wrinx
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You don't need any adaptors, they changed the spool holder arrangement; plug the thing in & weld
Could you confirm if the pictures above are of the "changed" spool please?
wrinx
- Thread starter Leedsutd
- Start date
Could you confirm if the pictures above are of the "changed" spool please?
wrinx
mirafioriman
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- 67
I had exactly the same problem with mine and bought the adaptor from weldequip like in the pictures above.
I can't understand how it can work correctly with a 5Kg reel. The wire runs at an accute angle and on mine jammed and tangled causing my first proper job to suffer due to the stuttering wire feed.
I bought the Portamig to replace an SIP machine so wasn't impressed when this happened!
I can't understand how it can work correctly with a 5Kg reel. The wire runs at an accute angle and on mine jammed and tangled causing my first proper job to suffer due to the stuttering wire feed.
I bought the Portamig to replace an SIP machine so wasn't impressed when this happened!
Leedsutd
Mad welder up North
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Missing spacers
Guess so, I made one from one of those round plastic cases you get 20 blank cd's in, just cut two holes and a hole for the drive lug. It will do until I can get some of the proper spacers (they should have come with the machine if it was unmodified) but not what I expected from the reputation Steve has on here. to be honest he may have been informed that they had been modified after a certain date and ours managed to slip through prior to that, but would have expected some sort of explanation rather than "plug it in and weld" which wasn't helpful as I couldn't!
Guess so, I made one from one of those round plastic cases you get 20 blank cd's in, just cut two holes and a hole for the drive lug. It will do until I can get some of the proper spacers (they should have come with the machine if it was unmodified) but not what I expected from the reputation Steve has on here. to be honest he may have been informed that they had been modified after a certain date and ours managed to slip through prior to that, but would have expected some sort of explanation rather than "plug it in and weld" which wasn't helpful as I couldn't!
octo0072000
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weldequip
hope you enjoyed the book
remember steve wont see the welder it comes direct from tec arc send him a pm hes it not allways on here a busy manGuess so, I made one from one of those round plastic cases you get 20 blank cd's in, just cut two holes and a hole for the drive lug. It will do until I can get some of the proper spacers (they should have come with the machine if it was unmodified) but not what I expected from the reputation Steve has on here. to be honest he may have been informed that they had been modified after a certain date and ours managed to slip through prior to that, but would have expected some sort of explanation rather than "plug it in and weld" which wasn't helpful as I couldn't!
hope you enjoyed the book
malfazer
always first at being last
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Reading this thred with interest have had a 185 about a month now same spool as one in your pictures.
Never had a go with a 5kg reel just 15 .but going to try one .if it works fine but if not will be getting on to tec arc .don't think its on to advertise machine as ok with both sizes and then tell you after purchase that you will need adapter set
Never had a go with a 5kg reel just 15 .but going to try one .if it works fine but if not will be getting on to tec arc .don't think its on to advertise machine as ok with both sizes and then tell you after purchase that you will need adapter set
mirafioriman
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I was told that an adaptor set wasn't needed but experience showed otherwise!
Sorry, just picked up on this, although it would help if I got info first hand rather than second hand... like a phone call, email, PM
Here goes the story!...
Earlier style spool holders were threaded just the first couple of inches (as is the norm), so when the retaining nut was screwed down it would fit flush against a 15Kg industrial spool of wire but not a medium size 5Kg spool of wire, causing the 5Kg spools to slide around and 'birds nestings'. Headache. Sourced a suitable spacer kit to do the job. Used to sell the spacer kit as an option on the Portamig listing page. They then changed the spool holder (un-beknown to me!
) circa April 2012. Removed the 5Kg spacer kit as an essential option.
First I knew was a customer mailing me a picture.
The new spool holder is threaded a lot further down so the retaining nut fits up flush against a 5Kg size spool - keeping it on the retaining peg at the back of the holder - thus preventing the spool to slide around & wire tangling
Doesn't 'look' right, as the wire pick up angle is accute, but the guide tube is fully flexible into the feed rollers so it shouldn't be a problem.
They assure me it works, I have yet to physically try the new holder .
Here goes the story!...
Earlier style spool holders were threaded just the first couple of inches (as is the norm), so when the retaining nut was screwed down it would fit flush against a 15Kg industrial spool of wire but not a medium size 5Kg spool of wire, causing the 5Kg spools to slide around and 'birds nestings'. Headache. Sourced a suitable spacer kit to do the job. Used to sell the spacer kit as an option on the Portamig listing page. They then changed the spool holder (un-beknown to me!
) circa April 2012. Removed the 5Kg spacer kit as an essential option. First I knew was a customer mailing me a picture.
The new spool holder is threaded a lot further down so the retaining nut fits up flush against a 5Kg size spool - keeping it on the retaining peg at the back of the holder - thus preventing the spool to slide around & wire tangling
Doesn't 'look' right, as the wire pick up angle is accute, but the guide tube is fully flexible into the feed rollers so it shouldn't be a problem.
They assure me it works, I have yet to physically try the new holder .
mirafioriman
Member
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- 67
My experience was that the wire feed being at such an acute angle caused the wire feed to stutter and jam. With the adaptor kit I got it now feeds smoothly and consistently.
mirafioriman
Member
- Messages
- 67
The wire was 0.6mm and is made by lincoln. The problem occured when the wire was coming from the inner side of the spool. This made the angle just too much and it sort of trapped itself and prevented it feeding correctly. I got and fitted the adaptor kit from Weldequip and now with the centre of the reel being in line with the feed, when it feeds from either side of the reel the angle is much less and the problem hasn't happened.
Pictures
Before:
After:
Pictures
Before:
After:
Just thought I'd chime in on this one. I've recently got a Britarc 241 which has the same spindle design as the Portamigs. I've probably only used it for a couple hours, but I think it's a case of getting the tension right on the spindle nut.
I've set it so the wire is under as little tension as possible. There's just enough tension that the reel can't bird nest itself, but that's it.
You can see in my first pic that there's basically no tension on the cable. It's nice and loose. I think you want the spindle nut to just brush the reel (if that).
Even coming from the other side of the reel, I've not had any snagging/stuttering issues. As weldequip said, the old design needed the spacer as it wasn't threaded as far down. This new design doesn't as it's threaded far enough down that you can get the spindle nut to touch the reel.
If I can get it working, anyone can
I've set it so the wire is under as little tension as possible. There's just enough tension that the reel can't bird nest itself, but that's it.
You can see in my first pic that there's basically no tension on the cable. It's nice and loose. I think you want the spindle nut to just brush the reel (if that).
Even coming from the other side of the reel, I've not had any snagging/stuttering issues. As weldequip said, the old design needed the spacer as it wasn't threaded as far down. This new design doesn't as it's threaded far enough down that you can get the spindle nut to touch the reel.
If I can get it working, anyone can
). 