What is an electrode welding machine?
Electro-welding, or E-manual welding, is carried out using a 230 volt power supply and is one of the most common fusion welding processes.
To convert the incoming alternating current into a welding current with low voltage and high current intensity, the electrode welding machine consists of an inverter or welding transformer.
Welding is carried out via a rod electrode consisting of a metallic core rod as filler material and a sheathing. The electrode must always be adapted to the material to be welded and its thickness.
You profit from these 10 advantages when you buy an electrode welding machine
- Less expensive than a shielding gas or cored wire welding device.operation is via a 230 volt connection.neither a pressure reducer nor shielding gas cylinders are required, which are far more expensive than stick electrodes.the welding device can be used indoors and outdoors.the compact design and low weight allow mobile use.suitable for high material thicknesses and coarse materials.No prior cleaning of the workpiece from rust, oil, paint residues or dirt necessary.regulated and quiet welding current with high efficiency for stable welding seams.welding with an electrode welding machine is possible even in places that are difficult to access.the correct guiding of the stick electrode can be learned easily with a few practice attempts.
The following electrode welding machines are presented here in more detail:
The disadvantages of manual electric welding compared to other welding methods
- The increased amount of time required: With melting rod electrodes, depending on the welding extent and electrode length, an electrode change is often necessary. In addition, the resulting slag layer must be removed from the weld seam. Both of these are not necessary when arc welding with a gas shielded arc welding machine. Welding aluminium:As a rule, you can weld aluminium with the right electrode. But the welding process is difficult. This is because the melting point of the oxide layer of aluminium is around 2,050 °C, whereas that of the base material is only 550 – 660 °C. In addition, aluminium has an extremely high thermal conductivity, which often leads to deformation, and welding aluminium with galvanised steel, which only melts at 1,500 °C, is also a delicate matter. The danger does not lie in the subsequent tearing of the weld seam, but in damage to the aluminium part, which is why it is particularly important to work with optimum welding parameters and a stable arc. An electrode welder is unfortunately not the best choice here.it is more practical to use a TIG welder for thinner components or the MIG/MAG welding process for thicker material.welding sheet metal under 2 mm:If, for example, you want to weld body parts of your car or carry out repairs on the exhaust system, the electrode welder will disappoint you. In the worst case, it will make even bigger holes in your car parts.the electrode welding process can only be used for frame welding work.the same applies to other fine welding work on narrow pipes or boiler welding work, which requires a slowed down welding process. The better alternative is also a gas-shielded welding machine in MIG/MAG or TIG process.
These advantages and disadvantages result in the fields of application of the electrode welding machine.
The application areas of the electrode welding machine
With its low weight, the electrode welding machine is perfectly suited for use on construction sites. But you can also use it outdoors without any problems, as it is not susceptible to wind, unlike inert gas welding machines. The only condition is a 230 volt power connection.
Due to the availability of different types of stick electrodes, there are hardly any limits with regard to metal types in manual electric welding. For example, the following materials can be welded from a material thickness of at least 2 mm:
- Structural steel and cast steel,boiler steel and tube steel,cast iron/cast iron,stainless steel and copper,nickel and nickel-based alloys.
Note: Aluminium can only be welded to a limited extent!
The fields of application of an electrode welding machine:
New production or welding repairs of:Welding of:Balcony and stair railings,yard and garden gates or fences,grating of cellar windows and much more.Steel girders,flat, round and U-steel,tubes,scrap metal to art objects.
You can also weld different types of steel together!
All that is needed are electrodes with the appropriate welding filler material. They are commercially available under the designation: “stick electrodes for black/white joints”.
How do you connect an electrode welding machine and how does it work?
The electrode welding machine has a positive pole (anode) and a negative pole (cathode) on the inverter, depending on which electrodes you are using, the polarity is as follows
- Rutile and acidic electrodes and their mixtures at the negative pole and the earth cable at the positive pole. Rutile-basic mixing electrodes are usually connected to the negative pole, although some mixing types can also be connected to the positive pole.
Then insert the mains plug into the power socket and switch on the electrode welding unit. The welding current is infinitely variable with most devices.
- After you have clamped the rod electrode in the electrode holder, connect the electrode cable to the positive pole. Connect the workpiece to the negative pole of the welding inverter via the clamp of the earth cable (grounding cable). Insert the mains plug into the power socket and switch on the electrode welding machine. The welding current is infinitely variable with most devices. By briefly tapping the stick electrode on the workpiece, you trigger a short circuit which leads to contact ignition. In the process, gases are formed from the coating of the electrode which generate the arc. The arc burns between the stick electrode and the workpiece and serves as a heat source for melting both materials.
During welding, a layer of slag is formed from the burnt coating of the rod electrode. The slag layer must be completely removed with a slag hammer and a wire brush after the welding process is completed.
If the three mentioned disadvantages of the electrode welding machine are not decisive for you and the E-manual welding process exactly meets your requirements, we recommend this:
AT-9302 electrode welding machine from Armateh:
The AT-9302 hand-held electric welder for hobby and professional welders has an excellent price-performance ratio.
The electrode welding machine shows reliable welding behaviour and is designed for demanding welding work with a selectable output of 20 to 200 amperes, the current intensity can be continuously adjusted on the ampere-regulator. However, only the approximate electrode diameter is displayed, which requires careful approach, at least during the first welding work.
The performance features and scope of delivery:
- Anti-stick function for automatic reduction of the welding current if the electrode sticks.actively cooled fan and 16 amp fuse.2 meter industrial standard rubber power cable (no PVC) with 3 x 2.5 sqmm wire cross-section.2 meter rubber-sheathed earth cable with clamp (cathode – negative pole) and electrode cable with electrode holder (anode – positive pole). Both cables are locked to the inverter via a plug by a rotary movement. 1 to 4.5 mm rod electrodes can be used.
With its low weight of 5.5 kg and a carrying handle, the Armateh AT-9302 electrode welder is easy to transport and use. And with a compact size of 27 x 21 x 12 cm, there are no problems with storage.