I'm so infatuated with these machines that I've been working on designing my own version (using parts available at Mouser/Digikey) for close to a decade.
Unfortunately I've been unable to maintain a decent work/life balance due to the high cost of living. As a result, I honestly die a little inside each time I see an article posted about them.
The last update was in 2013, where I completed the EHT "popstart" circuit (to replace the expensive retractable electrode, and allow the use of a standard TIG head): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4c5Le2kT6w
That custom micro TIG setup is really nice. That articulated arm is really neat, but that scope head must be very light. I'd like to know the brand as it looks plenty solid.
Pulsed welding is super useful for filling and repair operations on thin sheet where you can "shoot" a tiny blob of filler wire into the joint/hole/gap and fill it in. Or perform small butt-seam welds without filler. I've worked with fiber and yag lasers and the welds are really clean and solid. You can even weld larger parts together with decent strength or tack fo larger welding operations. Even some of the electron beam welders there had a pulse welding mode.
"Won't fit in a laser cabinet" - You just need a better laser setup instead of a fixed optics machine. Buy a fiber laser, like an IPG QCW 450/4500 get a small D30 head, 125mm lens, coax nozzle with a camera tube (don't buy the camera from them as they just resell a Sentech for double the $) and build another station like your TIG setup but mount the laser head instead. You'll have one hell of a fiber welder. You might even be able to move work over from your TIG setup. They might offer a binocular setup for the head or have one fabricated if you don't want the camera/monitor setup.
Really beautiful work. Though not as detailed, This Old Tony has an amazing pulse TIG welding video, for those who want to see it in action https://youtu.be/a6fUCApr03g
I have no idea, but the microscope he's looking through could certainly have UV protection built-in. Or perhaps the pulses are so short and small that the cumulative risk is negligible?
Either way, it seems to me like there could be ways for it to be safe enough to require minimal PPE while still producing some non-zero amount of UV.
I have done a little silver work with a tig, down around 15A. I really felt this was the bottom of the range and struggled to maintain a puddle. is there anything fundamentally different about this process?
Not fundamentally different, technically, just optimized for that low end. I think this model maxes out at 13A. And you're looking at your weld *through a microscope*.
Only somewhat related: has anyone tried pulse stick? I don't have a machine capable of it, but it seems like it would allow some pretty easy stick welds. Especially on thinner pieces.
The venn diagram of people who get really exited over pulse welding and people who spend enough time using a stick welder to notice yet alone realize any benefit from those settings" is just two circles.
I can see the theoretical benefit in how quickly you can put down material but all of the people who actually need that in practice are probably already using something that feeds off a spool.
[+] [-] farkanoid|3 years ago|reply
Unfortunately I've been unable to maintain a decent work/life balance due to the high cost of living. As a result, I honestly die a little inside each time I see an article posted about them.
The last update was in 2013, where I completed the EHT "popstart" circuit (to replace the expensive retractable electrode, and allow the use of a standard TIG head): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4c5Le2kT6w
Some day I'll complete it!
[+] [-] doubleg72|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] MisterTea|3 years ago|reply
Pulsed welding is super useful for filling and repair operations on thin sheet where you can "shoot" a tiny blob of filler wire into the joint/hole/gap and fill it in. Or perform small butt-seam welds without filler. I've worked with fiber and yag lasers and the welds are really clean and solid. You can even weld larger parts together with decent strength or tack fo larger welding operations. Even some of the electron beam welders there had a pulse welding mode.
"Won't fit in a laser cabinet" - You just need a better laser setup instead of a fixed optics machine. Buy a fiber laser, like an IPG QCW 450/4500 get a small D30 head, 125mm lens, coax nozzle with a camera tube (don't buy the camera from them as they just resell a Sentech for double the $) and build another station like your TIG setup but mount the laser head instead. You'll have one hell of a fiber welder. You might even be able to move work over from your TIG setup. They might offer a binocular setup for the head or have one fabricated if you don't want the camera/monitor setup.
[+] [-] gertrunde|3 years ago|reply
I suspect that it has since been superseded by the current PUK6 model (and previously the PUK 5, judging by search results)
[+] [-] 1970-01-01|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Blackthorn|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] CoastalCoder|3 years ago|reply
(I have no idea how feasible that is, I'm just curious.)
[+] [-] wyclif|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] m463|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] binarymax|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] eimrine|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Tepix|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] analog31|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Gh0stRAT|3 years ago|reply
I have no idea, but the microscope he's looking through could certainly have UV protection built-in. Or perhaps the pulses are so short and small that the cumulative risk is negligible?
Either way, it seems to me like there could be ways for it to be safe enough to require minimal PPE while still producing some non-zero amount of UV.
[+] [-] gaze|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] convolvatron|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] shirleyquirk|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 1970-01-01|3 years ago|reply
Edit: It's TIG in the video. I assumed jewelry used MIG because that's normally how thin copper is welded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyAaX0RZMVc&t=70s
[+] [-] Blackthorn|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dsfyu404ed|3 years ago|reply
I can see the theoretical benefit in how quickly you can put down material but all of the people who actually need that in practice are probably already using something that feeds off a spool.
[+] [-] anfractuosity|3 years ago|reply
Edit: Just noticed he mentions in the video laser welding is more suited to smaller items
[+] [-] geocrasher|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] causi|3 years ago|reply
You could use a lead test swab. They come as small as precision q-tips.
[+] [-] CamperBob2|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] LorenDB|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mhb|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] h4ch1|3 years ago|reply
anyone know what these POSTs to play.google.com/log are for
[+] [-] smegsicle|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] calvinmorrison|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] haunter|3 years ago|reply