12-27-2015, 09:01 AM
If you check the regulator of the flow meter that 'works' with the welder, on the face of the gauge you should see in small print "based on a .030" orifice" or some thing like that. If that is what yours says, then you can just use the pressure gage that you have. If that is the case the orifice is built into your welder, and you should not use a 'flowmeter' with an external orifice. That would be any kind of flowmeter that has an glass or plastic cylinder on it with a 'floating ball' to indicate flow rate.
All flow meters are based on the principle that a known pressure flowing through a known orifice will deliver a known flow.
While I can't tell you what pressure you should set yours at, an educated guess would be about 25 psi. I would expect to use about 25 CFH as a flow rate. The following is a guess, but it would make sense that the .030" orifice is sized to have the incoming pressure equal the flow rate in CFM. It would make sense to pick a size that would use the markings on a gage... just sayin'
The fancy flow meters that have a non adjustable pressure and a tube with a floating ball have a variable orifice to adjust the flow. The glass cylinder is calibrated to show the out put but the regulating principle is the same. As you get used to using your new configuration, look at the welds and compare them to online samples and watch for signs of low gas flow in your test welds.
paul
ARS WB9HCO
All flow meters are based on the principle that a known pressure flowing through a known orifice will deliver a known flow.
While I can't tell you what pressure you should set yours at, an educated guess would be about 25 psi. I would expect to use about 25 CFH as a flow rate. The following is a guess, but it would make sense that the .030" orifice is sized to have the incoming pressure equal the flow rate in CFM. It would make sense to pick a size that would use the markings on a gage... just sayin'
The fancy flow meters that have a non adjustable pressure and a tube with a floating ball have a variable orifice to adjust the flow. The glass cylinder is calibrated to show the out put but the regulating principle is the same. As you get used to using your new configuration, look at the welds and compare them to online samples and watch for signs of low gas flow in your test welds.
paul
ARS WB9HCO