R_tech mig help set up

[valkerf6c]

Hi Guys,
I need some help.
I,ve just bought a R -tech 180 mig welder, on the front panel it as 3 dials, 1 volts.2 wire speed. 3 amps..
I have tried to find out how to set it up using the volts and amp for welding 3mm mild steel with 0.6 wire.
Some of the welders I looked at before I purchased this unit just had a dial to a just the amps, this unit as both amps and volts.
If you can help me please explain it as you if we talking to an 8 year old as this is my first welder.

Thanks Joe

 

[AdrianH]

In MIG mode there are just two dials, Volts and wire feed.

In Stick mode then only the amps works as you are setting the current limit for stick welding


All there in the book.

Will add more in a min

Adrian

 

[AdrianH]

Here is a table I have formed from this post http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/r-tec-180-settings.52474/
especially Stephen McGarry's last post.

Also used information from the guy on youtube, Jody at weldingtipsandtricks.

It is what I am trying to use to set the wire feed first, then change the volts to get the desired effect.

Better add this is for 0.8mm wire!
Hope this helps

Adrian

 

[valkerf6c]

In MIG mode there are just two dials, Volts and wire feed.

In Stick mode then only the amps works as you are setting the current limit for stick welding


All there in the book.

Will add more in a min

Adrian

 

[valkerf6c]

I see, so amp= stick weld
Volts=mig weld +

Here is a table I have formed from this post http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/r-tec-180-settings.52474/
especially Stephen McGarry's last post.

Also used information from the guy on youtube, Jody at weldingtipsandtricks.

It is what I am trying to use to set the wire feed first, then change the volts to get the desired effect.

View attachment 71080

Hope this helps

Adrian

 

[valkerf6c]

Thanks for the info.

 

[AdrianH]

Yep, it is a basic starting point, can you tell I have the same machine, not tried it with stick yet.

When you flick the switch to MMA then the display reads amps setting and the amps dial will allow you to set your required current.

When you flick the switch to MIG, then the display is zero until you start welding in which case it will show the current supplied, so I guess if you were to follow a procedure which gave wire speed and amps, then after setting wire speed according to the dial you would have to fiddle with the volts, start to weld and get someone else to give an idea of what the current reading is!

Adrian

 

[doubleboost]

This may help

 

[valkerf6c]

Yep, it is a basic starting point, can you tell I have the same machine, not tried it with stick yet.

When you flick the switch to MMA then the display reads amps setting and the amps dial will allow you to set your required current.

When you flick the switch to MIG, then the display is zero until you start welding in which case it will show the current supplied, so I guess if you were to follow a procedure which gave wire speed and amps, then after setting wire speed according to the dial you would have to fiddle with the volts, start to weld and get someone else to give an idea of what the current reading is!

Adrian

Yep, it is a basic starting point, can you tell I have the same machine, not tried it with stick yet.

When you flick the switch to MMA then the display reads amps setting and the amps dial will allow you to set your required current.

When you flick the switch to MIG, then the display is zero until you start welding in which case it will show the current supplied, so I guess if you were to follow a procedure which gave wire speed and amps, then after setting wire speed according to the dial you would have to fiddle with the volts, start to weld and get someone else to give an idea of what the current reading is!

Adrian

So to start with I have to play about a little with the volt setting.
How do I know when I have the correct wire speed, or is that down to personal preference...Not yet tried the MMA, my unit didn't come the sick weld lead, would need to purchase one.
Thanks for your help, you'll probably be hearing from me again..and again and again,
LOL.

Cheers Ade.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I've recently bought one of these too, and am enjoying 'playing' with it. I saw on ordering that I'd have no MMA lead either so looked on eBay for one to fit, saw one at £26[is] compared to R-Tech equivalent at £39[ish iirc]. Phoned R-Tech and asked what the difference was and why I ought not to go for the eBay one. He explained that the cable'd be thinner and gave me the spec of theirs - he even offered to price match and sent it off with the welder.

I started off with MMA having been to practise that first until I could lay down decent beads, as I'd then find MIG easier. I had no idea if this was right but had a go and found that it was quite easy [once I worked out that I had to feed the stick in as I moved along

] I could lay down a bead on old computer case metal using 2.5mm rod successfully with the AMPS turned down - then I tried MIG and quickly got the hang of it. Not as scientific as the previous posters as I didn't keep notes [it's the excitement see...... ].

I'm using Argoshield Light I got from BOC using the 'Volkszone' offer -a very good deal and better imho than Hobbyweld.

A decent auto-mask is also essential, plus good gloves or gauntlets. Keep at it, they're great machines and their back-up is brilliant.

 

[valkerf6c]

Had a play with the mig on some 2mm angle iron,using BOC Gas..As I started to weld got my mate to turn up the volts, found a setting from this, but when I tried to weld again at the same setting it started to make a popping sound..Question? Is this because the volts are to high/low, wire speed to slow/fast or gas presure set incorrectly.
Any help please.

Cheers joe

 

[Shedendman]

3mm with 0.6 wire

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Apologies, I omitted to say I was using 0.8mm wire.

 

[AdrianH]

OK missed the bit about you using 0.6 wire. I tend to use 0.8 at the moment so the table I posted was for that size wire.

Here is a revised table with calcs for 0.6 wire as well.

Again all this is just a starting point you then fiddle to suit yourself I guess depending on travel speed, how far you hold the nozzle from work etc. I try to keep things between 6 and 12mm, probably closer to the shorter end if I can, but sometimes depending on work angles I find if I can't see the weld happening I go longer.

So in theory using 0.6 wire on 3mm you would have to use the wire speed dial between 8 and 9 and then adjust the volts to get the bacon sound, the wire speed is quite high and I would use 0.8 mm wire for that, do-able but would be harder in my mind. I would use 0.6 wire when doing up to 1.6mm perhaps.

Travel speeds of around 12 inches per minute if continuous.

These are all my guestimates as I am not a proper welder, just for fun at this end.

If you have not done so already read through the MIG tutorials and see if you get pointers from them.

Adrian

 

[ukracer]

Had a play with the mig on some 2mm angle iron,using BOC Gas..As I started to weld got my mate to turn up the volts, found a setting from this, but when I tried to weld again at the same setting it started to make a popping sound..Question? Is this because the volts are to high/low, wire speed to slow/fast or gas presure set incorrectly.
Any help please.

Cheers joe

As you are in Staffordshire I would ring R Tech and ask for Dylan Rob or Joe and ask for a few hours training. They will be happy to help out.

 

[skotl]

I've recently bought one of these too, and am enjoying 'playing' with it. I saw on ordering that I'd have no MMA lead either so looked on eBay for one to fit, saw one at £26[is] compared to R-Tech equivalent at £39[ish iirc]. Phoned R-Tech and asked what the difference was and why I ought not to go for the eBay one. He explained that the cable'd be thinner and gave me the spec of theirs - he even offered to price match and sent it off with the welder.

I started off with MMA having been to practise that first until I could lay down decent beads, as I'd then find MIG easier. I had no idea if this was right but had a go and found that it was quite easy [once I worked out that I had to feed the stick in as I moved along

] I could lay down a bead on old computer case metal using 2.5mm rod successfully with the AMPS turned down - then I tried MIG and quickly got the hang of it. Not as scientific as the previous posters as I didn't keep notes [it's the excitement see...... ].

I'm using Argoshield Light I got from BOC using the 'Volkszone' offer -a very good deal and better imho than Hobbyweld.

A decent auto-mask is also essential, plus good gloves or gauntlets. Keep at it, they're great machines and their back-up is brilliant.

That echoes my experience exactly;

R-Tech service is great; check
MMA - hey this is easy!; check
MIG - even easier!; check
Argoshield light from BOC on volkszone offer; check
Decent auto mask; check

If you are as good looking as me then we must be twins separated at birth

 

[slim_boy_fat]

If you are as good looking as me then we must be twins separated at birth

Better, even. . I have a brother in Dechmont - our paths might cross yet one day.

 

[valkerf6c]

OK missed the bit about you using 0.6 wire. I tend to use 0.8 at the moment so the table I posted was for that size wire.

Here is a revised table with calcs for 0.6 wire as well.

View attachment 71101

Again all this is just a starting point you then fiddle to suit yourself I guess depending on travel speed, how far you hold the nozzle from work etc. I try to keep things between 6 and 12mm, probably closer to the shorter end if I can, but sometimes depending on work angles I find if I can't see the weld happening I go longer.

So in theory using 0.6 wire on 3mm you would have to use the wire speed dial between 8 and 9 and then adjust the volts to get the bacon sound, the wire speed is quite high and I would use 0.8 mm wire for that, do-able but would be harder in my mind. I would use 0.6 wire when doing up to 1.6mm perhaps.

Travel speeds of around 12 inches per minute if continuous.

These are all my guestimates as I am not a proper welder, just for fun at this end.

If you have not done so already read through the MIG tutorials and see if you get pointers from them.

Adrian

That's a great help.Thanks Ade, it gives me a starting point now.The chart you posted looks helpful too, I'll let you now how I get on.
Thanks again. Joe

 

[Appyasme]

Hope it works

 

[Sparkey]

Had a play with the mig on some 2mm angle iron,using BOC Gas..As I started to weld got my mate to turn up the volts, found a setting from this, but when I tried to weld again at the same setting it started to make a popping sound..Question? Is this because the volts are to high/low, wire speed to slow/fast or gas presure set incorrectly.
Any help please.

Cheers joe

Hellloooo there! normally the popping sound as you descibe it means that your wirespeed is too fast for the voltage setting....either you: slow down the wirespeed, or: crank up the voltage. Your gasflow should be around 10 lpm for indoor use (liter per minute) but if you have incorrect gasflow you would see other results in your welding...(welds bubbling up for example) hope this helps!