200-250 amp inverter MIG with self contained wirefeeder and pulse. Does it exist?

[Member]

Hi,

I recently gave my Lincoln SP175+ to my Dad for his shop on his farm. I'm looking for a replacement with the following characteristics:

- 200-250 amps.
- Inverter machine (I weld in my basement in the winter and can't lug a 100+ pound transformer machine up and down the basement stairs by myself).
- Self contained wirefeeder.
- Pulse capability (I weld 50/50 steel/aluminum and this is a "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it").
- Spool or push/pull gun ready.
- Multiprocess/3 in 1 functionality isn't important to me but seems to be a standard capability on machines like this.

I weld mostly .065 to .125 square tube, .25 at the outside. I like headroom though so more amps within budget would be great. I am a hobbyist so duty cycle is less important to me.

I'd like to stick to a U.S. based manufacturer but I realize that for whatever reason we seem to be behind the rest of the world when it comes to inverter machines. My other welder is a Lincoln Invertec V205T that I think Lincoln sourced from an Italian OEM.

Machines that almost fit the bill are:

Thermal Arc Fabricator 252i (no pulse)
Thermal Arc

Miller MPi 220P (not sold in the U.S. for some reason)
ITW Welding, Welding Machines, Induction Heating, Welding Consumables and Accessories. www.itw-welding.com

Fronius TransPuls Synergic 3200 (no U.S. presence, lots of money, not sure if it is a self contained wirefeeder)
Fronius International GmbH - Products - Arc welding

Not including the eventual purchase of a spool or push/pull gun I wouldn't like to spend $6,000 for a Lincoln Invertec V350 Pro or Miller XMT 304 plus wirefeeder. I would spend $3,000 for a machine with the capabilities above.

I wish the Thermal Arc had pulse. I wish the Miller had 50 more amps and was sold in the U.S. I wish the Fronius had U.S. presence and was cheaper.

Does a welder that matches these parameters exist?

Thanks.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Are you looking for pulse on pulse, or single pulse. It's going to depend upon what you are looking for. Everlast (US based) has a 200 amp single pulse (portable)and a 250 amp single pulse (compact, light weight roll around) inverter MIG. These are manually adjusted pulse units, but offer it if you need it. But there are slim pickings in the pulse MIG market if it's portable and further narrows it to nothing if you are looking for US made and portable pulse MIG. The only US assembled pulse MIG you will find is the larger roll around MIG units from Miller and Lincoln.

 

[Arc weld]

Not sure why you'd need pulse?

 

[Brad_Blazer]

The Thermal Arc has a stitch function. Is that the same as pulse? http://www.northerntool.com/images/downloads/manuals/27671.pdf

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Stitch, is a timed on/off/on function that prevents you from having to re cycle the trigger. It is not pulse where it varies voltage (and in some cases amperage on MIG) between two fixed settings (high and low), without the arc ever going out.

 

[ThomasH]

Well, the Miller XMT304/XMT350 fits the bill except there is no wire feeder built in. Add a 22 or 60 series wire feeder, a push pull feeder, etc., and you are there. That would be more portable than I think you are going to find one with built in wire feed is going to be.

As to the US based manufacturer part, that is becoming a more and more blurred line, with almost all of the parts coming from southeast Asia. I guess I think of Miller and Lincoln as US based assemblers rather than manufacturers. They have fairly good product support channels through the dealers, which is something that matters to many, but certainly not all users.

 

[Big Barn]

Well, the Miller XMT304/XMT350 fits the bill except there is no wire feeder built in. Add a 22 or 60 series wire feeder, a push pull feeder, etc., and you are there. That would be more portable than I think you are going to find one with built in wire feed is going to be. As to the US based manufacturer part, that is becoming a more and more blurred line, with almost all of the parts coming from southeast Asia. I guess I think of Miller and Lincoln as US based assemblers rather than manufacturers. They have fairly good product support channels through the dealers, which is something that matters to many, but certainly not all users.

This is what I would also suggest. Might have to go 'used' route to keep within the $3K budget as the Optima Pulser Pendant ($1500+)would be necessary for pulse capability. Terry

 

[mikehaugen]

This is what I would also suggest. Might have to go 'used' route to keep within the $3K budget as the Optima Pulser Pendant ($1500+)would be necessary for pulse capability. Terry

And the xmt304 is nearly 4k by itself!

That said, we have an xmt304/22a combo at work. It's nice, but I don't have much to compare it to mig-wise. I don't think it does ac tig though, I'll have to check. Can't remember if that was one of the op's criteria.

 

[Big Barn]

And the xmt304 is nearly 4k by itself! That said, we have an xmt304/22a combo at work. It's nice, but I don't have much to compare it to mig-wise. I don't think it does ac tig though, I'll have to check. Can't remember if that was one of the op's criteria.

Mike, I have the XMT 350. DC only for tig. Optima would be for mig. All the 'ad ons' add up pretty quick dollar wise. Spool gun and controller $1500 (new), Optima $1500, push pull feeder and gun$4K and up. Terry

Edit: pretty sure if he was shopping for 3in 1 or multiprocess he would be limited to DC

 

[ThomasH]

This is what I would also suggest. Might have to go 'used' route to keep within the $3K budget as the Optima Pulser Pendant ($1500+)would be necessary for pulse capability. Terry

Yup, it is pricey new. I bought one of mine (I have 2) about a year old from a guy with a pendant and s64 feeder and gun for $2400. He said it had been used for 8-10 hours and not since, and it certainly appeared that way as there was not a scratch on the unit, and it was clean with covers. The reason I bring this up is that they can be found for some pretty reasonable amounts.