Aketek PRO-X User manual

1
Operation instructions: Aketek PRO-X
Created: January/2016
Updated: April/2023
Aketek PRO-X welding helmet
Installation, operation and maintenance instructions

2
Let us introduce Aketek
Åke Hörnell is the inventor of Auto-Darkening Welding
Filters, an innovation that has improved the working
conditions for welders around the globe. Åke patented the
technology and founded a company that began to
introduce products under the trade name Speedglas. After
a long and successful expansion ending up as a market
leader, the company was acquired by 3M Group. After
some years of non-compete restrictions, Åke Hörnell
could not resist the temptation and challenge to reenter
the welding safety business. A new star –Aketek –was
born.
Aketek welding helmets are Swedish designed and built
based on more than 30 years of expertise. They make
welding safer, more comfortable and easier. With low
cost, high performance and easy operation, we believe
that Aketek welding helmets make every welder a better
welder.
Aketek –best possible optics
Aketek welding helmets have the best classes for optics performance (1/1/1/1) according to
the European standard EN 379. They work for all type of electric arc welding. The
switching time from light to dark is around 0,0001 sec. The electronic is extremely low
power and the in-built battery, supported by a solar cell, has a long life time. At all Aketek
welding helmets switching to grinding mode is possible.
Operating instructions are also available at www.aketek.se/english-information.
Åke Hörnell

3
Innehåll
1.0 Information ...................................................................................4
2.0 Areas of applications ...................................................................4
3.0 Preparations before use:..............................................................5
4.0 In use..............................................................................................6
5.0 Maintenance and cleaning ..........................................................6
6.0 Storage and transport ..................................................................7
7.0 Installation and replacement of parts........................................8
8.0 Spare parts................................................................................... 10
9.0 Warranty......................................................................................10
10.0 Please note the following ..........................................................10
11.0 Marking .......................................................................................12

4
1.0 Information
Welding without proper eye protection is dangerous. Automatically darkening welding
filters provide reliable protection against UV/IR radiation, heat, sparks and weld spatter in
both light and dark states. The automatic dark state protects the eyes from the strong light
from the welding arc. The automatically darkening welding filter must always be used
with the welding helmet.
Welding helmets equipped with automatic welding filters are easy to use. When the
welding arc is struck, the glass darkens automatically and when the welding stops, the
glass returns to its light state again. This provides the following advantages: both hands
free, safer working environment thanks to protection against UV/IR radiation for eyes and
skin, no glare from the welding arc, better quality and faster and more efficient welding.
These operating instructions must not be removed from the product, except by the user of
the welding helmet. The operating instructions must always be available to a new user. If
you don’t have the operating instructions, they can be downloaded at www.aketek.se.
2.0 Areas of applications
The welding helmet together with the automatically darkening welding filter and
protection plates should only be used for electric arc welding and plasma welding. This
includes welding with coated electrodes, MIG/MAG welding, TIG welding and plasma
welding/cutting in the temperature range -5 °C to +55 °C. Do not use the welding helmet
for uses other than those specified on the next page.

5
3.0 Preparations before use:
3.1 Make sure that the welding helmet is suitable for the welding to be performed.
Check that the welding filter cassette and both inner and outer protection plates are clean
and not cracked or scratched. Make sure that the protective film is removed from the inner
and outer protection plates before using the welding helmet.
3.2 Do not use sharp tools or objects that could damage the welding helmet and may
cause the product warranty to be invalidated.
3.3 The welding helmet should be placed on the head so that the black sweatband of the
headband comes towards the forehead and the orange neck pad and the size adjustment
end up in the neck. Adjust the size so that the helmet fits firmly and comfortably. The
headband has double adjustable head straps and flexible neck plate for increased comfort.
The headband is adjustable forwards and backwards in five steps to get the best distance
to the welding glass. The headband has an adjustable angle up and down to get the best
view through the welding glass. The headband can easily be detached from the welding
helmet, for example for changing sweatbands. See picture of the headband on the page 9.
3.4 After correct adjustment, the welding helmet should cover the entire face and head.
Ampere
5
10
15
20
30
40
60
80
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
275
300
350
400
Covered electrodes
9
10
11
12
13
MIG (steel)
10
11
12
13
MIG (light metal leg.)
10
11
12
13
14
TIG (WIG)
9
10
11
12
13
14
MAG
10
11
12
13
14
Plasma welding
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Plasma cutting
11
12
13

6
4.0 In use
There are two knobs with adjustment options on the inside of the welding filter cassette.
The knob on the left affects the sensitivity of the light detectors. Counterclockwise rotation
reduces the sensitivity and clockwise rotation increases the sensitivity. The detectors do
not respond to sunlight and constant ambient light, but only to rapidly varying lights such
as the welding arc. Therefore, it is recommended to normally use maximum sensitivity.
The knob on the right is for setting the shade number, with the lowest shade 8 (lightest
setting) at counterclockwise rotation to stop, and with the highest shade of 12 (darkest
setting) at clockwise rotation to stop. When welding, select position welding on the
welding filter cassette, and when grinding select grind.
Automatically darkening welding filter must be used with outer and inner protection
plates. The protection plates protect against heat, dirt, welding splashes and welding
spatter. The outer and inner protection plates must be replaced if they become scratched or
damaged in any way that impairs the view. The protection plates from Aketek are made of
polycarbonate plastic (PC) with a scratch-resistant surface coating. If protection plates are
not used, the welding filter cassette will be damaged by weld spatter and the warranty
will be invalidated.
5.0 Maintenance and cleaning
Inspect the welding helmet regularly, both before and after use. Do not use the equipment
until any damaged or defective parts have been replaced, as this can affect the work
negatively. The welding filter cassette is sensitive to water.
5.1 The welding helmet must be handled with care. Do not leave it in a dirty
environment.
5.2 The welding helmet has an outer protection plate of polycarbonate plastic (PC) with
a scratch-resistant coating that protects against mechanical particles and welding spatter.
Over time, however, the transparency will deteriorate and the protection plate will then
need to be replaced, see info under 7.0. If cleaning is required, clean with a damp cloth and
wipe with a clean cloth.

7
5.3 In normal use, the welding glass cassette does not require any special maintenance
for the entire lifespan.
5.4 Other parts of the welding helmet can be cleaned with a cleaning cloth moistened in
water with a little detergent and dried with a clean cloth.
5.5 See recommended maintenance list below. You can also download the
recommended maintenance list from www.aketek.se.
6.0 Storage and transport
Make sure that the welding helmet with components is not damaged. The welding helmet
must not be transported in contact with other objects or stored near sharp objects. The
storage area must be dry, not near heat sources or in direct sunlight. Store the welding
helmet at a temperature between -10 °C and +40 °C. This welding helmet does not contain
any special or hazardous materials. It can be discarded in the same way as ordinary
electrical equipment.
Product
Control
Recommended replacement
Note
Outer
protection
plate
Daily. Look for scratches,
dirt, heat damage, etc.
Once a month, more often
when needed.
Scratches, dirt, and welding splashes impair
visibility, which may adversely affect the result.
Date of
exchange:
Inner
protection
plate
Daily. Look for scratches,
dirt, heat damage, etc.
Every other month, more
often when needed.
Scratches, dirt, and welding splashes impair
visibility, which may adversely affect the result.
Date of
exchange:
Headband
Daily so that the headband
is complete.
Replace if damaged.
Important for function, efficiency, and feeling.
Make sure it is complete and correctly set.
Date of
exchange:
Neck pad/
sweatband
Once a week so that they
are clean and fresh.
Every 4-8 weeks, more
often when needed.
Neck pad and sweatband are cleaned and
replaced for good hygiene.
Date of
exchange:

8
7.0 Installation and replacement of parts
If the Aketek automatic welding filter cassette, a protection plate or grinding visor needs
to be replaced, follow the instructions below. Note that the welding filter cassette protects
against UV/IR radiation and is in the light state before welding and in the dark state
during welding. The transparent protection plates protect the automatic welding glass
against mechanical impact and weld spatter during the welding work. The protection
plates are also necessary for the welding helmet to meet the safety requirements
demanded by standards.
7.1 Remove the frame that holds the outer protection plate
7.1.1 Press the four locking hooks located on the inside of the welding helmet, look at
picture 1. The frame should come loose from the hooks on the front.
7.1.2 Lift off the frame together with the protection plate, look at picture 2.
Picture 1 Picture 2
7.2 Replacing the outer protection plate
7.2.1 Remove the outer protection plate from the frame.
7.2.2 Pull off the protective film on both sides of a new outer protection plate.
7.2.3 Attach the new outer protection plate on the inside of the frame.
7.2.4 Put back the frame on the welding helmet, see picture 2 at previous page.
7.3 Replacing the inner protection plate
7.3.1 Remove the inner protection plate on the inside of the welding filter cassette by
pulling out from the side holders.
7.3.2 Remove the protective film on both sides of the new inner protection plate.
7.3.3 Push in the new inner protective plate.

9
7.4 Replacing the welding filter cassette
7.4.1 The cassette with the welding filter is held by four screws that you reach from the
front when the outer protection plate is removed.
7.4.2 Remove the screws and press the cassette inwards.
7.4.3 Normally you do not need to replace the welding filter cassette.
7.5 Replacing the headband
7.5.1 Release the headband from the helmet by pressing the button on the upper side of
the bracket, both on the right and left sides of the helmet. Pull out the headband.
7.5.2 To loosen the attachment points of the headband, release the screws on the outside of
the helmet. Number 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 are placed on the outside of the helmet.
7.5.3 The picture below shows the parts that are included in the headband.
7.6 Replacing a new sweatband
7.6.1 Detach the sweatband from their mounts on the headband.
7.6.2 Attach a new sweatband.
7.7 Replacing of the soft neck pad
7.7.1 Remove the soft neck pad which is attached with Velcro.
7.7.2 Attach a new soft neck pad, with Velcro on the outside of the headband.
7.8 Installation of magnifying lens
7.8.1 Remove the inner protection plate on the inside of the welding filter cassette by
pulling it out from the side holders.
7.8.2 Carefully slide in the magnifying lens. The magnifying lens replaces the inner
protection plate.

10
8.0 Spare parts
Outer and inner protection plates are spare parts that always need to be available to
maintain the welding helmet. The headband's sweatband and neck pad are also
changeable. All spare parts can be ordered from www.aketek.se.
9.0 Warranty
From the date of purchase, a 24-month warranty on the welding helmet and welding glass
applies. Aketek Industries obligation during this period is to repair or replace the product
or the part of the product that is defective. To use the warranty, proof of purchase is
needed in such as a copy of the invoice and the serial number of the product concerned. A
warranty form can be downloaded from www.aketek.se. If a defect is found to be covered
by the warranty, the product must be returned to Aketek Nordic Sales AB. Aketek Nordic
Sales AB is not responsible for indirect damages or consequential damages that arise
through the use of the product. The warranty does not apply to malfunctions or damage to
the product caused by modification, improper use, or improper and careless handling
such as marks from abuse and damage to the electronic welding filter cassette.
10.0 Please note the following
10.1 This welding helmet should only be used for electric arc welding, plasma welding
and related grinding.
10.2 The welding helmet must always be equipped with an automatically darkening
welding filter as well as outer and inner protective plates.
10.3 If the automatic welding glass does not darken at the start of welding, stop the work
immediately. Check that nothing obscures the light detectors or that the working distance
is too large. Check the sensitivity setting. Some welding processes require that the light
sensitivity is set to maximum sensitivity. It the welding glass flashes the temperature may

11
be higher than +55 °C, keep distance between welding helmet and welding arc. If the
welding helmet does not work for MIG welding, which is the easiest to detect, it means
that there is a malfunction of the welding filter cassette and it then needs to be replaced.
10.4 The welding helmet is intended to withstand normal heat generated during the
welding process. However, it must not be in contact with or placed on hot objects
including the welding nozzle.
10.5 For best protection of the face, make sure that the welding helmet is properly
lowered during welding work.
10.6 Check the welding helmet regularly and replace damaged or worn parts. The
protection plates and grinding visor must be replaced regularly to obtain the best visual
conditions.
10.7 In particular, always check that the light detectors are clean, to ensure correct
operation.
10.8 Long welding time with high current can cause the temperature in the welding glass
to exceed the maximum working temperature +55 °C. This can reduce the life of the
product and should be avoided. In strong heat, increase the distance between welding
helmet and welding arc.
10.9 If the switch on the welding filter cassette is set to grind, the glass does not darken.
When welding set the switch to weld.
10.10 If the welding glass stops working, it needs to be replaced. Check the function
according to 10.3.

12
11.0 Marking
The welding helmet meets the requirements according to the harmonized standard EN
175:1997 and is designed with increased robustness. The welding helmet has markings on
the inside that indicate the performance and suitable area of use.
CE AKE EN 175 S
CE
CE logo
AKE
Identification of Aketek Industries AB
EN 175
Number of the applied harmonized standard
S
Mechanical strength –increased robustness
The automatic darkening welding filter meets the requirements of the harmonized
standard DIN EN 379:2009. It is marked in a way that indicates the performance of the
product and the appropriate area of use.
3/8–12 AKE 1/1/1/1/ 379 CE
3
Light state
8
Lowest dark state
12
Highest dark state
AKE
Identification of Aketek Industries AB
1
Optical power
1
Scattering light
1
Homogeneity
1
Angle dependency
379
Number of the applied harmonized standard
CE
CE logo
CE Notified Bodies.
No. 0530: Certottica SCARL, Zona Industriale Villanova, 32013 Longarone, BL, Italy
No. 0196 DIN CERTCO, Alboinstrasse 56, 12103 Berlin, Germany.
Aketek, march 2013.
Manufacturer: Aketek Industries AB, Falun, Sweden.
General agent: Aketek Nordic Sales AB, www.aketek.se.