Miller XMT welding cart

[Munkul]

I bought this welder nearly 2 years ago, and little did I know how good it would be. It's over 20 years old, but being a 3 phase inverter it's a gem of a machine for stick and MIG, as well as pulse MIG.

Only problem was, it had an obviously home-built cart, which was top heavy, didn't roll properly, and generally looked amatuerish.

I made a spool cover last year for it out of stainless.

 

[Munkul]

I decided on stainless steel for a frame, having picked up a load of offcuts, so 30mm x 1? box.

View attachment 221137

 

[Munkul]

I used my new slip rolls to make bottle hoops, a lot easier than doing it by hand like I've always done!
I also made some rails and a stop for the inverter unit to sit tightly.

 

[Munkul]

I made some vanity panels to hide the interconnect cables at the back of the cart.

I pulled the feeder apart to get the base out, and converted to the benchtop feeder into a swivel mounted one. It then got a lick of paint, because it was looking very tired after 20+ years of hard use!

 

[Munkul]

Mounted the feeder baseplate and re-assembled.

 

[Munkul]

I made a handle for the front - had some 32mm solid stainless bar, so radiused and cut some 30mm box to accept it.
This was a bit of a compromise - I had to make sure the feeder could swivel freely past the handle, with a downward angle on the feeder motor.

 

[Munkul]

Nearly finished... all assembled and ready to use again. It still looks a little hokey and not "shop bought", but it's a lot better than the old cart, and importantly, more practical.

I still have some hangers to make for the cables on the sides, and then I'll passivate all the welds.

 

[Munkul]

A couple of design considerations:
1. The space at the bottom has been sized deliberately for a water cooler - I have an old Migatronic water cooler unit that needs a pump fitted. When I'm feeling flush, I'll buy a new pump and a watercooled torch and get it all fitted, but it might be a long way off... it's an unneccesary luxury.
2. Two bottle spaces at the rear - for when I'm welding aluminium, I can just place the argon bottle on as well, save removing a bottle. It also means I can mix pure argon with argoshield to make a mixture suitable for stainless MIG.
3. I have a few holders to add still - MIG pliers, anti-spatter tin, and a gun holster, as well as a bracket to mount the Optima pulse pendant.

 

[Ashley Burton]

@Munkul looks good!

 

[Jim Davey]

I bought cheapo tec arc trolleys for all mine to save time but they are flimsy and need reinforcement if you intend to use full sized cylinders.

 

[Munkul]

I always liked the idea of the tecarc integrated coolers, but now seeing them in those photos makes them look quite a bit flimsier

 

[Jim Davey]

They are quite cheesy, and a proper sod to get at for maintenance/repair. Also they are very low so they ground out easily on ramps/bumps etc.
But you can’t really complain at the price I suppose.