How to Tailor Pulsed TIG Welding to Thin Material and Stainless Steel Pipe

The Renegade™ ET 300iP DC TIG/Stick inverter from ESAB Welding & Cutting Products (Florence, SC) features controls for pulsed TIG welding and high frequency (HF) or Lift TIG arc starts options. It is in stock and ready to ship in the U.S. and Canada. The Renegade ET 300iP produces a top output of 300 amps at 40 percent duty cycle, weighs 37 lb and measures 12.6 in x 7.8 in x 18.11 in. It connects to 230 V 1-phase power and 230 V to 480 V 3-phase power (±10 percent) with auto-sensing functionality and no rewiring required. It has a pulse frequency adjustable up to 999 pulses per second and a peak pulse width (or duration) adjustable between 10 percent and 90 percent.

Pulsed TIG welding can be used to improve weld puddle control, control the weld bead profile, reduce heat input and increase travel speeds. “This Renegade enables tailoring of the pulsed DC TIG welding arc to the application, which is especially useful when welding thin material and working on applications such as stainless steel pipes in the food, process piping and mechanical contracting industries,” says Doug Smith, the product business manager for light/industrial arc equipment at ESAB. The unit features an intuitive digital readout display that makes it easy to set parameters and read them from a distance in any light, while a remote amperage control with digital display extends operator range by providing extreme accuracy over long distances.

Renegade ET 300iP also provides adjustable gas pre- and post-flow, adjustable upslope/downslope, 2-stroke and 4-stroke trigger functionality, offers a remote foot pedal compatibility and includes a water-cooled option. It converts from a water-cooled system to an air-cooled portable system in minutes, and conversion does not require tools. “This is a next-generation shop and field machine for DC welding. It offers more power and a design that’s easier to move around any jobsite,” adds Smith. “When Renegade can’t be located next to the workpiece, its strong output enables the use of long welding cables and longer work leads.” This unit can weld with Stick electrodes up to 1/4 in and has gouging capabilities with carbons up to 3/16 in, making it the most powerful welder in its weight class. Other Stick performance features include semi-synergic Hot Start, a process that provides optimal energy during the starting sequence, improves strike performance and reduces sticking.

Similarly, its Adjustable Arc Force function enables the operator to adjust the arc characteristics to get a crisp and controlled arc or a softer arc with less spatter, tailoring the arc for different electrodes, applications and operator preference. Preferences can be stored in one of three memory functions.

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, PO Box 100545, 411 South Ebenezer Road, Florence, SC 29501, 843-669-4411, Fax: 843-664-4258, www.esab.com.