What the article is about:
Review of semi-automatic welding machine RESANTA SAIPA 200
Semi-automatic welding machines from the Resanta company are modern equipment designed for welding using wire with a protective sheath. Semi-automatic machines are equipped with the latest functions and a modernized wire drawing system. All this makes working with Resanta semi-automatic machines convenient, and the quality of the welded joint always remains at its best.
Of all the models of semi-automatic welding machines, the most popular is the Resanta Saipa 200. A welding current of 200 amperes guarantees the completion of most household and industrial work, allowing you to weld both a thin car body and thick metals, the thickness of which reaches 6 mm.
In this article you can learn about the characteristics of the Resanta Saipa 200 inverter semi-automatic machine, as well as read reviews from those who have been using such a semi-automatic machine for a long time.
General information
Connecting metal parts to each other makes it possible to realize even the most complex projects. Semiautomatic welding machines can be classified as single-phase devices that perform welding operations at direct current. As for the Resanta SAIPA-165 brand apparatus, welding occurs using wire , which melts in a gas environment. A rather big advantage of semi-automatic welding is that the wire and gas are supplied from the torch simultaneously, unlike a conventional welding machine that uses electrodes.
In semi-automatic machines there is no need to maintain a constant gap between the metal and the wire, since the wire is fed automatically.
Another strength of the semi-automatic welding machine is that it is possible to work with fairly thin metal without burning holes. The welding device has an adjustable wire feed speed , which makes the robot quite easy. If the metal is thick, then you can set the amperage higher and the wire feed speed higher, which will speed up the welding process.
Semi-automatic welding technique
Let's look at how to weld semi-automatically, since this type of work has several options - welding with shielding gases and welding without gas, using flux-cored wire.
Gas shielded welding technology
For semi-automatic welding, you can use several types of gases. The most commonly used gases are carbon dioxide or helium. This is due to their availability and low cost of use. Gases are used to reduce oxidation of the metal from which the part being welded is made, in order to increase the strength of the weld. The main condition for operating a semi-automatic machine with carbon dioxide is preliminary preparation of the part. This means thoroughly cleaning it to remove all dust, dirt, paint residue or rust. To do this, use sandpaper or an iron brush.
There are three types of welding technology:
- continuous welding, when the torch or electrode is carried out from the beginning to the end of the seam;
- spot welding, in which parts are connected not by a continuous path, but by welded spots;
- Short circuit welding is carried out mainly for thin sheet metal and involves melting the metal by applying pulses from a short circuit that forms in the welding machine. Once closed, the molten material is pulled together into a droplet, which is used to join the two parts.
Most often, semi-automatic welding with carbon dioxide is performed in alternating current mode. Before starting work, you need to prepare everything for welding. The device is adjusted depending on the type of metal and its thickness. The gas consumption from the cylinders will depend on the welding mode. The wire diverges almost equally - on average 4 centimeters per second. More precise settings can be found in the GOST tables, which indicate the modes and standards for each type of metal. When both the equipment and parts are ready, you can begin connecting the products using a semi-automatic machine. First of all, you need to turn on the gas supply and then excite the arc. To do this, you need to touch the part with the wire. When you press “start/start” on the body of the device, the mechanical feeding of the electrode wire begins.
The quality of the seam depends on many nuances. For example, it is important to hold the wire and guide it straight, but not too close to the workpiece. So as not to block your view of the weld pool. During work, it is important that the required interval is maintained between the edges of the parts being welded. The operating technology is such that when the product is up to a centimeter thick, the gap should be no more than 1 mm; when the product is more than a centimeter thick, the gap is 10% of this value. Very often, parts in a lying state are welded on a special iron substrate, placing it from below very tightly to the base metal.
Aluminum welding technology
A semi-automatic machine can be used to weld various metals, and aluminum is no exception. But there are special rules, since this metal has some special features. On its surface there is a thin layer of amalgam, whose melting point is much higher than that of aluminum (more than 2000 degrees, while the base metal melts at 650 degrees). In this case, argon is used as an inert gas. Since aluminum quickly melts and begins to flow, a substrate is used to work on a semi-automatic welding machine.
The welding process itself occurs with consumable electrodes under the influence of direct current of reverse polarity - this is when a negative charge is attached to the part, and a positive charge to the torch. Such welding techniques contribute to high-quality melting of the workpiece and rapid destruction of the top layer. Although for such a connection you can use another trick - pre-clean the product to remove the oxide film. You can read more about the features of working with aluminum here.
The joining technique can be performed in different spatial positions using different types of seams.
Wire welding
The peculiarities of welding are that work can be done both in a gas environment and without the use of carbon dioxide, helium or argon. One popular joining method is submerged arc welding. It is more often used in industrial conditions than in domestic ones. This is due to the fact that flux itself is an expensive material. This is the powder that is found in the middle of the wire. During melting, under the influence of high temperature, it releases a gas cloud that protects the weld pool from oxidation. That is, in this case, additional inert gas is not supplied from the cylinder.
The main advantage of flux-cored wire is that it can be used to weld with a welding machine outdoors or indoors in a draft. For example, when gas welding, you will not get a high-quality path if there is wind, since it violates the gas flow.
Semi-automatic welding without gas can be carried out under any conditions, both indoors and outdoors.
It is not recommended to weld too thin sheets or medium-carbon steel with a welding unit using self-shielding wire, as defects may appear (mainly hot cracks).
To increase the temperature of the welding arc to quickly and efficiently melt the flux, you need to use the same trick as with aluminum welding - apply reverse polarity.
Features of the device
First of all, the device has an ergonomic design. Quite convenient regulators, which are controlled with minimal power consumption. During welding, the arc is uniform, which prevents the wire from sticking. The Resanta Saipa-165 device has overheating protection ; as soon as the device overheats, the protection will automatically work and de-energize the semiautomatic device. The features of the model include a strong and reliable ground wire, which ensures proper contact.
The semi-automatic device has built-in special protection against power surges, which is a definite plus. The presence of the “forced arc mode” function, which saves parameters as the arc distance increases, also makes it easier for the robot. The machine can use welding wire with a diameter of 0.6−0.9 mm, which allows you to make a high-quality and durable seam of thin metal.
There is another newer model, this is the “Saipa 220” inverter, the model is also manufactured in Latvia. The inverter can be used both in professional and amateur welding.
Technical characteristics and equipment
Compared to other semi-automatic machines, the Resanta Saipa 165 looks quite decent, thanks to its improved ergonomics. The technical characteristics of the device are as follows:
- It is possible to choose welding in a gas environment or without it.
- Wide range of welding current changes from 20 to 160 A.
- Use wire with a diameter of 0.6 to 2 mm.
- Relatively small weight of the device, amounting to 11.5 kg. Dimensions - 60.5x24x37 cm.
- The power is 4.7 kW per hour.
- It is possible to cook with electrodes.
The Resanta semi-automatic machine is mainly used for welding cars and spot welding, but it is not designed to work with large areas. When welding, it is necessary to compare the diameters of the wire with the welding current and the wire feed speed. As for the technical characteristics of the Saip 220 , they are slightly better than those of the Saip 165 model, and look as follows:
- The ability to adjust the welding current from 10 to 220 A, which allows you to work with thicker metal.
- Ability to perform welding work even if the input voltage is 154 V.
- At peak load, the inverter consumes 30 A.
- The diameter of the welding wire ranges from 1.6 to 5 mm.
- Quite a high protection class IP 21, which will allow you to work in various adverse conditions.
- Weight is 4.9 kg.
The strength of this semi-automatic machine is the ability to work with thick metal, and for quite a long time. "Resanta" semi-automatic "Saipa 220" inverter can work in places where the voltage is quite low. The device can easily withstand heat and rain, and due to the above characteristics of the “Saipa 220 Resanta”, the semi-automatic inverter welding machine has only positive reviews.
The cost of the device is quite high, and the equipment is minimal. The user who purchases a welding device of this model will receive only the necessary components for welding. The kit includes a burner, ground wire, and documentation for the device. There is no case for consumables, no welding shield and no brush for stripping metal. The price varies from 17 to 20 thousand rubles.
Reviews about Resanta Saipa-200
We have analyzed the majority of reviews about the Resanta Saipa-200 semi-automatic welding machine and whether it is worth buying. In general, the welding machine is very popular, which is associated with a considerable number of its advantages.
So, the advantages of a semi-automatic welding machine are as follows:
- Multifunctional machine for semi-automatic MIG/MAG welding, as well as manual arc MMA electrode welding;
- Mobility, the device has fairly small dimensions and weighs just over 14 kg;
- The presence of all kinds of protections makes the semi-automatic machine a reliable assistant in semi-automatic welding;
- The semi-automatic machine provides a high-quality weld. It welds thin metal well and does not burn through it;
- Quite powerful;
- Able to operate on reduced voltage;
- Easily able to pull wire with a diameter of 1 mm.
For the garage and performing various repair work, this semi-automatic machine from the Resanta company is enough. As for the disadvantages, they are listed below.
Disadvantages of the Resanta semi-automatic welding machine
Many who have already bought a semi-automatic welding machine Resanta Saipa-200 complain about the plastic wire feed mechanism. Also, not everyone liked the short ground wire, less than 1.5 meters long, and the short welding sleeve, less than 2 meters long.
In all other respects, the semi-automatic welding machine Resanta Saipa-200 is well worth the money. With skillful use and possible modification, the semi-automatic device will serve faithfully for many years, and during this time it will pay for itself thoroughly.
Auxiliary equipment
Due to the fact that the welding kit comes with quite a few consumables, as well as personal protective equipment, the user will have to spend money on various additional materials after purchase. A wide range of additional equipment can be found on the market. One of the elements is welding wire of various diameters; if possible, it is also necessary to purchase welding electrodes.
You will also have to purchase a gas cylinder. A brush for cleaning various surfaces will be useful, and for a normal gas supply you need to take a pressure reducer. In the Resanta 165 inverter semi-automatic machine, the pulse feeder often fails, which you will also have to buy or repair yourself.
