TIG Welder 180 Amp (Home Built)
This project is a collaberative effort between myself and my old friend Will Coetzee and is built around TTL and CMOS logic to keep it simple, repeatable and easy to trouble shoot.
We purposely did not use a micro to control it because most folks don't have the capacity or experience to work with or program those devices.
We chose to use through hole components also because the average person doen't have suitable facilities at home to build with SMT parts as antistatic work surface, stereo microscope and proper soldering station would be required at minimum.
All the information I have currently available is on this page ! At the present time we are both very busy with family and work and will get back to the project to complete the detailed information as soon as possible.
Please DO NOT email asking for parts lists, Gerber files, ...I have none done up yet and as for PC boards, we are not selling kits or parts.
The welder as presented requires you to supply a simple basic AC Arc (stick) welder, this provides the AC voltage at whatever suitable current range you elect to purchase and our controller as described will give full control of the weld current be it AC or DC. More details and specs added at the end of the article.
Read More and See all Pics... http://www3.telus.net/public/a5a26316/TIG_Welder.html
- TIG Welder 180 Amp (Home Built)
- Improving your welder without a microcontroller - Hack a Day
- TIG_Welder_Project
Don
2 comments:
Great project, looks like fun even if dated big time. The article mentioned that a HF start was implemented which isn't in the design posted. As shown, the SSR is flipping 60 hz line on and off to the xformer making a 60 hz strike.I cringe at the though of flipping the sign xformer on and off at 1 mhz. I don't think so, hope nobody tried... ya have to either switch the HV with a FET (nasty dielectric layout problems at 15 KV) or do a special flyback and oscillator to ionize the air to strike. By nature, welding generates massive broadband EMI with HUGE impulse spikes everywhere that degrades and eventually kills unclamped TTL and especially CMOS silicon used in the counter. The analog section op amps and comparators would be in la-la land with the RF unless the bandwidth and slew rates were negated, inputs ferrite beaded, shielded & clamped with a ground plain around everything. Unless ya want to play, buy a Thermal Arc 186 and be done with it. Cheaper in the long run.
Ya, I wonder if they ever finished that thing. I thought it was a very interesting Project...
Don
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