The entry into the market of compact devices for semi-automatic welding and their high popularity have contributed to the expansion of the use of welding in almost all areas of human life. So, with the help of semi-automatic various car body repairs are carried out. Welding is also used in industrial or private construction. With their use, various metal structures are produced.
In the process of working with the device, some components tend to wear out and become unusable. One of such components of this equipment is a sleeve for a semiautomatic welding machine. During operation, the elements are subject to various external factors:
- High temperatures during the welding process.
- Drops of molten metal.
- Scratches.
- Various excesses.
Inside the sleeve, its guides are abraded with wire, which is fed to the welding zone. Naturally, all these influences adversely affect the device and disable it. Often, the sleeve for the welding semiautomatic device breaks the very first.
Types
Modern manufacturers today offer two types of welding hoses. It can be directly a sleeve or a torch. Moreover, the appearance of these products is no different from each other. Both of these names designate the same accessory.
So, a welding torch-sleeve of semiautomatic devices consists of three main elements. It is directly a torch, a sleeve, and also sockets for their connection. Unfortunately, it is now difficult to find sleeves for sale separately. But you can buy almost all the structural components or find analogues.
Device
So, the sleeve for the welding semiautomatic device consists of a rubber shell. Under it is a fairly complex filling. Since semi-automatic welding requires a special wire, a complex system is located in the welding sleeve. It represents a directing channel supplying a spiral. There may also be a teflon tube inside. Firms that produce components for welding may have a different device for the sleeve of a welding semiautomatic device.
Also, the protective gas is necessary for the work process. A separate hose is used to feed it. Depending on what brand and model the device, the process of transportation and supply of wire and gas to the working area may vary. Together with the coaxial, there is a parallel type.
A positive power cable from the welding to the transformer also passes inside the sleeve. This cord goes to the current tip located on the burner. There are also two thin wires. They are connected to the start button.
Appointment
A sleeve for a semiautomatic welding machine is needed to feed the wire, with which the metal welding process is carried out. The component is fed by a transport mechanism. The sleeve is also designed to provide inert or active gases to the burner. This protects the weld from oxidation. A power cable runs in the sleeve. It serves to power the welding arc; the other end goes to the start button.
Consumables
The sleeve for the welding semiautomatic device is a consumable material, or rather, a spiral that is responsible for feeding the wire. This part is also called a feed channel, a guiding element.
As materials for its production, wire or steel tape is used. However, the latter can also be made of plastic. The wire or tape is wound in the form of a spiral. Further, it is covered externally with insulating materials.
Due to the fact that the wire constantly rubs against the inner surface of the sleeve, the internal elements are actively worn out. It also contributes to dust and dirt that gets in along with the wire. The channel is particularly susceptible to wear when working with aluminum wire. For work with aluminum material, Teflon tubes are used.
These guide channels are “consumables” that need to be changed periodically. The gas hose is also subject to replacement. It is prone to tearing.
Reasons for the failure of an element
If the sleeve of a welding semiautomatic device with a mechanical valve is out of order or the device has received mechanical damage, the part requires repair or replacement. In order not to spend extra money, you must first diagnose the site.
If the welding seam turns out to be of poor quality, then this directly depends on the condition of the sleeve. A poor seam can be caused by jamming of the wire inside the element or an insufficient amount of gas. Both reasons are grounds for replacing the sleeve separately, or together with the burner. The latter option is rarely used. More often they buy one new element, or make a welding sleeve for a semiautomatic device with their own hands.
Market offers and prices
The cost of the part from the kit along with the burner starts from one and a half thousand rubles. The most expensive device costs about 12 thousand. Channels for transporting wire will cost a maximum of 200-400 rubles.
If you need a Teflon tube, then it costs a maximum of 500-1000 p. Sleeves of domestic production can be purchased for 20-40 p. for each running meter. The diameter of this hose is 6.3 mm. Therefore, it is not necessary to purchase a sleeve as a kit. From purchased supplies, you can make an excellent home-made sleeve for a welding semiautomatic device.
How to choose
When buying kits for semi-automatic welding, several important factors must be considered. So, you need to know the model of the device and its functions. This can be work in an inert or active gas environment, argon arc welding or work with flux-cored wire. It is worth considering how the connecting elements are arranged. The most popular option is KZ-2. The ergonomic characteristics of the burner are also important. The handle should sit comfortably in the hand, and the button should be large enough.
When choosing, it is worth paying attention to the diameter of the wire for which this or that device is intended. With ordinary welding devices, wire with a diameter of 0.6 to 1.6 mm is used. But specific devices can also work with narrower size ranges - for example, 0.2-0.6 mm.
An important moment when choosing - maximum currents and sleeve thickness. Optimal for any welding job - 3 mm. But on sale you can find products of greater length.
Gas hose selection
If it is necessary to replace not only the wire feed sleeve, but also the hose, it is important to pay attention to the marking and color of the element when choosing. For gases such as argon and helium, elements designed for pressures up to 0.6 MPa are used. Domestic products should be labeled according to GOST 9956-75. Hose for working with oxygen must correspond to the 3rd class. Permissible working pressures of such an element are up to 2 MPa. This hose is blue.
Conclusion
This is all you need to know about welding hoses, their replacement, selection and purchase. Home craftsmen often replace branded hoses with shirts from bicycle cables or from a speedometer cable.