WIA CP144-1, Operator'S Manual

Page: 7 / 36

7 6
1 INTRODUCTION
The Weldmatic is a multi-process welding
machine capable of Gas Metal Arc Welding
(GMAW or MIG), Manual Metal Arc Welding
(MMAW or Stick) and Gas Tungsten Arc
Welding (GTAW or TIG).
GMAW (MIG Welding)
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) is an arc
welding process where a consumable wire
is fed by motor driven feed rolls to a welding
gun, and where welding current is supplied
from the welding power source. The welding
arc is struck between the work piece and
the end of the wire, which melts into the
weld pool. The arc and the weld pool are
both shielded by gas flow from the gun, or
in the case of self-shielded wires, by gases
generated by the wire core.
The process is very versatile in that by
selection of the correct wire composition,
diameter and shielding gas, it can be used
for applications ranging from sheet-metal
to heavy plate, and metals ranging from
carbon steel to aluminium alloys.
The Weldmatic has been designed to be
used with consumable wires of different
diameter. The smaller wire sizes are used
when welding at lower currents, such as
sheet-metal applications. Increasing the
wire diameter permits higher welding
currents to be selected.
A common application of GMAW is for
welding Mild Steel. In this application, a
Mild Steel solid consumable wire such as
AUSTMIG ES6 is used with a shielding gas
of Carbon Dioxide, or Argon mixed with
Carbon Dioxide. Alternatively, Flux-cored
consumable wires are available in both gas
shielded, and ‘gasless’ self shielding types.
Stainless steel and Aluminium can be
welded with GMAW using the correct
consumable wire and shielding gas.
The Weldmatic wirefeeder has been
designed to feed a range of hard, soft, and
flux-cored wires for the GMAW process.
A compact motor with integral gear box is
coupled to a two roll drive assembly forming
the basic component of the wirefeeder. The
motor is controlled by an electronic speed
control which provides speed regulation.
MMAW (Stick Welding)
Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMAW) is a
process where an arc is struck between a
flux-coated consumable electrode and the
work piece. The arc and the weld pool are
both shielded by gases generated by the
flux coating of the electrode.
The Weldmatic 350/500 has been
designed to be used with 2.0mm, 2.5mm,
3.2mm, 4.0mm and 5.0mm diameter
electrodes. The smaller electrodes are
used when welding at lower currents, such
as sheet metal applications. Increasing the
electrode diameter permits higher welding
currents to be selected.
WIA supplies a wide range of mild steel and
special purpose electrodes which cater
for home workshop, rural, and industrial
requirements. Some popular AUSTARC
electrodes are listed below. The correctly
selected AUSTARC electrode will influence
the quality of the weld, and the stability
of the arc.
Austarc 12P, Classification E4313-A
A popular general purpose electrode
used with ease in all positions, vertical up
or down. The smooth forceful arc makes it
an ideal electrode for all general mild
steel applications.