Mig as a Wire cutter

[Technic_569]

I have heard/seen factories using a high voltage wire to cut metal, and am wondering if anyone has ever attempted to do this type of thing using a mig welder with maximum voltage and a high wire speed? I know when you keep the tip in the same spot it burns a hole through the metal. Any reasons why this would would not work or be any more dangerous than normal welding?

 

[shadow images]

If it worked it would be a mess.

 

[harvey4804]

Yeah, it would be nasty, inaccurate, and completely cost ineffective. but shoot give it a try and post some pix!

 

[wolfgang_90]

I have used my Lincon Intelarc 300 to burn holes in things, but that's carbon arc'ing. It took a lot of juice. I did it with a star shaped carbon rod, but it can be done with a regular stick welder, it will work better than your mig.

The way you do it is just set the heat on high and touch the metal. It will burn a hole. I've done it on a mig, but it looks like ****, as the wire melts into the left and right piece of metal.

If you want to do this go buy a plasma cutter (a 220v one if you are not doing sheet metal)

 

[Technic_569]

Thanks, I had a hunch that it wouldn't work, but you never know when you have a useful idea

 

[rsanter]

you can do thsi for thin material bit it wont be neat

I have seen what you are talking about and they are completly different machines

bob

 

[arkangel06]

just buy a torch...

 

[malibu101]

Yeah, forget what you are thinking of doing. I've already cranked up a bit with 6010's on a regular DC machine to severance cut thinner metal. Ultimately the metals cut but a big, inaccurate mess that uses a bunch of rods is the result.
Get a torch or plasma cutter. A torch has MANY uses too.

 

[turbotank]

wire edm?.

 

[arkangel06]

wire edm?.

We have one of those at work they are awesome!

The only thing is it takes a 25min cycle time to make a cut about 1/4'' long in 1/8'' thick carbide

 

[ujmchris]

I've used the arc welder turned all the way up to cut some 2" angle before. Big mess, lots of rod, and sloppy as heck, but the torch was out of gas and the chop saw didn't have any blades.

 

[mhm993]

On the other hand, kudos to the op for the sheer overkill of the idea. I think any alternative use of high energy or plasma deserves some notice.
(Go out and buy a tool today. You earned it!)

 

[greenbuggy]

I've used this method to cut chain before. Cranked it way up and melted what I needed out of the way. Of course this was just to remove one link when I didn't have a torch.

As far as cable, depending on thickness it may be faster to arc-air it than to cut with a cutting torch. When I cut a haul rope for the ski hill I work for it took forever with an oxy-acetelene because every individual strand had to heat up pretty hot before it would sever...

 

[Kevin54]

wire edm?.

Yep, Wire EDM. Different type of wire than a MIG. Also different voltage. A wire EDM can go down to .005 diameter I believe and make super accurate and clean cuts. Not sure of the type of wire used but it will spool off of the top and wind onto a bottom spool. If Old Car Guy is around, I think he has a video clip of an EDM in use.

 

[back2class]

EDM's are pretty cool, a friend used to have one to cut carbide tooling. NOT gona work with a mig. On a sidenote, I sometimes use my arc to cut steel, they sell cutting rods but never tried them. Makes a mess but quick. Arc is also great for vaporizing broken off studs. If you do it just right the threads will be fine.