Hello all, I am an amateur stick welder with a cheapie IGBT inverter machine. I have always had trouble adjusting the amps setting for a good compromise between ease of arc starting and a setting that doesn't burn through the work. By experimentation I have found that a (indicated) current of about 100 A using 1/8th rods works best for me and, a higher current of 150 or so provides easier starting/less sticking.
I don't believe my welder has the so-called "arc start" feature (or at least it doesn't act like it) but it occurred to me that a mod could be added to the welder amp adjust knob to set it to high amps for starting and then immediately turn it down to a more suitable level for the welding itself.
What I did was attach a small servo motor, to the end of the amps adjust knob, which is controlled by an Arduino microprocessor and a joy-stick type button mounted on the stinger (where it can be adjusted by thumb motion). I have it programmed to turn the knob to a high amp setting on button push and return to the lower setting on button release once the arc is started. I also programmed it to move to a lower setting in increments by moving the button left and similarily increasing by moving it to the right.
I know this may sound kind of silly to perhaps more experienced welders but it nevertheless provides a relatively easy method of adding arc start to a stick welder if it is needed. I can provide more detail if anyone is interested in trying it.
I don't believe my welder has the so-called "arc start" feature (or at least it doesn't act like it) but it occurred to me that a mod could be added to the welder amp adjust knob to set it to high amps for starting and then immediately turn it down to a more suitable level for the welding itself.
What I did was attach a small servo motor, to the end of the amps adjust knob, which is controlled by an Arduino microprocessor and a joy-stick type button mounted on the stinger (where it can be adjusted by thumb motion). I have it programmed to turn the knob to a high amp setting on button push and return to the lower setting on button release once the arc is started. I also programmed it to move to a lower setting in increments by moving the button left and similarily increasing by moving it to the right.
I know this may sound kind of silly to perhaps more experienced welders but it nevertheless provides a relatively easy method of adding arc start to a stick welder if it is needed. I can provide more detail if anyone is interested in trying it.