Viladepot MIG200 3-in-1 Welding Machine Instruction Manual

1. Introduction

1.1 Read Me First

Thank you for using the Viladepot MIG200 welder! For your safety, please read this manual and understand its contents before operation. Your cooperation is appreciated.

1.2 Use and Characteristics

The Viladepot MIG200 is an Inverter MIG welding machine that combines three functions: MIG, Lift TIG, and MMA. This machine is suitable for welding various materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, and titanium. It offers good static load and dynamic characteristics, complete control functions, and other advantages:

• IGBT High Frequency Soft Switch Transform: Ensures high efficiency, compact size, and portability.
• Advanced Control System: Significantly improves welding performance to meet diverse process requirements.
• 3-in-1 Functionality: Supports MIG, Lift TIG, and MMA welding modes.
• Easy Arc Starting: Provides a stable arc and high performance.
• Quality Welds: Produces small spatter, stable current, high reliability, and good weld-seam shaping.

The 3-in-1 functionality allows for versatile applications:

• No Gas MIG (Flux Cored Arc Welding): Uses flux-cored wires that generate their own shielding gas when heated. This eliminates the need for an external gas supply, making it suitable for outdoor use and commonly used for welding thicker materials.
• MMA (Manual Metal Arc Welding / Stick Welding): Uses a welding rod. An arc is formed when the electrode strikes the metal, melting both the electrode and the base metal. The electrode provides shielding gas and forms a slag layer to protect the weld. This method is versatile, works well outdoors, and is often used for maintenance, repair, and construction.
• Lift TIG (Lift Tungsten Inert Gas Welding): Uses a tungsten electrode. The tungsten electrode is touched to the metal and then lifted to initiate the arc. This method reduces the risk of tungsten contamination and is easier to control than scratch-start TIG welding. It is commonly used for precision welding of thin materials, such as stainless steel and other metals (excluding aluminum), providing high-quality, clean welds.

2. Safety Precautions

⚠ General Safety Precaution

• Always follow the precautions specified in this manual to prevent accidents.
• The design and construction of the input power supply, selection of installation site, and use of high-pressure gas must comply with relevant standards and rules.
• Only qualified personnel are permitted to install, overhaul, maintain, and operate the welding machine. Irrelevant personnel are not allowed in the welding workplace.
• Ensure the welding machine is used exclusively for welding purposes (not for charging, heating, or pipeline unfreezing).
• Avoid placing the welding machine on uneven ground to prevent tipping.

⚠ Avoid Electrical Shock or Burn

• Touching live electrical parts is strictly forbidden.
• Ensure the welding machine is properly grounded by a professional electrician using a copper conductor of the specified cross-section.
• A professional electrician must connect the power source to the welding machine with a copper conductor of the specified cross-section. The insulating sheath must not be damaged.
• Insulate your body and the base metal when working in wet or restricted areas.
• Use a safety net when working at heights.
• Always close the input power when the machine is not in use.

⚠ Avoid Welding Fume and Gas Damaging Human Body

• Use specified exhaust equipment to prevent gas poisoning and suffocation.
• Be aware that protective gas can accumulate at the bottom of containers, leading to suffocation. Ensure adequate ventilation.

⚠ Avoid Welding Arc, Splash, and Welding Slag Damaging Human Body

• Wear protective glasses with sufficient shade. The welding arc can cause ocular inflammation, and welding splash and slag can burn eyes.
• Use appropriate protective gear for welding, such as leather gloves, a welding jacket, cap, spats, and apron, to protect against arc light, splashes, and slag burns.

⚠ Avoid Fire, Explosion, and Other Accidents

• The welding area must be free of combustibles, as splashes and hot weld joints can cause fires.
• Cables and base metal must be firmly connected to prevent overheating and potential fires.
• Do not weld in the presence of combustible gases or in containers that have held combustibles, as this may lead to explosions.
• Always have a fire extinguisher readily available.

⚠ To Prevent Injury from Rotating Moving Parts

• Keep fingers, hair, and clothing away from the cooling fan, wire feed roll, and other rotating parts.
• When feeding wire, keep the welding gun end away from your eyes, face, and body to prevent injury from the wire.

⚠ Avoid Falling Gas Cylinder and Breaking Gas Regulator

• Gas cylinders must be reliably fixed to prevent them from falling and causing injury.
• Do not store gas cylinders in high-temperature areas or direct sunlight.
• When opening the gas cylinder valve, keep your face away from the gas outlet to prevent injury from high-pressure gas.
• Use only the gas regulator provided by the manufacturer and follow its usage instructions.

⚠ Prevent Movement of Welding Machine

• Do not stand under the welding machine or in its path when moving it with a forklift or crane. The machine could fall and cause injury.
• The lifting rope must be strong enough and not break during suspension. The angle between the rope sling and hook should not exceed 30°.

3. Precautions for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

3.1 Overview

Welding processes can generate electromagnetic interference. Proper installation and correct application methods are essential to minimize the emission of arc welding equipment interference.

This product is classified as Class A equipment, meaning it is suitable for all environments except residential areas powered by a public electrical power system. Note: Class A equipment may not guarantee electromagnetic compatibility in residential areas due to potential conduction and radiated interference.

3.2 Advice for Environment Assessment

Before installing arc welding equipment, assess potential electromagnetic disturbances in the surrounding area. Consider the following:

• Presence of other power cables, control cables, signal cables, and telephone wires near the welding equipment.
• Proximity to broadcasting and television transmitting and receiving equipment.
• Presence of computers and other controllers.
• Presence of high-security level equipment, such as industrial protective equipment.
• The health of nearby personnel, especially those with hearing aids or cardiac pacemakers.
• Presence of calibrating or detection equipment.
• Ensure compatibility with other equipment to prevent interference. Additional protective measures may be required.

3.3 Method of Reducing Radiation Emission

• Public Power Supply System: Connect the arc welding equipment to the public power supply system as recommended by the manufacturer. If interference occurs, implement additional preventive measures, such as connecting a filter. For fixed arc welding equipment, consider power cable shielding using metal pipes or other equivalent methods, ensuring electrical continuity.
• Maintenance of Arc Welding Equipment: Perform routine maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer. Ensure all equipment inlets, auxiliary doors, and panels are closed and tightened during operation. Do not modify the welding equipment unless explicitly allowed in this manual. Adjust and service the spark gap of the arc initiation device and arc stabilizing device according to manufacturer suggestions.
• Welding Cable: Keep welding cables as short as possible and close to each other. They should also be near or close to the ground cable.
• Equipotential Lapping: Be mindful of lapping metal objects in the surroundings. Lapping metal objects and the workpiece increases job hazards. Operators touching these objects and electrodes may experience electrical shock. Operators must be insulated from these metal objects.
• Workpiece Earthing: While earthing the workpiece can reduce radiation emission, it may not always be feasible or safe. If earthing is used, ensure it does not increase the risk of electric shock or damage other electrical equipment. In some cases, direct earthing may be necessary, but local regulations should be followed, potentially requiring specific capacitors.
• Shielding: Shielding surrounding equipment and other cables can reduce electromagnetic interference. For special applications, the entire welding area can be shielded.

4. Specifications

4.1 Main Technical Parameters

5. Installation

5.1 Environment Requirements

• Install in a dry environment with humidity less than 90% at 20°C and 50% at 40°C.
• The operating temperature range is -10°C to 40°C. For storage and transportation, the range is -20°C to 55°C.
• Protect the machine from direct sunlight and rain. Avoid raindrops.
• Avoid using in environments with strong airflow when TIG welding.
• The inclination of the welding power should be less than 10°, and the altitude no more than 1000m.
• Avoid dusty, acidic, or corrosive environments.
• The machine should be placed at least 20cm from walls and 10cm from other welding machines to ensure proper ventilation.

5.2 Input Power Source Requirements

• Waveform: Standard pure sine wave.
• Fluctuation Range: 220V±15% (for 220V models) or 110V±15% (for 110V models).
• Frequency: 50Hz/60Hz.
• The power supply should be single-phase AC 220V/50Hz (or 110V/50Hz depending on model). Use a distribution cabinet with an automatic air switch. Ensure safe grounding.

5.3 General Installation Steps

Note: Please follow these steps carefully for installation and debugging. Before any electrical connection, turn off the power switch on the distribution panel!

• Connect the welding input power wire to the corresponding voltage level and a circuit breaker (recommended ≥40A).
• Ensure good contact between the input power wire and the power terminal or switch to prevent oxidation.
• Use a multimeter to verify the input voltage is within the fluctuation range.
• Connect the yellow-green wire on the power cable and the grounding screw on the rear panel to a ≥4.0mm² wire and ensure it is well-grounded.
• If the welder is placed on an inclined plane, secure it to prevent slipping.
• The welder is equipped with an insulated handle for safe lifting and moving.

6. Operation and Instruction

6.1 Front Panel Introduction

The control panel is used for selecting functions and setting welding parameters. It features a digital display, voltage and current regulation knobs, and a function selection button.

6.2 Function Selection and Parameter Setting

• Function Selection Knob: Use this knob to select between Lift TIG, MMA, and Gasless Flux Cored Wire (0.8mm/1.0mm) welding modes.
• Voltage Fine-tuning Knob (V): In Gasless MIG mode, fine-tune the welding voltage. Turning it negatively decreases voltage, positively increases voltage.
• Current Knob (A): Set the current value for Lift TIG, MMA, and Gasless MIG modes.
• O.C. Indicator Light (℃): This light indicates machine over-temperature or abnormal conditions. If it lights up due to overheating, the machine is protected and will stop working. Allow it to cool down unloaded. If it lights up due to overcurrent, components may be damaged. Restart the machine after checking.

6.3 Welding Output Interface

From left to right, the interfaces are:

• MIG or MMA Torch Socket: Connects the MIG torch or MMA electrode holder.
• Aviation Plug: For specific connections depending on the welding mode.
• Anode Output Fastening Socket (+): Connect the workpiece for Lift TIG mode, the electrode holder for MMA mode, or the workpiece for Gasless MIG mode.

6.4 Welding Process Connections and Settings

6.4.1 Flux MIG Welding (No Gas)

• Wire Feed Wheel: The default setting for the wire feed wheel is 1.0mm. If using 0.8mm wire, remember to flip the wheel to the 0.8mm side.
• Wire Installation: Place the wire in the correct wire groove according to its diameter. Release the nut on the wire pressing wheel and feed the wire through the wire hose into the wire groove. Adjust the wire pressing wheel to apply enough pressure so the wire doesn't slip, but do not over-press it, as this can distort the wire and prevent normal feeding.
• Connections: Connect the wire feeder polarity plug to the positive socket. Connect the earth clamp to the negative fast socket and tighten it clockwise.
• MIG Torch: Feed the wire out by inspecting it. Choose the correct contact tip for the wire diameter and tighten it. Press the gun switch to start welding.
• Fine-tuning: Fine-tune the voltage if the current and voltage are not well-matched.

Formula for your reference: U = 14 + 0.05I ± 3V

6.4.2 Lift TIG Welding

• Gas Connection: Connect the gas pipe of the TIG torch to the gas cylinder.
• Torch Connection: Connect the separated type TIG torch to the negative socket, and the earth clamp to the positive socket.
• Arc Starting: Scratch the tungsten on the workpiece to start the arc, then lift the TIG torch.
• Gas Flow/Current Control: There is no control switch for gas flow and current on the machine. To avoid waste and for safety, turn off the gas cylinder and keep the torch away from the workpiece when not welding.

Table 1: Titanium and Alloy-TIG Parameter Reference

6.4.3 MMA Welding

• DC EP (Electrode Positive): Connect the workpiece to the negative pole (-) and the welding torch to the positive pole (+).
• DC EN (Electrode Negative): Connect the workpiece to the positive pole (+) and the TIG torch to the negative pole (-).
• The operator can choose the connection method based on the base metal and electrode material. Generally, alkaline electrodes are recommended with the DC reverse connection method. Acid welding electrodes are not specified.

Table 2: Quick Check List of MMA Welding Process (Only for reference). Note: This table is suitable for low carbon steel welding; for other materials, refer to relevant material and process manuals.

7. Accessories

The Viladepot MIG200 welding machine typically includes the following accessories:

• 1 x MIG Welding Machine
• 1 x 3M 14AK MIG Torch
• 1 x Helmet
• 1 x Brush
• 1 x 2M Welding Holder
• 1 x 2M Ground Clamp
• 2 x Gas Nozzles
• 2 x Nozzle Holders
• 5 x 0.8mm Contact Tips
• 1 x 0.8MM 0.5KG Flux-Cored Wire
• 1 x User Manual (PDF)

8. Maintenance

⚠ Safety Points for Maintenance

The welding machine is equipped with overcurrent and overheat protection circuits. If the grid voltage, output current, or internal temperature exceeds the set standard, the welding machine will automatically stop working. However, excessive use (e.g., too high voltage) can still damage the machine. Pay attention to the following:

• Ventilation: Ensure good ventilation. The machine generates significant heat during operation. A fan is installed to cool it, but ensure the ventilation area is not covered or blocked, and maintain a distance of at least 0.3 meters from surrounding objects. Good ventilation is crucial for the machine's performance and service life.
• Overload: Do not overload the machine. Operate within the allowable load duration specified on the nameplate. Exceeding the maximum allowable load current will significantly shorten the welder's life and may cause damage. For example, if the machine is rated for 30% duty cycle at 200A/28V, it should work for 3 minutes and then rest for 7 minutes within a 10-minute cycle.
• Voltage: Do not use with excessively high voltage. The power supply voltage is listed in the technical parameters table. While the automatic voltage compensation circuit helps maintain welding current within the allowable range, exceeding the specified voltage will damage the welder.
• Grounding: The back of each welding machine has a ground screw marked with a ground symbol. Before use, connect a cable with a cross-section greater than 2.5mm² to reliably ground the machine's shell to release static electricity and prevent electrical leakage accidents.

⚠ Before Maintenance

Warning: All maintenance, service, and cleaning work must be performed with the power removed. Unplug the power cord before opening the casing.

Blind experiments and imprudent overhauls can lead to further failures and complicate proper maintenance. Electronic equipment with exposed live parts can be dangerous. Any direct or indirect contact can cause electric shocks, potentially leading to serious injury or death.

Attention: During the warranty period, if any unauthorized maintenance is performed on the welding power source, the supplier will not provide free repairs.

8.1 Regular Maintenance

• Dedusting: Regularly dedust the machine using dry, clean compressed air. In smoky or severely polluted environments, dedust daily.
• Air Pressure: Deliver compressed air at the required pressure to avoid damaging internal components.
• Connections: Check internal contact areas, especially plug-in joints and components, to ensure tight connections. Reinforce any loose contacts. If rust or oxidation occurs, use sandpaper to remove the oxide film before reconnecting.
• Moisture: Avoid water and moisture penetration. If this occurs, dry the inside of the welder and perform a megger insulation test between connection joints, and between joints and the casing. Welding can only resume if no errors are detected.
• Storage: If the welder is not used for a long period, seal it in its original packaging and store it in a dry condition.

9. Troubleshooting

This section provides guidance on common issues you might encounter with your Viladepot MIG200 welding machine. Always ensure safety precautions are followed before attempting any troubleshooting.

• Machine Stops Working / O.C. Indicator On: This usually indicates overheating or overcurrent. Allow the machine to cool down in an unloaded state. If the O.C. indicator light turns off, welding can resume. If the issue persists or is accompanied by unusual noises, check for potential component damage and consult a qualified technician.
• Poor Arc Starting or Unstable Arc: Check all connections (power, torch, ground clamp) for tightness and proper polarity. Ensure the workpiece is clean and free of rust or paint. Verify that the welding parameters (current, voltage, wire feed speed) are appropriate for the material and welding process.
• Wire Feeding Problems: Ensure the wire feed wheel is correctly set for the wire diameter (0.8mm or 1.0mm) and that the wire is properly threaded. Check the tension on the wire pressing wheel – it should be firm enough to feed the wire without slipping, but not so tight as to deform the wire.
• No Output Power: Check the main power supply and circuit breaker. Ensure the machine is properly grounded. If the machine has been overloaded, it might be in a protection state; allow it to cool.
• Excessive Spatter: Adjust welding parameters (voltage, current, wire feed speed). Ensure the contact tip is clean and correctly sized for the wire.

10. User Tips

• TIG Torch: Please note that while the machine supports Lift TIG welding, a TIG torch is typically not included in the standard package and may need to be purchased separately.
• Gas Supply for TIG: For Lift TIG welding, an external argon gas supply is required. Ensure you have the necessary gas cylinder and regulator.
• Weight: The machine weighs approximately 6.1 kg, making it relatively portable for a 3-in-1 welder.
• Wire Feed Wheel: Always double-check the wire feed wheel setting (0.8mm or 1.0mm) to match your flux-cored wire to ensure smooth feeding and prevent issues.

11. Further Documentation

For a complete and detailed user manual, including German instructions, please refer to the official PDF document:

View User Manual (PDF)