Editorial Contact:

Chuck Schroeder
Charleston|Orwig, Inc.
(262) 563-5056
cschroeder@comktg.com

NEW CST 250 INVERTER FOR STICK/TIG FIELD WELDING OFFERS BEST-OF-CLASS ARC, SIMPLE OPERATION

- Weighs just 40 lb., produces 250 amps at 50 percent duty cycle

- Process select switch eliminates set-up time, confusion

- Available in multiple arc rack systems

APPLETON, Wis., February 10, 2003 -
Designed specifically for construction, maintenance and repair in power plants, shipyards and petrochemical plants, the new CST 250 Stick/TIG inverter from Miller Electric Mfg. Co. weighs just 40 lb. It provides a 250 amp DC welding output at 50 percent duty, offers best-of-class arc performance and features the industry's simplest operator interface.

For the smallest multiple operator system available, the CST Rack with four CST 250 inverters weighs 328 lb. and measures 50.75 in. high by 25.5 in. wide; it easily rolls into an elevator (wheel kit optional). The CST Rack features one main disconnect box with fused circuit breaker switches for each machine. Each machine features an ON-OFF switch on its front panel for easy access when in the rack.

Best-of-Class Arc

"The CST 250 became the arc of choice in our field test sites, and you have to have a best-of-class arc to obtain that status," said Mike Roth, product manager, Miller Electric Mfg. Co.

"The welding operators started testing the CST 250 4-Rack and liked its TIG and Stick arc starts," said Randy Smith, a welding superintendent on a power plant maintenance project in Jacksonville, Fla. "The CST soon became a favorite, and operators started arguing about who was going to get to use them. They would make sure to go to the rod room early in the morning and get their Dinse connections so they could claim their machine."

That project involved welding stainless expansion joints on pipe with a thickness of less than 1/16 in.

"That's where the welding operators liked the TIG capabilities of the CST 250," noted Smith. "It allowed them to weld below 15 amps, or whatever amperage they needed to make the repair. The plant said that couldn't be done, but we did a good back-purge on joints and welded them up with 1/16-in filler wire. The CST 250 made it look really good."

These operators and others also preferred the CST 250 more than competitive inverters because it created less spatter, started E7018 rods easily and ran E6010 rods with the arc characteristics they favored. They were impressed because the machine had the power to weld with a 3/16 in. Stick electrode, yet they could carry it with one hand. The CST 250 measures just 13.5 in. high x 7.5 in. wide x 18 in. deep. When working on scaffolding or away from the power source, a 14-pin receptacle on the front of the machine permits remote amperage control when Stick or TIG welding.

Eliminating Errors

Operators also preferred the CST 250 because of its simple control. The interface features an On/Off switch, an amperage control knob (infinitely adjustable from 5 to 250 amps) and a process select switch that eliminates setting errors. The CST 250's process select switch features five settings: E7018 soft or stiff arc, 6010 soft or stiff arc, and Lift-Arc start TIG.

Operators prefer a soft arc for welding in the flat or horizontal positions or on fillet welds. They prefer a stiffer arc with more directional force for welding open root passes or in tight corners. The Lift-Arc feature provides code-quality arc starts (no tungsten inclusion) without the use of high frequency.

"Competitive inverters create complexity by forcing the operator to adjust the hot start setting, the dig setting and the process select switch," said Roth. "We optimized parameter selection by automatically creating the ideal arc characteristics with a single switch setting."

The CST 250 features a durable aluminum case, Miller's rugged inverter technology and Fan-On-Demand for improved reliability and less noise. It accepts single- or three-phase input power and manually links for 230 V or 460/575 V input.

The CST 250 is covered by Miller's True Blue 3-year factory warranty. To download a CST 250 spec sheet, visit Miller's website at MillerWelds.com or call 1-800-4-A-Miller. For more information or the Miller distributor nearest you, call 800-4-A-MILLER (800-426-4553), e-mail info@millerwelds.com, fax 877-327-8132, visit the website or write to Miller Electric Mfg. Co., P.O. Box 100, Lithonia, GA 30058.

With headquarters in Appleton, Wis., Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller and Hobart brand arc welding equipment and related systems for metalworking, construction, maintenance and other applications. Miller Electric is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), Glenview, Ill. ITW is a diversified multinational manufacturer of highly engineered components, assemblies and systems.