Using the Orion's Pulse Arc Mode

Pulse Arc Mode Basics

PulseArc Welding Mode creates a small welding arc using the stylus. The high energy capacitors inside the Orion can be charged to contain from 20Ws to 150Ws. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the full amount of energy will be put into the weld. The other important factor, weld time, determines the actual amount of discharge energy. This can be set between 0.5ms to 64ms. The higher the weld time, the greater the percentage of maximum energy discharged in the weld.

With these two parameters, weld power and weld time, the user can finely tune the type of weld to be made. A general rule is that weld power controls the diameter or size of the resulting weld, and weld time controls the penetration or depth of the resulting weld.

Use extra caution whenever the weld power is set above 60%. On thin materials, this can actually vaporize the metal around the arc. Higher power is useful in larger or thicker metal applications.

Generally, when using PulseArc Mode, the shielding gas should be at 10 liters per minute or higher. Because the welds are larger, the extra flow helps cover more surface area for a longer period of time.

Either the 0.5mm or 1mm electrode can be used in PulseArc mode, but it is recommended to only use the 1mm electrode at weld powers higher than 20%.

Welding Tips

• To reduce the discoloration that can appear after a weld, use more shielding gas, use a sharpened electrode, or try shortening the length of exposed electrode.
• If the electrode sticks to the weld, it's probably time for electrode sharpening. Lighter holding pressure and higher power will also aid in avoiding sticks.
• Instead of a few larger welds, try making a number of smaller welds.
• Typically, when the electrode is at a 90° angle to the workpiece, the resulting weld is more perfectly symmetrical and attractive.
• When welding close to areas that are heat sensitive, allow a few seconds to pass between successive welds so that more heat is dissipated from the workpiece.
• If accuracy is difficult to achieve while in Auto Trigger Mode, consider switching over to Foot Trigger Mode.