Inverter-based welders: Yea or Nay?

[e9999]

so, whenever I think about somebody (me?) getting a new welder, the one question that always pops in my mind is about IGBT inverter-based machines. Essentially, I'm wondering if that technology has already proven itself unambiguously? Or are we still in the relatively early stages and we may discover in a short few years that the machines break down more often / are more costly to repair than transformer-based ones, and it be better to wait another X years for the technology to mature before buying one...?
What say you?

 

[Pin_Head]

Inverters have been around a long time; at least 30 years. PowCon welders were inverters but they used SCRs which have a slower switching frequency than IGBTs. They were reportedly reliable. The first IGBTs came out maybe 15 years ago and they weren't as reliable as the ones now. The Miller XMT series is an IGBT type inverter and I would consider it "mature' technology. Transformer type welders are pretty robust too. I fished my Linde HeliArc HF250 out of a dumpster 20 years ago because the main transformer was burned out. $60 worth of magnet wire and Nomex transformer insulation later it was working fine and it served me well for about 19 years. I took a chance on that and got lucky because I knew the guy that threw it out. I just sold it to a guy that does industrial food service stainless steel welding for $500 a few months back. I'm still looking for a replacement that is under 60 pounds.

 

[e9999]

Well, it did seem to me that the big wave of IGBTs did start out relatively recently, maybe even driven by relatively inexpensive imports and that until not that long ago most big names ones were transformer-based. OTOH, I did notice a few noteworthy Lincoln and Miller IGBT ones coming out in the last couple of years. Along with multipurpose features. Seemed like the big names were trailing the cheaper imports in that respect. (I was kind of hoping that this was because they were more conservative / careful about going that way.) But then again, I'm thinking mostly hobbyist level, not pro devices, and will readily admit ignorance on the latter.

So, are you saying that I can buy a run of the mill IGBT machine today and expect with confidence that it will last 20+ years?

(I will say that the smaller size and weight -and multipurpose capabilities- of some of the IGBTs out there now are very attractive indeed.)

 

[Cruiserdrew]

For as long as e9999 has been discussing buying a welder, he could have built his own from recycled flip phones.

Personally, I'd wait for the new wave of flux capacitor machines to hit the market. Shouldn't be too long.

 

[e9999]

What? Recycle flip phones? Why? They are working great!

Actually, I did get a new welder a year or two ago, transformer-based, but I'm not so sure I'd go the same route today. Intrigued by the IGBTs, I am.

 

[Pin_Head]

IGBTs that can handle 1-300 amps used to be a lot more expensive and the price drop has been fueling all the new inverter welder rage. I can't say with confidence that anything, myself included, will last another 20 years. I have been looking into buying a new inverter and I have not seen much complaining about IBGTs failing, but there is plenty of other stuff to go wrong. You just have to roll the dice and hope you get lucky. I'm leaning towards the Victor / ESAB / Tweco / Thermal Arc 211i but I don't need to get one now.

 

[RufusTheDufus]

I've got an inverter Miller Dynasty 200 TIG setup and love it. A friend of mine has a fab shop and builds a lot of aluminum dock systems. He bought a bunch of Miller's newer pulsed MIG units (inverter-based) to replace the slower TIG process he was using for most of the dock systems. His units see 40 to 60 hours of work per week and have been running flawlessly for the past 3 years.

 

[e9999]

It's amazing you can get a multiprocess multivoltage machine like that 211i for less than a $1000 now.

 

[Trollhole]

I've got a Multimatic 200 and love it. Does everything we need in our shop. No issues with it so far.

 

[cruisermatt]

I've got a Multimatic 200 and love it. Does everything we need in our shop. No issues with it so far.

The 200 is a hero! Ours got dropped 20 feet off a scissor lift one time!

 

[Pin_Head]

You could get more than 2 Tweco 211is for the price of a single multi magic 200. It would have to come wrapped in 10 hundred dollar bills to be worth it.

 

[silverhorse]

transformer .. better for longevity.. been around forever... its a coke or pepsi thing though-- personnel preference