can't NOT do it, they must enter the arms race with the biggest number that won't cause warranty trouble.

Shield Arc mentions he hasn't come up against duty cycle problems, but he's using industrial machines. But in any case he only mentions an engine problem, not actual welder shutdown. Is anybody having duty-cycle problems with Harbor Freight machines? I believe they are 10%. If the machine does not have over-temp protection perhaps it's not wise to test it though.

I'm still interested in bona-fide duty-cycle stories, using a MODERN welding machine that has a current rating, cuz crickets are chirping!

 

[BukitCase]

"For example weld for four minutes then let it cool for eight minutes"

Sodo, not to get too picky (yeah, right :laughing: ) but the one constant between mfg's is that duty cycle (whether truth or lies) is based on number of minutes per 10 minute period - so 20% would be 2 minutes out of 10, 40% would be 4 minutes out of 10, etc...

I'm thinking that since western Washington is even wetter than western Ory-gun, you probably had the MM200 out in the rain, so it was water cooled (no wonder you never hit the duty cycle :laughing:

Seriously tho, I ran the numbers on 3/16 vs. 3/8, and actual WATTAGE output is pretty close to double - guess it's still a mystery, or maybe Miller just wasn't playing the same numbers game others do... Steve

 

[Sodo]

If the thermal protection takes 8 minutes to reset after blowing off at 2 minutes, how does it decide to cool down in only 6 minutes after blowing off at 4?

Seriously tho, I ran the numbers on 3/16 vs. 3/8, and actual WATTAGE output is pretty close to double - guess it's still a mystery, or maybe Miller just wasn't playing the same numbers game others do... Steve

Whats a mystery to me, is ,,,,,, look at this welding sub-forum of a tractor forum. There's not much going on, really. Yet a significant number of members honestly think they might out-weld their machines. When? Lets see the projects then! What are you guys doing out there, are ya holding out on the forum? If y'all gonna worry about duty cycle lets see some DUTY! Hahahahahaha

Hey it would be a little more interesting than just coming to the forum to see if anybody's squabbling over something. Teach a kid some tricks. Make a tool for the shop, theres plenty to do and you guys have some wicked shops! But if ya wanna talk about duty cycle you have to build a 5th wheel trailer under the gun or something,,,,weld like a sumbitch!

Just kidding. You can just come here to beat down Sodo too :laughing:

Sodo don't care, whenever he's out in the woods he's having a good old time! (see those Ponderosas Steve it aint raining )

 

[muddstopper]

Sodo, I got a pretty serious project going on right now (at least for me). My problem is finding the time to actually hit the duty cycle of my welder. Right now I have been in the gathering stage. Doing some fabricating, Mostly cutting and drilling. When it comes time for the welding, I'll start posting a few pics.

 

[firemanmike69]

Miller Is usually pretty good about having a chart with the welder in the manual or online showing the duty cycle vs amps/volts for the entire output range of the machine