Bernard Q150 mig gun for the miller 211

[BukitCase]

The way I interpreted Kevin's comments, it sounds like the manual settings won't be the same EITHER - you might wanna confirm that with Kevin or another Miller tech before spending the $$.

Or if it's an option, sell the 180 and replace it with the newer inverter MM211 - I have one and it's rated for a 15' gun. Bought it for places my MM252 doesn't like to go. Warning - Miller will NOT let you order the 211 WITH a 15' gun, you need to buy that separately... Steve

[Twodollardoug]

Joey,

The major change that was made to allow for the 15' guns was the drive motor itself. You could install the new style motor in an older unit but it will affect the wire speed so the auto-set feature would not work properly (to much wire speed) and the door chart parameters would be off as well.

Kevin

I hate to bring up an old thread but do you happen to know the part number of the drive motor you are referring to? I want to replace my drive motor so I can use a 15ft gun. I don't use autoset, so messing up the autoset settings won't bother me at all.

[aametalmaster]

So you did the touchy feeling thing and still bought one. Hmmm. The gun should be fine. I have run the same gun with zero issues and the neck sure doesn't bubble. But watch the duty cycle. It isn't made for all day blasting 1/4" plate like some people prob use it for. Grounds are cheap and many styles avail so pick one you like. Having a welder with a stock ground is like having a Harley with the orig exhaust. The gun choice is yours too. Just remember some guns take higher dollar replacement parts like contact tips and nozzles. Just my thoughts. Enjoy...Bob

[Noganav]

Would like to re open this discussion. Just received my new 211 today with the included M-100 torch. It looks fine for low amp use but I am not convinced it is my preference for 1/4 and above. The gun looks small and toyish, It would look more convincing if the also included ground clamp was not so small and so cheaply made that it belongs on a H freight unit. In reading up on the users of the new 211 it has been mentioned that the torch gets "very very hot" hot enough to bubble the finish on the neck when welding at the top of the range of the 211. This to me is unacceptable on a Miller purchase.

The welder itself shows a tremendous amount of engineering with its many top state of the art features. I would like to buy a replacement 250 amp gun that will fit, to use with the welder when in the upper heat ranges. There seems to be several companies offering higher amp torches for the 211. Are there any recommendations?
I would also like to say that customers certainly weigh the "performance" of a welder, how it welds, setting it up, wire feed smoothness, etc, Which the 211 hits a home run with, BUT, what we hold in our hands, the tactile stuff, the torch, the ground clamp, the dials on the machine, incorporate a great deal of the experience in evaluating quality. To use a dime store ground clamp on a $1100 name brand welder is a really bad MARKETING decision. The torch as well does not feel substantial, it is obvious that Miller has cut it down to the bare minimum, most likely running the costs against the warranty formula. It may work in most cases and fit the equation but it feels cheap.

[Miller Kevin]

The door chart didn't change the software was adjusted to compensate for the increased speed.The motor calibration would not allow for enough adjustability to compensate for the motor change. You can put the new style motor in the older units but you would have to live with the issues it will cause.

[joey2589]

so in theory if you replace the old drive motor with the new style and ordered a new door sticker, using the new door chart settings would work? which would just leave the auto-set feature affected? is it even possible to re calibrate the wire feed system?

[Miller Kevin]

They did not change the drive circuit as the motor is basically the same as the old one electrically. The major change was mechanical to address the side load stress on the motor shaft. With the side load stress reduced the motor runs faster than its predecessor which is why the Auto-Set feature and door chart settings are affected on the older units.

Kevin

[Aeronca41]

Miller Kevin, no change to the driver electronics required? As an old reliability engineer, I always worry when the same controller drives something bigger than it used to.

[joey2589]

Joey,

The major change that was made to allow for the 15' guns was the drive motor itself. You could install the new style motor in an older unit but it will affect the wire speed so the auto-set feature would not work properly (to much wire speed) and the door chart parameters would be off as well.

Kevin

well darn, that would of been a sweet upgrade for us folk with the older machines.

[Miller Kevin]

Joey,

The major change that was made to allow for the 15' guns was the drive motor itself. You could install the new style motor in an older unit but it will affect the wire speed so the auto-set feature would not work properly (to much wire speed) and the door chart parameters would be off as well.

Kevin

[joey2589]

Could i swap out the motor drives from 211 and upgrade .id like to be able to run a 15 whip with out problems.

i 2nd this question! is it possable to change out the drive system in the 140's,180's,211's to the newer version? cost aside im currious if it can be done.

[mbramble]

Thanks, Kevin. I see I have the old style......

[Miller Kevin]

Mike, yes there is a serial number cut off, ME031070N.

[mbramble]

ASW,

There are 2 different versions of drive systems used in the Multimatic 200. The early ones were the same as the Millermatic 140, 180 and 211 so a 12' gun max would be my suggestion on those.

A change was made in early 2013 and they coverted to the same drive system that we are now using in the 141 and 190 so a 15' gun is usable on those models.

Kevin,
How does one tell if they have the newer or older version of drive systems in their MM200?? Can you tell by serial # -- or how??

Thanks,
Mike

[asw01]

Thanks! I appreciate the info. It should be the newer version, as it just arrived last week. For now I'll leave it alone, but at some point I'll want to switch it out.

ASW, There are 2 different versions of drive systems used in the Multimatic 200. The early ones were the same as the Millermatic 140, 180 and 211 so a 12' gun max would be my suggestion on those. A change was made in early 2013 and they coverted to the same drive system that we are now using in the 141 and 190 so a 15' gun is usable on those models.