When carrying out MIG welding in different projects, you will need to modify your MIG welder settings to get your desired results. As there are no one-size-fits-all settings, I will instruct you how to adjust a MIG welder settings by giving rules and suggested main settings in most cases.
Here we go!
A recommended settings chart for MIG welding.
Table of Contents
How to adjust a MIG welder voltage settings
In most cases, a MIG welder will utilize DC (direct current). Your machine’s electrodes are responsible for leading the electricity flow from the metal into the welding handle. Therefore, the voltage setting will decide how deep the welding torch penetrates through the material and also, the quality of the welding joints.
Typically, the manufacturer will include an instructive chart or manual in the machine to show you the voltage settings adjustment. Try to find them in your product box or on the device.
However, if you cannot find any, you can customize the voltage and wire speed by observing the power of your welding torch while welding. For example, increase the energy a little if you see the heat-affected area slowly melting and vice versa.
Gradually, you can learn to feel the appropriate power level. You will also become familiar with the minimum and maximum range of the settings. For beginners, you had better set the voltage at the medium point for common use at first. Later, modify it for the perfect welds.
You can consult the parameters in the following table. Feel free to change a bit to suit your cases better.
|
Max amperage |
90 |
110 |
130 |
150 |
180 |
|
Max thickness for bottom joints |
5/64 |
3/32 |
1/8 |
5/32 |
13/64 |
|
Max thickness with V cap |
1/8 |
5/32 |
9/64 |
15/64 |
19/64 |
How to adjust a MIG welder wire feed speed settings
This setting is for adjusting how fast the MIG welder feeds its wire into the weld joints and managing the amperage to some extent. Its unit is IPM (inches per minute).
High speed can create a burn-through and fast popping sound, whereas low speed causes the wire to burn too slow and forms an unstable arc.
Use the chart below to set the wire speed based on the wire size. For example, if the wire size is 0.23 inches (used for sheet metal), then you need to multiply by 3.5 inches per amp, which is equal to 437.5 ipm
- .023 inch Multiply by 3.5 inches per amp
- .030 inch Multiply by 2 inches per amp
- .035 inch Multiply by 1.6 inches per amp
- .045 inch Multiply by 1 inch per amp
How to adjust a MIG welder gas flow rate setting
Last but not least, we have the gas flow rate setting that helps regulate the transfer of gas to protect the weld area from the contaminants in the air. Gas flow rate setting is regulated in CFM (cubic feet per minute).
Lower gas flow rate settings will allow less gas, which is not enough to shield the weld area. The result is the porosity in the surface of the weld.
The setting should not be too high or too low as higher gas flow may result in turbulence and weld contamination. Make sure to do some tests to determine the perfect gas flow rate before going on with the real job.
Try to set proper MIG welding settings for mild steel along with other kinds of metals.
The optimal gas pressure varies a little, but it should be around 15-25 CFH.
Conclusion
Finally, I have guided you through 3 main settings in a MIG welder and provided the recommended parameter charts. I hope after reading the article, you will know thoroughly how to adjust a MIG welder settings in particular cases.
Thanks for reading!
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