Power Up and Power Down (TIG Welding)

Power Up

• Ensure the work area is clean and free of general debris and flammable material.
• Ensure your workpiece fits cleanly and easily inside the welding area.
• Open the inert gas cabinet and identify the argon cylinder currently in use - this will have a gas regulator mounted on top with a hose affixed.
• Use the cylinder key to open the valve on Argon cylinder in the direction as shown on the valve. You don't need to open it all the way, a simply 1/4 to 1/3 turn of the key is all that is needed to allow sufficient gas flow. Leave the cylinder key in the valve.
• The regulator pressure gauge should now indicate the pressure of the gas in the cylinder. A full cylinder is typically in the region of 2500 psi, and you can continue welding to around 100 psi.
• If the gauge indicates no pressure close the valve fully and ask a member of technical staff for help.
• Turn on the socket for the welder - this is below the welding bench on the back wall of the welding booth.
• The welder should turn on - there is an additional power switch on the back of the welder if this is not the case.

"Welding Air"

• Take the TIG torch in your right hand and hold it far away from any other object or your body - at least 500 mm - to avoid the HF arc from grounding and starting a welding arc. Ensure that nobody will walk close to the torch during the gas setting process.
• Press and hold the button on the torch to start the gas flow.
• Check the gas flow rate gauge on the cylinder regulator - the needle should read between 6 and 10 litres per minute. More gas does not necessarily mean better gas coverage, and you may need to change this value depending on the welding task you are working on.
• Use the large black knob to adjust the gas flow rate on the regulator if needed.
• Close the inert gas cylinder cupboard.
• Turn on the fume extractor using the rotary switch on the back wall of the welding booth.
• Check the airflow indicator light on the front of the fume extractor. If the light is illuminated ask a member of technical staff for help.

Adjusting the Fume Extractor

The fume extractor must always be used while welding - keep it turned on from the time you start welding until after you have finished cleaning up.

The hood opening of the moveable arm must be positioned 400-800 mm away from the welding area, in such a position that it is pulling welding fumes away from the welder.

Power Down

Once you have finished welding you must clean up and leave the welding area and machine in a state suitable for the next person. There must be someone in the Maker Space for at least 30 minutes after you have finished welding.

• Open the inert gas cylinder cupboard.
• Turn off the cylinder valve firmly. Leave the cylinder key in the valve.
• If you have finished a cylinder of Argon inform a member of technical staff so another can be ordered.
• Perform the "welding air" process again, but this time the aim is to let all the residual gas out of the system and relieve pressure on seals and solenoid valves. Continue welding air until both the pressure gauge and the flow rate on the regulator read zero.
• Turn off the welder at the wall rotary power switch. Don't use the switch on the back of the machine itself.
• Turn off the fume extractor using the wall switch.
• Sharpen all the tungsten electrodes you used ready for the next person.
• If you have been welding practice coupons that need to be recycled use the welding pliers to dip them into the waterjet tank (if the waterjet is not running) before placing them in the green chip bin underneath the lathe conveyor belt.
• If you have been welding your own work you want to take away you must leave it to cool to a safe temperature before you move it.