MIG cooldown after welding?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
MIG cooldown after welding?
I have a small Lincoln MIG, should one let it run for a few minutes after welding? Is that a cooling fan running inside or something else???
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Marengo, Iowa
yes, that is a cooling fan inside. Unless you run it continous for as long as you can, or give it poor power supply, it will do fine, as it is designed to weld. It only over heats if you keep on it constantly for over 5 minutes at a time. It is rated 20% duty cycle, which means that it can run 20 minutes of an hour.
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Duty cycle is based on a ten minute time period. So a 20% duty cycle means you can weld continuos for 2 minutes at the MAXIMUM rated amperage. Decreasing the amperage extends the duty cycle. See Duty Cycle
Last edited by horsepuller; Mar 6, 2006 at 02:14 PM.
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
I am not worried about overheating, and now I do have a better understanding of duty cycle, I appreciate that.
What I was wondering is if the machine will last longer, if, when I am done welding, I leave it with the fan on for a few minutes to cool down?
What I was wondering is if the machine will last longer, if, when I am done welding, I leave it with the fan on for a few minutes to cool down?
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Originally Posted by magnum300
horsepuller, your link did not work
Originally Posted by millerweldsdotcom
Duty Cycle - The number of minutes out of a 10-minute time period an arc welding machine can be operated at maximum rated output. An example would be 60% duty cycle at 300 amps. This would mean that at 300 amps the welding machine can be used for 6 minutes and then must be allowed to cool with the fan motor running for 4 minutes.
