Section 16 - Selecting And Preparing A Tungsten For Dc Or Ac Welding With Inverter Machines; Selecting Tungsten Electrode - Miller Dynasty 280 Series Owner's Manual

SECTION 16 – SELECTING AND PREPARING A TUNGSTEN
FOR DC OR AC WELDING WITH INVERTER MACHINES

16-1. Selecting Tungsten Electrode

Whenever possible and practical, use DC weld output instead of AC weld output.
NOTICE – Wear clean gloves to prevent contamination of tungsten.
A. Select Tungsten Electrode
Electrode Diameter
(2% Ceriated or 1.5% Lanthanum Alloy
Tungstens)
0.010 in. (0.25 mm)
0.020 in. (0.50 mm)
0.040 in. (1 mm)
1/16 in. (1.6 mm)
3/32 in. (2.4 mm)
1/8 in. (3.2 mm)
5/32 in. (4.0 mm)
3/16 in. (4.8 mm)
1/4 in. (6.4 mm)
*Typical argon shielding gas flow rates are 10 to 25 CFH (cubic feet per hour).
Figures listed are a guide and are a composite of recommendations from American Welding Society (AWS).
B. Electrode Composition
Tungsten Type
2% Cerium (Gray)
1.5–2% Lanthanum (Yellow/Blue)
Pure Tungsten (Green)
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Not all tungsten electrode manufacturers use the same colors to identify tungsten type. Contact the tungsten electrode manufacturer or
reference the product packaging to identify the tungsten you are using.
Amperage Range By Gas Type* And Polarity
DCEN – Argon
Direct Current Electrode Negative
(For Use With Mild Or Stainless Steel)
Up to 15
5–20
15–80
70–150
150–200
250–400
400–500
500–750
750–1000
Application Notes
Good all-around tungsten for both AC and DC welding.
Excellent low amp starts for AC and DC welding.
Not recommended for inverters!
For best results in most applications, use a sharpened cerium or lanthanum electrode for AC
or DC welding.
AC – Argon
Unbalanced Wave (75% EN Balance)
(For Use With Aluminum)
Up to 15
5–20
15–80
70–150
140–235
225–325
300–400
400–500
500–630
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