Portable Inverters for Multi-Process, TIG/Stick Welding

In Booth N-4529, ESAB Welding & Cutting Products (Florence, SC) will showcase their greatly expanded line of single-phase Stick/TIG and AC/DC TIG/Stick inverters. Previously sold under the Thermal Arc and Tweco brands, these inverters are now offered as ET (ESAB TIG), ES (ESAB Stick) and Fabricator Series of 3-in-1 MIG/Stick/TIG inverters. Also being introduced is the ET 141i AC/DC, the first 120V inverter that provides an AC TIG output for welding aluminum and HF (high frequency) non-contact arc starts for AC or DC TIG welding. It uses 120V primary power to provide an AC/DC TIG output range of 10 amps to 140 amps (140A/15.6V @ 20 percent duty cycle) and HF and Lift TIG arc starts.

Designed especially for first-time welders who don’t want complex controls, the ET 141i AC/DC features preset values for AC output frequency and wave balance that are optimized for light-duty welding (AC frequency controls the shape of the arc cone and arc force, while wave balance controls the amount of cleaning action vs. penetration). HF, or non-contact, arc starts are desirable (and sometimes required) in applications where end-users especially want to prevent accidental contamination from the tungsten electrode. These include welding chrome-moly tubing in motorsports and experimental aircraft applications, as well as welding stainless steel tubing in dairy and food processing facilities. The ET 141i AC/DC also provides a DC Stick output of up to 90 amps for welding with 1/16 in or 3/32 in diameter electrodes. It weighs 48 lb and provides a full output on a 20 amp circuit. The unit comes with a TIG torch, gas flow meter and hose, Stick electrode holder and ground clamp. A remote foot control is available separately.

Also on display are the ET 186i AC/DC TIG/Stick and the ET 201i DC TIG/Stick welding systems for welding thicker materials and full control over TIG and Stick welding performance. The ET 186i AC/DC uses 208/230V primary current, provides AC/DC TIG output up to 200 amps and HF or Lift TIG arc starts. The system features adjustable AC output frequency (15 Hz to 150 Hz), wave balance control (up to 90 percent EN) and a pulsed TIG output range of 0.5 Hz to 200 Hz (pulsing the welding current from high to low reduces heat input and helps control distortion and burn-through on thin material). The ET 186 AC/DC provides a DC Stick output up to 170 amps, produces excellent results with all types of Stick electrodes and features adjustable Arc Force and Hot Start functions. It weighs 48 lb.

For location flexibility, the ET 201i DC uses 120V or 208/230V primary current, delivers DC TIG and Stick outputs up to 200 amps and provides HF (high frequency) and Lift TIG arc starts. Controls include adjustable values for downslope, Arc Force and gas pre- and post-flow. It weighs 21.6 lb, providing the combination of portability and power desired by mechanical contractors and maintenance professionals. For value and portability, the ES 95i DC Stick and ES 95i Stick/TIG welding systems weigh 9.7 lb and offer up to 90 amps of output for light repair and maintenance and hobbyist applications.

There will also be live arc demonstrations of Rebel™ welders, which now include a new MIG-only model (Rebel EM 215ic) and MIG/Stick model. Combined with the multi-process Rebel EMP 215ic, the Rebel model is ideal for shops that want maximum versatility, as well as for veteran welders who value simplicity.

“Our single-phase inverters combine compact, lightweight portability with excellent arc performance and user-friendly controls,” says Tom Wermert, the senior brand manager at ESAB. “These new and newly-rebranded inverters, combined with our Rebel products, enable us to offer a broad range of solutions for mechanical contracting, light fabrication, repair and maintenance, farm/ranch, motorsports and home-hobby applications.”

ESAB complements the Rebel Series of premium multi-process welders with its Fabricator Series, the original 3-in-1 portable, integrated MIG, Stick and TIG welding system. The Fabricator 141i improves results in DIY and home hobby use, as well as other light-duty welding projects in motorsports, auto repair, farm/ranch, metal art and maintenance applications. It offers 10 amps to 140 amps of power for MIG and Lift TIG welding and 90 amps for Stick welding. Weighing 66 lb and with an output range of 5 amps to 300 amps (250 amps at 40 percent duty cycle), the Fabricator 252i is a multi-process, fully integrated, portable welder. The Fabricator 252i is designed for light industrial fabrication, mechanical contractors, farm/ranch, motorsports, maintenance/repair, light construction and continuing technical educational and training facilities.

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, PO Box 100545, 411 South Ebenezer Road, Florence, SC 29501-0545, 603-298-2259, Fax: 843-664-4258, www.esab.com.