New toy

[mattg]

Hello everyone.
Well, yesterday was a cracking day- came across a lot of interesting stuff going free- pipe threading stuff, block and tackle, motors, valves and a load of sciency type stuff. The gems however were a bridgeport machine head and this:



The block and tackle came in handy getting it out of the van! Its quite heavy, air cooled and lacking a mains inlet lead but apart from that seems intact (not obiously set itself on fire or anything...). Got the leads for it as well- hopefully will be able to test it soon. Any good advice for testing it safely? turn on mains and stand back with a fire extinguisher? what kind of resistance should be measured across the coils?
Anyone know much about 'quasi-arc'?
Cheers, matt

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Hi Matt,

Firstly I know nothing about the older machines and very little about newer machine, but something struck me as odd... It's says that the machine has a primary voltage (input) of 190 Volts, but I can't read the other number after that. Can you tell us what the second number is please as it's a bit blurred in the photograph.

I can see that it has an Open Circuit Voltage (no load) of 60 Volts, better than my modern cheapy.

Regards,

Ian.

ps: I reposted your photographs as they were scaled down too much on my screen, hope you don't mind.

 

[aero]

That'll be a range of input voltages, from 190 to what ever.

Not come across one of these, looks to be a good machine. I though Quasi arc were supposed to be bloody excellent.

 

[wyn]

Hello mattg,

I used one of those a good few years ago. I think it was a tidy welder, can't remember too much about it now. A bit noisey maybe.

 

[madkayaker]

my light-arc has a 180V input as well as 240V and 415V. I thing 190V ish is probably the old continental single phase. To test you need a PAT or a insulation resistance tester and test between windings and case and earth to case.

 

[rtbcomp]

.........I thing 190V ish is probably the old continental single phase. .......

Did they use 50 c/s on the continent?

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Did they use 50 c/s on the continent?

I believe so, 60Hz is mostly a North American thing - mind you, I'm no sparky.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[madkayaker]

50 most places excerpt USA. 60hz will work on 50Hz but not the other way round

 

[Drains]

mattg, you lucky bugger. Was that the Uni skipping stuff. I've seen allsorts of things go in the skip at Kings Buildings

 

[mattg]

You can use from 190 to 480 volts, just connect to different taps on the primary.

haha, yep you're right drains- right place at the right time, always pays to keep your eyes open! Im studying up there so lunch time is perfect for a bit of foraging- they always have somthing to keep you entertained.

 

[snowcat]

I had two 500 amp oil cooled quasis once, There both on permanent loan these days, good kit, mine had a full sized 240v light bulb on top as the power on indicator, reminded me of Frankensteins monster, I'm guessing mine were 50s made at the newest.....weld nicely they just took up the room of two battleships so they had to go.....

 

[dopplershift]

Mattg, sounds like a good haul! Nice looking machine; im sure its built like a tank!

And it always amazes me what Unis throw out... I've picked up Oscilloscopes, Signal generators, 19" monitors, pumps and all manner of scrap steel from the Physics Department bins!

 

[mattg]

Just to drag this thread out of the darkness- this welder was stolen, so if anyone comes across it let me know- I can send you the nice brass handles that change the settings

Never even got to try it

Matt

 

[NTwoO]

Sorry to hear that it was stolen... I just saw this thread for the first time. My father had a Quasi-arc that he gave to one of his mates who has an earth moving company. It originally came from the ship yards in Cape Town. My father's mate's workers are very happy with this machine. The machine is much bigger than this one, though. It had 6 wheels and pulled a regular pick-up deep into its haunches.