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Hello to all,
I recently received an email inquiring about inverters and transformer type welders. This person has seen this information on a "reputable website: "Transformer machines have better wetting action for MIG welding than do inverters hands down. The industry is pushing inverters at the expense of weld quality".
What does anybody think about this? Following is my response:
I have never really considered the wetting action of a transformer machine versus an inverter machine. However, I can relate to real welding experiences and let you take it from there. I have welded with transformer machines much longer than inverters, but all around prefer the inverters:
They are much more portable, will run on most any input supply, easy on the electric meter, and I like the arc better. This is my personal preference.
Precluding these experiences is basic theory of operation. A transformer machines uses AC line voltage oscillating (AC sine wave crossing form negative to positive) at 60 cycles per second or Hertz (HZ) named for the gentleman you discovered the phenomena. Inverters multiply this 60HZ incoming power many times to a much higher frequency yielding higher current output in smaller machines, inherently different arc characteristics, and ease of use (learning curve).
About 5 years ago I mainly did light shop fabrication and used a Miller XMT 304 (inverter) with a Miller 22 wire feeder (the predecessor to the current 22A model. This machine had and INDUCTANCE knob for the MIG which made the puddle more fluid as you increased the inductance. In the stick mode this became the dig control and increased the arc force for hard to burn rods like the 6010. With that being said I mostly kept the inductance knob on the low side around 1/4 turn up. If I went any higher the puddle was too fluid! I did crank it midway once burning 309SS rods when welding 304 SS flat bar to some A36 carbon steel.
My mobile welding is done with a Trailblazer 301G. It has a 4 pole 3 phase arc which for this comparison it's arc is 120HZ or twice that of a transformer or more basic engine drive (like the Bobcat 225NT). I used to weld with a Bobcat (typically like a 60HZ arc output) and for me the Trailblazer arc wins hands down.
Here's my conclusion based on experience. The transformer machines weld well. However, if you are new to the industry I suggest you try both before buying. I believe the inverters are the way to go for me. The XMT 304 has one of cleanest easiest burning arcs of any machine I have ever used including the old Miller TS252 which they have just discontinued this year. It was an awesome MIG transformer power source with tapped slopes (relative to inductance for sake of comparison). I don't think Miller makes any adjustable slope machines anymore. The closest thing I have found is adjustable inductance on some of the inverters.
Think about this. Miller keeps coming out with bigger and more power efficient inverters like the Invision 456 MP MIG/STICK machine at 600 amp output and 450 amps at 100% duty cycle on 3 phase power or the Invision 456P MIG only with similar output: 450 @ 100% and 565 amps at 60% duty cycle. All these inverter machines are capable of high amperage output with high arc voltage as well. This tells me the wetting action is excellent.
The statements made about inverters and transformer machines may be true if you are talking about the first inverters to hit the market. They had bugs to be worked out. Now the bugs are out and they are great machines. As a side note all portable plasma cutters like the Miller 625, 2050, 3080 ; Hypertherm Powermax 600, 1000 ; ESAB 650, 875, 1150(not sure of this model number) are all inverter machines. My guess is the wave of the future.
I recently received an email inquiring about inverters and transformer type welders. This person has seen this information on a "reputable website: "Transformer machines have better wetting action for MIG welding than do inverters hands down. The industry is pushing inverters at the expense of weld quality".
What does anybody think about this? Following is my response:
I have never really considered the wetting action of a transformer machine versus an inverter machine. However, I can relate to real welding experiences and let you take it from there. I have welded with transformer machines much longer than inverters, but all around prefer the inverters:
They are much more portable, will run on most any input supply, easy on the electric meter, and I like the arc better. This is my personal preference.
Precluding these experiences is basic theory of operation. A transformer machines uses AC line voltage oscillating (AC sine wave crossing form negative to positive) at 60 cycles per second or Hertz (HZ) named for the gentleman you discovered the phenomena. Inverters multiply this 60HZ incoming power many times to a much higher frequency yielding higher current output in smaller machines, inherently different arc characteristics, and ease of use (learning curve).
About 5 years ago I mainly did light shop fabrication and used a Miller XMT 304 (inverter) with a Miller 22 wire feeder (the predecessor to the current 22A model. This machine had and INDUCTANCE knob for the MIG which made the puddle more fluid as you increased the inductance. In the stick mode this became the dig control and increased the arc force for hard to burn rods like the 6010. With that being said I mostly kept the inductance knob on the low side around 1/4 turn up. If I went any higher the puddle was too fluid! I did crank it midway once burning 309SS rods when welding 304 SS flat bar to some A36 carbon steel.
My mobile welding is done with a Trailblazer 301G. It has a 4 pole 3 phase arc which for this comparison it's arc is 120HZ or twice that of a transformer or more basic engine drive (like the Bobcat 225NT). I used to weld with a Bobcat (typically like a 60HZ arc output) and for me the Trailblazer arc wins hands down.
Here's my conclusion based on experience. The transformer machines weld well. However, if you are new to the industry I suggest you try both before buying. I believe the inverters are the way to go for me. The XMT 304 has one of cleanest easiest burning arcs of any machine I have ever used including the old Miller TS252 which they have just discontinued this year. It was an awesome MIG transformer power source with tapped slopes (relative to inductance for sake of comparison). I don't think Miller makes any adjustable slope machines anymore. The closest thing I have found is adjustable inductance on some of the inverters.
Think about this. Miller keeps coming out with bigger and more power efficient inverters like the Invision 456 MP MIG/STICK machine at 600 amp output and 450 amps at 100% duty cycle on 3 phase power or the Invision 456P MIG only with similar output: 450 @ 100% and 565 amps at 60% duty cycle. All these inverter machines are capable of high amperage output with high arc voltage as well. This tells me the wetting action is excellent.
The statements made about inverters and transformer machines may be true if you are talking about the first inverters to hit the market. They had bugs to be worked out. Now the bugs are out and they are great machines. As a side note all portable plasma cutters like the Miller 625, 2050, 3080 ; Hypertherm Powermax 600, 1000 ; ESAB 650, 875, 1150(not sure of this model number) are all inverter machines. My guess is the wave of the future.
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