What is Duty Cycle in Welding?

The duty cycle is the percentage of time in a given period that a welder can operate at its maximum output without overheating.

What does a 60% duty cycle mean?

For example, a welder with a 60% duty cycle must be turned off for four minutes out of every ten minutes it is operated at maximum output.

What does a 20% duty cycle on a welder mean?

A 20% duty cycle means that the welder can be operated at maximum output for two minutes out of every ten minutes.

Why is the duty cycle important? How does the duty cycle affect welding?

The duty cycle is important because it determines how long a welder can be used continuously without overloading the power source and causing damage.

How long is a welder duty cycle?

The duty cycle is an important consideration when choosing a welder, as it affects how long the welder can be used continuously without overloading and damaging the machine.

How to increase the duty cycle of a welder?

Some ways to increase the duty cycle of a welder include:

  • using a lower amperage setting,
  • using a larger wire size,
  • or using a gas-shielded welding process.

How to calculate the duty cycle?

The duty cycle can be calculated by dividing the total welding time by the rested time. For example, if a welder is used for one minute and then rested for four minutes, the duty cycle would be 20%.

Conclusion

If you frequently need to weld for extended periods of time, look for a welder with a high duty cycle rating.

Related Links

Duty cycle
What Is Duty Cycle? | Fluke
Pulse Width Modulation – learn.sparkfun.com
Pulse-width modulation
What is duty cycle? – Definition from WhatIs.com

Related Videos