tecarc no longer make basic mig welders

[AdventuresInMetal]

While I somewhat agree with the keep it simple aspect. I do have to admit that for me personally going inverter based for MIG is probably one of the best decisions i've made, it makes for a much more portable machine and when away from home and limited to a 13A supply you can get a lot done without popping 13A fuses every 5 minutes. My little 160A inverter based mig has basically paid for itself in its first three little jobs away from home that I would of otherwise turned down due to hassle of loading a bigger transformer based MIG... If it fails in a few years I can't really argue, it paid for itself in weeks.

 

[john135]

I was informed by TBWS welding supplies that the legislation does not cover transformer based plasma cutters.

 

[gaz1]

I was informed by TBWS welding supplies that the legislation does not cover transformer based plasma cutters.

it then makes the legislation not fit, as from last reading its supposed to cover all transformer based devices

inverter based for MIG is probably one of the best decisions i've made, it makes for a much more portable machine and when away from home and limited to a 13A supply you can get a lot done without popping 13A fuses every 5 minutes.

it also makes the machine highly pinchable but that wont matter the insurance will pay it but only half its value

 

[gaz1]

uk is not energy efficient same with its steel imports

its sent abroad for other countrys to make it and then sits there complaining that that country isnt green enough when its our steel its making

the same can be said with transformer based gear it can be made in a different country as long as they are seen to be green every country does it

 

[john135]

Looking on oxford welders website they say they have made their plasma cutters more effcient to meet EU regs using the same transformers in them. So why could they have not done this with their old transformer based mig welders?.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Looking on oxford welders website they say they have made their plasma cutters more effcient to meet EU regs using the same transformers in them. So why could they have not done this with their old transformer based mig welders?.

At a guess I would say the difference is that their plasma cutters used a transformer in conjunction with inverter electronics, so probably quite efficient.
Whereas their mig was basically just a transformer with a few tappings and a contactor, so probably not very efficient.

 

[Munkul]

Plasma cutters run at much higher voltages than welders, so much lower current... And therefore less wasted heat/energy loss in the machine? My guess anyway.

 

[henry Kadzielski]

This is from the inside of my latest Fronius TPS320i.
What can go wrong with it
Double stacked PCB. And this is just the power/data section. HMI is separated.
View attachment 402900

Magnificent arn't they, work of art, then you need to fit the circuit boards for the push pull gun. Had to fit the push pull gun circuit board to my TPS2700, brilliant, just plug and play.
I have two of these now and one older 2700 'is good yah, is very good'.
I have to say this very quietly so they (Francis, Francesca and Francis's baby sister) don't hear me, are they good, flaming hell they are, worth every cent

 

[Jan-DIY]

These machines are the reference in welding technology here in Germany. The features are mostly software based upgrades. But also plug in hardware like push pull.
Unfortunately I did not get any response from Castolin to price my the PMC or LSC upgrade.

I’m for sure not a pro welder and only buy the TPSi because it was to cheap to let it go.
For what I am doing my old transformer are more than capable. But I’m curious in modern technology and trying to compare the new and old ones.

But tbh. if such a TPS fail primary you basically screwed because they managed to use custom designed igbt modules which are not available and are a really pita to exchange.

 

[Shox Dr]

The issue is obvious and still the same as it always was, reliability and repairablilty, Doesnt matter how good a machine is/was if it breaks, you cant fix it and it ends up in the bin.

BUT I'm not against inverters, as everyone says they're generally gonna be nicer machines than transformers, they are sometimes repairable, and if you have alot of money it doesnt matter anyhow as they effectively become disposable, if you do enough work with it and it makes you enough money it might not matter if you have to replace it every 5-10 years.

I think for alot of people thats a very hard pill to swallow, the idea of a new welder filled with unidentifiable surface mount components being effectively written off at any moment when it goes wrong vs old simplistic transformer machines that can be kicked back into life without much effort, even if they arent as nice to use or live with.

Maybe if tecarc and other manufacturers would release wiring and circuit diagrams inverters would be more repairable and less off putting for people used to transformer based machines

They wont mind as theres nothing in it for them.

LOL. That will never happen. Too much money to be made rippin people off... I was charged near 400quid to replace 2 resistors on a Kemppi a few yrs ago. I couldnt beleive the cost. Wouldnt give me a breakdown of the invoice. As it would have shown 40p for the parts and £399.60 for the labour

 

[Jan-DIY]

So this is only a comparison of traditional transformer based welding machines?
Yes. Transformer are more reliable than inverter. This is what the KISS method says. But inverter are more capable and a hell more effective.
So let’s have a look to comparable products. A welding machine is nothing more like an SMPS. So most of all are looking for reliability?
What is into your phone, TV, car.. eg.
all of these devices are on a base of maximum efficiency. So all are equipped with some sort of SMPS, HW SW design flaws.
As the switcher ic like uc38xx come across nearly all manufacturers changed over to SMPS. It got some pro and a less con.
So it is not that straight if someone telling you that you got a transformer or inverter based machine. The majority of these transformer also got a inverter inside which can be a power supply.
The law is straight to industrial users. As hobbyist are not per law forces to buy a inverter.

 

[Wedg1e]

LOL. That will never happen. Too much money to be made rippin people off... I was charged near 400quid to replace 2 resistors on a Kemppi a few yrs ago. I couldnt beleive the cost. Wouldnt give me a breakdown of the invoice. As it would have shown 40p for the parts and £399.60 for the labour

Oh come on Doc, you know the Britiish working man won't get out of bed for less than £150 an hour, which is what all of us engineery types get paid.
As my boss would say, it's not just the parts and time of the man doing the job, it's the lighting, heating, rates, paying for auditors from whichever accreditation scheme the company's in, the accounts staff, pensions, printing ink, IT support... yadda yadda.
Take away the frills of a corporate structure and we could all go back to barter: you fix my resistors and I'll service your wife, or whatever

As an electronics techie of some decades I've had the opportunity to repair both styles of welding equipment and if I had to keep my own kit going (and I do) it'd be the old-fangled every time - though of course I don't need to produce aerospace-grade welds.

Also, it's pointless saving money on the electricity bill if you then hand it all over to Joe Bloggs when yer resistors need changing...

 

[gaz1]

Oh come on Doc, you know the Britiish working man won't get out of bed for less than £150 an hour, which is what all of us engineery types get paid.

dwp dont state that as they expect you to apply for less than that amount

and if you refuse your sanctioned