MK Products COBRAMIG 300, Owner'S Manual, Page: 3 / 36

Cobra
®
MX Owner's Manual -
Page i
CobraMig
® 300
Owner's Manual - Page I
1-1 INTRODUCTION
This equipment is intended for ultimate
application by commercial/industrial
users and for operation by persons
trained and experienced in the use and
maintenance of welding equipment.
Operation should not be undertaken
without adequate training in the use of
such equipment. Training is available
from many public and private schools or
similar facilities.
Safe practices in the installation,
operation and maintenance of this
equipment requires proper training in
the art, a careful study of the information
provided with the equipment, and the
use of common sense. Rules for safe
use are generally provided by suppliers
of welding power sources, compressed
gas suppliers, and electrode suppliers.
Careful compliance with these rules will
promote safe use of this equipment.
The following Safety Rules cover some
of the more generally found situations.
READ THEM CAREFULLY. In case of
any doubt, obtain qualified help before
proceeding.
1-2 GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
A. Burn Prevention
ELECTRIC ARC WELDING PRODUCES
H I G H I N T E N S I T Y H E AT A N D
ULTRAVIOLET RADIANT ENERGY
WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS AND
PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE AND
WHICH MAY DAMAGE ANY EXPOSED
SKIN AREAS.
Wear helmet with safety goggles or
glasses with side shields underneath,
appropriate filter lenses or plates
(protected by clear cover glass). This is a
must for welding or cutting (and chipping)
to protect the eyes from radiant energy
and flying metal. Replace cover glass
when broken, pitted, or spattered.
Medical first aid and eye treatment.
First aid facilities and a qualified first aid
person should be available for each shift
unless medical facilities are close by for
immediate treatment of flash burns of the
eyes and skin burns.
Wear protective clothing - leather (or
asbestos) gauntlet gloves, hat, and high
safety-toe shoes. Button shirt collar and
pocket flaps, and wear cuffless trousers
to avoid entry of sparks and slag.
Avoid oily or greasy clothing. A spark
may ignite them.
Flammable hair preparations should not
be used by persons intending to weld
or cut.
Hot metal such as electrode stubs and
work pieces should never be handled
without gloves.
Ear plugs should be worn when working
on overhead or in a confined space. A
hard hat should be worn when others
work overhead.
B. Toxic Fume Prevention
WARNING: The use of this product may
result in exposure to chemicals known
to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other reproductive
harm.
Adequate ventilation. Severe discomfort,
illness or death can result from fumes,
vapors, heat, or oxygen enrichment or
depletion that welding (or cutting) may
produce. Prevent them with adequate
ventilation. NEVER ventilate with
oxygen.
Lead-, cadmium-, zinc-, mercury-,
beryllium-bearing and similar materials,
when welded or cut, may produce harmful
concentrations of toxic fumes. Adequate
local exhaust ventilation must be used,
or each person in the area, as well as
the operator, must wear an air-supplied
respirator. For beryllium, both must be
used.
Metals coated with or containing
materials that emit toxic fumes should
not be heated unless coating is removed
form the work surface, the area is well
ventilated, or the operator wears an air-
supplied respirator.
Work in a confined space only while it is
being ventilated and, if necessary, while
wearing an air-supplied respirator.
Gas leaks in a confined space should be
avoided. Leaked gas in large quantities
can change oxygen concentration
dangerously. Do not bring gas cylinders
into a confined space.
Leaving confined space, shut OFF gas
supply at source to prevent possible
accumulation of gases in the space
if downstream valves have been
accidentally opened or left open. Check
to be sure that the space is safe before
reentering it.
Vapors from chlorinated solvents can
be decomposed by the heat of the arc
(or flame) to form PHOSGENE, a highly
toxic gas, and other lung and eye irritating
products. The ultraviolet (radiant)
energy of the arc can also decompose
trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene
vapors to form phosgene. DO NOT
WELD or cut where solvent vapors can
be drawn into the welding or cutting
atmosphere or where the radiant energy
can penetrate to atmospheres containing
even minute amounts of trichloroethylene
or perchloroethylene.
C. Fire and Explosion Prevention
Causes of fire and explosion are:
combustibles reached by the arc, flame,
flying sparks, hot slag, or heated material,
misuse of compressed gases and
cylinders, and short circuits.
BE AWARE THAT flying sparks or falling
slag can pass through cracks, along
pipes, through windows or doors, and
through wall or floor openings, out of sight
of the goggled operator. Sparks can fly
many feet.
To prevent fires and explosion:
Keep equipment clean and operable, free
of oil, grease, and (in electrical parts) of
metallic particles that can cause short
circuits.
If combustibles are in area, do NOT weld
or cut. Move the work if practicable, to
an area free of combustibles. Avoid paint
spray rooms, dip tanks, storage areas,
ventilators. If the work cannot be moved,
move combustibles at least 35 feet away,
out of reach of sparks and heat; or protect
against ignition with suitable and snug-
fitting, fire-resistant covers or shields.
Walls touching combustibles on opposite
sides should not be welded on (or cut).
Walls, ceilings, and floor near work
should be protected by heat-resistant
covers or shields.
Fire watcher must be standing by with
suitable fire extinguishing equipment
during and for some time after welding
or cutting if:
1. Appreciable combustibles (including
building construction) are within 35 feet.
2. Appreciable combustibles are further
than 35 feet, but can be ignited by sparks.
3. Openings (concealed or visible) in
floors or walls within 35 feet may expose
combustibles to sparks.
4. Combustibles adjacent to walls,
ceilings, roofs, or metal partitions can
be ignited by radiant or conducted heat.
Hot work permit should be obtained
before operation to ensure supervisor’s
approval that adequate precautions have
been taken.
After work is done, check that area is free
of sparks, glowing embers, and flames.
An empty container that held combustibles,
or that can produce flammable or toxic
vapors when heated, must never be
welded on or cut, unless container has
first been cleaned in accordance with
industry standards.
This includes: a thorough steam or
caustic cleaning (or a solvent of water
washing, depending on the combustible’s
solubility), followed by purging and
inerting with nitrogen or carbon dioxide,
and using protective equipment.
Water-filling just below working level may
substitute for inerting.
A container with unknown contents
should be cleaned (see paragraph
above). Do NOT depend on sense of
smell or sight to determine if it is safe to
weld or cut.
Hollow castings or containers must be
vented before welding or cutting. They
can explode.
Explosive atmospheres. NEVER weld or
cut where the air may contain flammable
dust, gas, or liquid vapors (such as
gasoline).
D. Compressed Gas Equipment
The safe handling of compressed gas
equipment is detailed in numerous
industry publications. The following
general rules cover many of the most
common situations.
1. Pressure Regulators
Regulator relief valve is
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
ELECTRIC ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT
CAUTION : READ BEFORE ATTEMPTING INSTALLATION, OPERATION
OR MAINTENANCE OF THIS EQUIPMENT