12 best welding semiautomatic devices

If the semiautomatic device is chosen for large volumes of work, it is worth thinking about purchasing a device designed for massive coils - this will significantly reduce the cost of the wire. Usually semi-automatic, designed for 20-pound reels - this is a massive structure on wheeled carts, designed for three-phase power supply network. But there are exceptions: Speedway 200, produced by the Chinese company Riland for the domestic brand Aurora, is not only designed for single-phase power, but also withstands a voltage drop of up to 140 volts. Therefore, owners of car services and small firms engaged in the production of metal structures should pay attention to this device.

The semiautomatic has classic mechanical regulators, the current and voltage of the arc are displayed on digital indicators. In the MIG mode, an apparatus having a PV of 60% at a current of 200A will be able to work almost continuously without interruption with the most common wire diameters, 0.8 and 1.0 mm, and it is also possible to use 1.2 mm wire. Available flexible inductance adjustment. In the MMA mode, the main working diameters of the electrodes will be 3 and 4 mm, but the device without problems will be able to cook for a long time and the "five".

Of course, the dimensions of this semi-automatic make it quite a specific product, but this cannot be a reason for downgrading. The result is a well-deserved third place.

The device is compact enough for “large-coil” semiautomatic devices and is designed mainly for working with thin-walled parts - its average power is 250 amperes at 60% PV. But, anyway, already with a decrease in current to 200 A, it is able to operate continuously. With an open-circuit voltage of 50 V, it is easily ignited on a contaminated surface, although it is indisputable that cooking with a semiautomatic device over mud is still masochism.

Given that the device is designed for long-term work (and the possibilities of the design itself, and work with 300-millimeter coils to have this), it is nice that they immediately included a heated gearbox in the kit. Provides a smooth adjustment of inductance - the device is well adapted to the welding of different materials.

Compared to a similar model without an Arctic device, the device has become more economical (the current consumption is up to 14 A, not 20), the power factor has increased from 0.7 to 0.85 (and this also reduces the load on the supply network), the dimensions and weight. However, at the same time, the device lost the ability to work with the piece electrode and change the polarity - if we don’t attribute the first to unambiguous shortcomings, still devices of this type are bought specifically for working with wire in large volumes, then the lack of support for fluxed wire can interfere with work. The last drawback, which is worth mentioning is the simplicity of the feeder - it has two rollers, which once again confirms the main orientation to the “tin” when working with thin wire.

If the presence of additional welding modes is not critical and the device is purchased exclusively for working with wire, take a closer look at Overman 200. This welding machine, like the whole Overman line, can boast of such features that are not frequent in its price segment: a record low threshold of 140V, and when working with metal of different thickness, you can quickly adjust the current-voltage characteristic with an inductance regulator.

Overman 200 can work with all types of wire, including aluminum. An interesting feature of this family of devices is the separate adjustment of the current and voltage of the arc - usually semi-automatic devices have only a voltage regulator. But there is also its own fly in the ointment: when developing the Overman line, the engineers abandoned the smooth manual adjustment of the wire pulling speed, setting the “quick-slow” two-position switch instead. Therefore, the total score on the totality of qualities has to be reduced.

Another semi-automatic, designed for large volumes of work and, consequently, the use of massive wire coils. There are no additional welding modes here, as in the Overman 200 - the inverter is designed exclusively for working with wire.

PV 60% at a current of 200 A allows you to work with common nominal diameters of 0.8-1 mm without forced stops. The inverter has three adjustments: voltage and arc current, as well as inductance.There is no regulator of wire feed speed here, in principle, the feed is adjusted automatically by the control electronics itself.

When working in the cold, it is possible to connect the heating of the gearbox: the corresponding 36V socket is connected to the back wall of the device.

The INMIG series is a multifunctional welding machine for professional use, the “200th” model of them is the youngest in the series. This device, in addition to the now fashionable "synergetic control", boasts a rich set of operating modes:

• Semi-automatic MIG / MAG mode with software-defined parameters for wire feeding and arc burning - the user specifies the type of material and the diameter of the wire used. The mode of welding with short seams is available. SPOT - automatic, regardless of the position of the button on the torch, stops the wire feed after a specified time. This is convenient when welding structures that do not require tightness of the seam: long joints of frames, body repair and so on.
• Welding with a MMA stick electrode with a current of up to 170 amps, VRD mode is enabled. The characteristics of arc boosting are smoothly tuned.
• TIG welding in argon medium can be carried out with a current of up to 200 A. The ignition is accomplished by touching.

Alas, this semiautomatic device cannot be called successful: in addition to low PV values ​​(long continuous operation is possible only with a wire with a diameter of 0.8 mm or two-millimeter electrodes), many users also noted the tendency of the device to fail when a sharp voltage drop occurs. For a welding machine that is positioned as a professional, this is unacceptable - hence the reduced rating.

From the line "Resanta" is one of the most common and popular semi-automatic. Its advantages should be attributed to a fairly large current margin - 200A, while PV - 70%. When welding with millimeter wire the device does not overheat.

On the other hand, the price of this semi-automatic may seem overpriced, especially if you take into account not the most positive reviews about the quality of the products of this company. This is especially noticeable on the background of the characteristics of the confidently gaining popularity of AuroraPRO Overman, which at the same price can boast of more flexible settings and superior reliability.

The complete set of the semiautomatic device is also not the best: the standard burner, although it is connected to the standard Euro connector, will be short for many works - its sleeve is only 2 meters long. The most obvious indication of the build quality is that the scales on the front panel are interchanged: the voltage regulator actually controls the pulling speed, and vice versa.

The budget inverter from a reputable manufacturer, compact and convenient to operate. Designed for welding with direct current in the environment of protective gases (carbon dioxide, argon). Perhaps this is the most affordable model in the line of inverter semi-automatic. Alas, it does not shine with its characteristics: at PV of 70% and a maximum current of 160A, its use should be limited to 0.8 mm wire in MIG mode and electrodes not thicker than 3 mm in MMA mode. Reviews of reliability traditionally for this brand are not encouraging.

The semiautomatic device can use both a usual, and flux wire. The polarity reversal mechanism is traditionally made in the form of a switchable power supply for the burner on the front panel.

It cannot be said that the semiautomatic device turned out to be successful: in comparison with the previous series, the updated SAIPA-165 became too flat and high. Instability can play a cruel joke if you need to work near the device (for example, when welding under the bottom of a car raised on a lift) - just hook the case a little so that the semiautomatic device falls on its side. Reliability it is clearly not add. In addition, Resanta still stubbornly refuses to use the standard Euro-connector of the welding torch sleeve - it is not so easy to replace the standard two-meter torch with a longer and higher-quality product. Even the very detachment of the sleeve at Resanty is rather inconvenient - from here, by the way, stories about semi-automatic devices with an “integrated” sleeve went.

Our rating of the best welding semiautomatic devices continues to be the device of the diametrically opposite class - the inverter with digital control. By “indestructibility”, of course, it’s like walking to Paris to Telwin as a transformer, but it’s not to take away its advantages from Aurora: let's start with the presence of a NAKS certificate. In addition, the device can use stick electrodes, the maximum current in the MMA mode is 300 amperes (as well as when operating in semi-automatic mode).

Due to the use of electronics, this welding semi-automatic is noticeably lighter than transformer "colleagues" - just under 60 kg. Installation of coils up to 20 kg is possible. A cylinder of carbon dioxide, argon or a gas mixture is traditionally installed on the rear platform. The power supply of the device is only from a three-phase network, the “appetite” is quite moderate - up to 18 amperes.

The “synergetic” management may seem confusing, but you can get used to it quickly. The device allows you to save in memory and quickly bring up three settings - this is very convenient when several typical tasks are performed at different intervals. The main setting is carried out by a single button and a multifunction regulator — all welding parameters are set alternately, with the exception of the 4T or 2T mode selection: it is “hung” on a separate button, it also turns on VRD in MMA mode. In addition, the device has certain self-diagnostics tools that allow you to report a fault with an indication by the corresponding error code.

A relatively inexpensive inverter unit with a NAKS certificate is powered from a single-phase network, so it will be a good choice for small services or workshops that do not have the ability to connect to a 380 V network. Rated power is up to 7.8 kW, but the power factor is too small (0.73 ), the supply line should be prepared more seriously. The three-phase version of GN in this plan is made better (power factor - 0.93).

The welding current in MIG / MAG and MMA modes is up to 250 A at sixty percent PV, so its main purpose is “tin” in semi-automatic mode (and the wire is also supported by a maximum of millimeter diameter, up to 4 mm . In general, the classic use of such devices - a professional semi-automatic does not have to be a high-power “cabinet”, it will simply never be used in many jobs.

Management is convenient, with digital indication of the established modes. There is an inductance setting, switching between two-stroke and four-stroke modes of operation.A quick choice of polarity by reversing the terminal on the front panel is possible.