Traditionally, installing a gun liner correctly requires proper training and some experience. Welders need to understand how to measure and cut the liner to the required length of the MIG gun. A liner that has been cut either too short or too long can lead to poor wire feeding and weld quality issues, which contribute to unscheduled downtime. In this article, we will explore a new solution that can eliminate liner installation issues.
The Problem
There is a copper helix inside the welding cable. When the cable is twisted or coiled, the cable grows or shrinks based on how the copper helix is also twisted. If a liner is inserted into the gun when in this state, there is a very high probability that the liner will be trimmed to the incorrect length. As such, it is important to lay the gun and cable straight to avoid any kinks throughout the length before inserting the liner. Longer cables are also more prone to twisting, so extra care needs to be taken when installing liners for these types of cables.
After inserting the traditional liner, the welder must measure and cut the liner to the required length. If somehow the liner has been cut too short, the welder will not know because the liner will be buried under the nozzle and gas diffuser.
With improperly trimmed liners, welders may experience issues such as poor wire feeding, erratic welding arc, birdnesting, burnbacks and wire chatter. All these can potentially lead to welder frustration and poor-quality welds.
A New Solution
The Bernard AccuLock S Consumable System can help eliminate liner installation issues with minimal welder training.
With this solution, the welder no longer needs to measure the replacement liner. Unlike the traditional liner, the AccuLock liner is inserted from the front of the gun and locks into place at both the power pin cap and contact tip. The liner is then trimmed flush with the power pin cap and the gun is ready for use. It is still important to lay the gun and cable flat while installing the new liner.
Because the AccuLock liner is locked and concentrically aligned at both the contact tip and power pin cap, gaps or misalignments at the front and back of the gun are eliminated. This results in a flawless wire-feeding path and significantly reduces the occurrence of wire feeding issues. In addition, the concentric alignment of the liner with the contact tip also reduces the mechanical wear on the contact tip, thereby extending the life of the contact tip.
With the Bernard AccuLock S Consumable System, welders will no longer have to worry about installing the gun liner incorrectly. Error-free liner installation will result in less frustration and higher productivity levels. For more information please visit the AccuLock S consumables product page. https://www.tregaskiss.com/product/acculocks/