Why use pulsed MIG?
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When MIG welding was first invented, it used a constant voltage source of electricity for the arc. While this method is still used today, the invention of pulsed MIG welding has allowed welders to realize several advantages over conventional MIG welding, several are listed below:
- Pulsed MIG can be used to weld thin materials. Conventional MIG welding runs at a constant amperage whereas pulsed MIG welding runs a peak and background amperage. The constant switching between these two amperages enables pulsed MIG welding to put out a lower overall heat input into the material. This helps prevent blowouts on thin materials.
- Pulsed MIG has less spatter than conventional MIG welding. Pulsed MIG welding uses a peak electrical currents to cleanly burn the wire off at a high amperage. Pulsed MIG welding also employs a lower background welding amperage immediately after the peak electrical current to prevent the interaction of the electrical arc and the wire from becoming unstable. This ultimately results in a reduced amount of spatter.
- Pulsed MIG welding is excellent for out of position welding. At the same voltage and wire feed settings, conventional MIG tends to have a weld puddle that is larger and more fluid than that of pulsed MIG. Pulsed MIG has more controllable puddle that prevents it from falling out when gravity is a concern during out of position welding. Furthermore, the reduced amount of spatter than can be achieved with pulsed MIG makes it safer for the welder to perform the out of position operation.
