The settings for welding aluminium using a Tig200P AC/DC inverter

It would be normal if it was in pulse mode.

Just had a quick look at the specs of your Bobcat welding/generator. It is quite a tool and offers both AC and DC MMA as well as other types of welding and a high capacity AC generator.. This suggests the Bobcat is far from an ordinary engine driven welding set that is typically DC only.

It is probably an AC generator coupled to inverter technology that gives it the capability of offering those different welding options. That means there is some quite fancy electronic circuitry inside.

I would guess if the generator is working well the lack of welding performance is likely to be caused by an electronic problem and is a job for a specialist.
Checking the OCV or open circuit voltage between the welding ground and electrode should provide a clue - according to the specs it should be 40 volts on both AC and DC.

Your dialarc HF has a selector for polarity, DCEP (electrode positive), DCEN (electrode negative) and AC. DC TIG welding is done in DCEN only with the high frequency turned to start. When welding aluminum, you must be in AC with the high frequency turned to continuous. Other machines may be different, but that setup will be how you need to set that dialarc HF.

The old school tungsten recommendation has always been the green or pure tungsten when welding aluminum on AC with a transformer machine, which is what you have. However, pure tungsten will not be a good choice for inverter style machines or when welding other metals besides aluminum. So instead of having multiple types of tungsten running around in your tool box, I use the blue or 2% lanthanated tungsten for everything. I find that it has excellent arc characteristics on both AC and DC, you can also sharpen it to a point when welding on AC, which is very useful in directing the arc when tacking up your aluminum job or starting out at low amps.

Not sure what machine you have, but it should be DC straight (electrode negative or DCEN) and DC reverse (electrode positive or DCEP). The polarities have different characteristics. For example, if you're planning to TIG weld, you would either use DCEN or AC (if welding aluminum). For the general stick welding process, DCEP tends to give you a deeper weld. The welding rod you buy will have recommended machine polarity and amperage range settings, you should use the recommended polarity for whichever rod you're using because different rods are designed to weld under different circumstances. But, generally speaking, most welding rods for steel will work on DCEP without much trouble.

Depends on the thickness and quality of the aluminum.

Are you sure the GAS is on?

If you want to weld aluminium with a welder, your machine must be an AC/DC welder, then you will use only AC to do the weld, but as well you must have a contineous high frequency and according to what thickness you want to weld a water cooling argon torch wont be a luxury

Changes between AC and DC voltage at the electrodes.



Q: What Type Of Stick Welder Works Best For All-Around Use?

A: A welder with an AC/DC output, whether its an electric arc machine like Miller\'s Thunderbolt or a gas engine drive like Miller\'s Bobcat.

DC welding offers advantages over AC for most Stick applications, including: easier starts; fewer arc outages and sticking; less spatter/better looking welds; easier vertical up and overhead welding; easier to learn "how to weld" and a smoother arc. DC reverse polarity (electrode positive) provides about 10 percent more penetration at a given amperage than AC, while DC straight polarity (electrode negative) welds thinner metals better.

Q: Does An AC Output Have Any Advantages?

A: Yes, if you need to weld on material that\'s become magnetized from friction, such as when hay, feed or water constantly rub against a steel part. A DC output won\'t work because of "arc blow," where the magnetic field blows the molten filler metal out of the weld puddle. Because an AC output alternates between polarities, it enables you to weld magnetized parts.

Check your manual or the welding rods data sheet. The settings depend on what you will weld. Consult online manuals and welding charts. These will help you a lot.

JAMES B,

FIRST OF ALL THE 7018 WELDING ROD IS REALLY A DC REVERSE POLARITY ROD. IN THE PAST 7-10 YEARS AGO 7018 AC/DC RODS HIT THE MARKET. THEY WELD LIKE ****! YOU DID'NT SAY WHAT DIAMETER YOUR USING,BUT THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN USE THESE RODS IS TO HAVE A BIGGER MACHINE. THE AC225 JUST DOES'NT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO WELD IN THE AC MODE. WELDING WITH THIS ROD IN DC REV. IS ABOUT 150 AMPS FOR 1/8 DIA.AND ABOUT 110-120 AMPS FOR3/32 DIA. THIS ALSO DEPENDS ON THE BRAND OF MACHINE YOU HAVE. THE 6011-6014 RODS ARE MADE AC -DC,AND YES THEY RUN VERY NICE ON AC. HOPE THIS HELPS EWE OUT,I WAS A WELDER/FAB FOR 35 YEARS AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE! GOD BLESS AND GOD BYE.

welding aluminium requires a bigger current draw that with steel and to weld aluminium it is a dc current requirement
what you are seeing as a pulse may be the unit going into overload