Rtech TIG171 TFT User manual

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R-TECH TIG171 TFT
DIGITAL AC/DC TIG WELDER
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
Version 2023-11

2

3
Index
Page
Introducon 4
Safety Precauons 6
Electrical Installaon 7
Technical Specicaons 8
Connecons 11
Controls & Sengs 14
AC TIG EASY SETUP 16
DC TIG EASY SETUP 21
DC TIG Manual Mode 26
AC TIG Manual Mode 36
AC Amplitude 46
Memory Storing 47
MMA STICK EASY SETUP 48
MMA STICK Manual Mode 49
Fan Control Menu 53
Water Cooler Control Menu 54
Fault Finding 55
Safety Informaon 56

4
Thank you for selecng the R-Tech TIG171-TFT Digital Inverter AC/DC Tig Welder.
The TIG171-TFT Digital has many benets over tradional TIG welders, including EASY SETUP, 20
memory stores, advanced AC waveforms, pulse welding, slope up/down, remote foot pedal
opon and an industrial 60% duty cycle.
We want you to take as much pride in operang our TIG171-TFT Digital as much pride as we
have in making this product for you. Please read all informaon in this manual before operaon
PLEASE EXAMINE CARTON AND EQUIPMENT FOR DAMAGE IMMEDIATELY
When this equipment is shipped, tle passes to the purchaser upon receipt from the courier. Con-
sequently all claims for material damaged in shipment must be made by purchaser against the
transportaon company used.
Please record your equipment idencaon below for future reference. This informaon can be found
on data plate at rear of machine.
Product: TIG171-TFT DIGITAL AC/DC TIG Welder
Serial No.
Date of Purchase
Where Purchased
Whenever you request replacement parts or informaon on this equipment please always supply
informaon you have recorded above
Pay parcular aenon to the safety instrucons we have provided you for your protecon The level of
seriousness to be applied to each secon is explained below
This statement appears where the informaon must be followed exactly to avoid serious per-
sonal injury.
CAUTION
This statement appears where the informaon must be following to avoid a minor personal inju-
ry or damage to this equipment.

5
Introducon
The R-Tech TIG171-TFT digital TIG welder is a member of our eld acclaimed family of welding machines.
Premium features include
Large 5.1" HD TFT Screen
60% Industrial duty cycle
Inverter power source - more ecient
Fan on demand and water cooler control - silent running and power saving
5 x AC Waveforms
Electronic HF for fast arc starng and low interference
EASY SETUP DC & AC TIG
Professional weld sengs built in
Over 300 AC/DC sengs from 1.0 to 4mm for all weld joint types. Lap, Bu, Tee, Corner, Edge
Simple to use easy navigaon - no complicated menus - all sengs on single screen.
MANUAL MODE DC & AC TIG
Full control of every weld parameter you could ever need
Pre-ow gas, start amps, slope up me, main amps, slope down me, end amps and post ow gas
5 AC Waveforms - Square, So Square, Triangular, Sine, Sine-T and Trapezoidal wave forms - Giving the
ulmate control of weld pool and bead
AC Frequency to 20-400Hz - Increased arc focus
3 Start modes - HF Fast start, LIFT and LIVE
2T, 4T, foot pedal & torch switch control modes
4TS trigger mode, Ideal for pipe welding, switch from start to main amps as required
DC Pulse up to 999Hz
AC Pulse up to 400Hz
AC Advanced pulse - Mixed AC/DC pulse, greatly increases penetraon up to 10Hz
Amplitude control in AC - Improvement of arc stability, quality and tungsten life and sharpness - more
focused arc (EN and EP amperage control in AC)
20 professional memory stores
Spot welding - Spot weld feature with sch funcon
Fast Tack welding - Tack weld feature with stch funcon
Welding Capability – Duty Cycle
The R-Tech TIG171-TFT Digital is rated at 170 Amps at 60% duty cycle on a ten minute basis. If the duty
cycle is exceeded a thermal protector will shut machine o unl the machine cools.

6
Safety Precauons
Read enre secon before starng installaon.
Warning!
Electric Shock can kill – Only qualied personnel should perform this installaon. Turn o input power at
the fuse box before working on this equipment. Do not touch electrically live parts. Always connect the
machine to an earthed mains supply as per naonal recommended standards.
Select suitable locaon
Place the welder where clean cooling air can freely circulate in and out of the front & rear louvre vents.
Dirt, dust or any foreign material that can be drawn through vents into welder must be kept to a mini-
mum. Failure to observe these precauons can result in excessive operang temperatures which can lead
to plant failure.
Grinding
Do not direct grinding parcles towards the welder.
An abundance of conducve material can cause plant failure.
Transport & unloading
Never underesmate the weight of equipment, never move or leave suspended in the air above people.
Use recommended liing/handling equipment at all mes.

7
Electrical installaon
WARNING ELECTRIC SHOCK CAN KILL
Electric Shock can kill – Only qualied personnel should perform this installaon. Turn o input power at
the fuse box before working on this equipment. Do not touch electrically live parts. Always connect the
machine to an earthed mains supply as per naonal recommended standards.
Machine grounding and High Frequency Interference Protecon
This welder must be grounded to earth. See naonal electrical codes for proper grounding methods.
The high frequency generator being similar to a radio transmier may cause interference to radio, TV and
other electronic equipment. These problems may be the result of radiated interference.
Proper grounding methods can reduce or eliminate this.
Radiated interference can develop in the following ways
1. Direct interference from welder power source
2. Direct interference from the welding leads
3. Direct interference radiated from feedback into power lines
4. Interference from re-radiaon by un-grounded metallic objects.
Keeping these contribung factors in mind, installing equipment as per following instrucons should
minimize problems.
1. Keep the welder input power lines as short as possible and enclose as much of them as possible in met-
al conduit or equivalent shielding. There should be a good electrical contact between this conduit and
ground (Earth).
2. Keep the work and electrode leads as short as possible. Tape the leads together where praccal.
3. Be sure the torch and earth leads rubber coverings are free from cuts and cracks that allow welding
power leakage
4. Keep earth lead connecon to work in good condion – Clean area on workbench where earth clamp is
situated on a regular basis.

8
Electrical installaon cont.
Input Connecons
Make sure the voltage, phase and frequency of input power is as specied on machine rang
plate located at rear of machine.
Have a qualied electrician provide suitable input power as per naonal electrical codes. Make
sure machine is earthed / grounded.
Make sure fuse or circuit breaker is correct rang for machine. Using fuses or circuit breakers
smaller than recommended will result in ‘nuisance’ shut o from welder inrush currents even if
welding at low amperages.
Failure to follow these instrucons can cause immediate failure within the welder and void ma-
chines warranty.
Turn the input power OFF at the mains switch & fuse box before working on this equipment. Have
a qualied electrician install & service this equipment.
Allow machine to sit for 5 minutes minimum to allow the power capacitors to discharge before
working inside this equipment. Do not touch electrically live parts
The TIG171-TFT DIGITAL Inverter Tig Welder requires a 240V 50/60Hz supply. It requires a 16A
supply. It comes with a 2.5 metre mains cable attached.
Connect wires according to national coding.
Brown wire – Live
Blue wire – Neutral
Green/Yellow Wire – Earth (Ground)
Connecting to an Engine Driven Generator
If connecting this machine to an engine driven generator please ensure the following
Minimum Generator KVA Output – 6KVA continuous Generator to be fitted with AVR
(automatic voltage regulation) DO NOT USE ON A GENERATOR WITHOUT AVR
Connecting to a generator without the above minimum requirements will in- validate your war-
ranty.

9
Input 240V AC 50/60Hz Input amperage 14A
Gross weight 26 KG
Dimensions 438H x 232W x 550L (mm)
Insulaon IP21S
TIG Current range AC 3A - 170A
Current range DC 2A - 170A
No load voltage 80-90V
Duty cycle 60% @ 170A
Arc starng modes HF, Li and Live
Trigger modes Manual mode 2T,4T,4TS, REMOTE PEDAL,2T+F, 4T+F
Trigger modes EASY SETUP 2T,4T, REMOTE PEDAL, 2T+F, 4T+F
TIG Manual Pre-ow gas 0 - 60 seconds
Up-slope me 0 - 30 seconds
Start amps 2A DC, 3A AC to 170A
Down-slope me 0 - 60 seconds
End amps 2A DC, 3A AC to 170A
Post-ow gas me 0 - 60 seconds
DC Pulse amps 3 - 100%
DC Pulse width (me) 5 - 95%
DC Pulse Hz 0.1 - 999.9 Hz
AC Pulse amps 3 - 100%
AC Pulse width (me) 5 - 95%
AC Pulse frequency (standard) 0.1 - 500 Hz
AC Pulse frequency (advanced) 0.1 - 10 Hz
AC Balance (cleaning) 5 - 70 %
Spot weld me 0.1 - 10 seconds
Spot weld stch me 0 - 5 seconds
Tack weld me 10ms - 250ms
Tack weld sch me 10ms - 250ms
Memory sengs YES - 20
Technical specicaons

10
TIG EASY SETUP DC - Programs for Metal type Mild & stainless steel
Metal thickness programs 1, 1.2, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5mm
Joint type programs Tee, Lap, Bu, Corner, Edge
Pulse level programs .05Hz, 1Hz, 2Hz, 50Hz & 200Hz
Pulse amps Stainless 65 %
Pulse Width Stainless 50 %
Pulse amps mild steel 75 %
Pulse width mild steel 50 %
Trigger types 2T,4T,REMOTE PEDAL, 2T+F, 4T+F
TIG EASY SETUP AC - Programs for Filler Type ALSI 4043A & ALMG 5356
Metal thickness programs 1, 1.2, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5mm
Joint type programs Tee, Lap, Bu, Corner, Edge
Pulse level programs .05Hz, 1Hz, 2Hz, 50Hz & 200Hz
Pulse amps 75 %
Pulse Width 50 %
AC Frequency 100 Hz
AC balance 25 - 35 %
Trigger types 2T,4T,REMOTE PEDAL, 2T+F, 4T+F
MMA EASY DC - Programs for Rod type mild steel 6010, 6011, 6013, 7018
Rod type stainless steel 308, 309, 316
Rod diameter 2.4, 3.2, 4.0mm
Weld posion Flat, Overhead, Vercal, Horizontal
V.R.D Voltage O / On
MMA EASY AC - Programs for Rod type mild steel 6010, 6011, 6013, 7018
Rod diameter 2.4, 3.2, 4.0mm
Weld posion Flat, Overhead, Vercal, Horizontal
V.R.D Voltage O / On
Technical specicaons cont..

11
MMA Manual DC Amp range 10 - 125A
AC Amp Range 10 - 125A
Duty cycle MMA 60% @ 160A
An sck YES
Hot start me 0 - 2 seconds
Hot start % 0 - 100%
Arc Force 0 - 100%
Cellulosic Rods YES
V.R.D Voltage reducon YES
Remote amp funcon YES
Fan on demand TIG & MMA ON
Mode1 - Temperature control
Mode2 - 1 minute mer on arc ignion
Water cooler control TIG OFF
ON
Mode1 - 1 minute mer on arc ignion
Technical specicaons cont.

12
Connecons
Front panel connecons
TIG mode - negave con-
nector for TIG torch
MMA mode - connect
earth to negave
Quick release gas
torch connector
7 pin socket for torch
switch or remote foot
pedal
TIG mode - connect
earth lead
MMA mode - connect
MMA lead
Rear panel connecons
Fuse holder for water cooler
240v output
240v output for water cooler On/O switch

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Rear panel connecons cont..
Gas connector & Extra earth connecon
3/8 BSP male connector for gas inputExtra earth connecon, used if you experience
local interference (not normally used)

14
Front panel
HD 5” Digital Colour Screen
Easy to navigate menu system
EASY SET mode - 100’s of pre-programmed weld sengs AC,DC TIG & MMA
1
2
3
4
567 8
910
1 - SELECT buon - Press to cycle through welding modes
DC TIG, AC TIG, DC STICK, AC STICK
2 - EASY SET buon - press to enable / disable EASY SET mode
3 - Control knob - Turn to change seng in small amounts, press and turn to change in larger steps
4 - LED indicator for weld mode selected
5 - Le arrow buon - use to scroll le in menus
6 - SAVE / LOAD buon - For saving and loading manual mode memory sengs
7 - HOME buon - Press to switch between home and 2nd level menu’s
8 - Right arrow buon - use to scroll right in menus
9 - POWER LED - Shows machines is turned on when lit
10 - FAULT LED - Will light when machine senses problem and will show error in main display.

15
Controls and sengs
The TIG171-TFT features 6 main operang modes
AC TIG in EASY mode
AC TIG in Manual mode
DC TIG in EASY mode
DC TIG in Manual mode
MMA (STICK) in EASY mode
MMA (STICK) in Manual mode
AC & DC EASY MODE
R-Tech Easy mode takes the guesswork out of TIG welding. You normally had to enter all weld sengs
before beginning to weld on manual welders, we have done this for you.
You simply select the following from easy to understand screen.
Tungsten size
Material thickness
Filler rod material in AC
Material type in DC
Type of joint
Pulse O/On
Trigger / Pedal mode
The machine will set main amperage power , post ow gas me required and also advise on
recommended gas ow in LPM and ceramic cup size for torch.
TO ENTER EASY MODE - PRESS EASY BUTTON ON FRONT PANEL - EASY HOME SCREEN WILL SHOW

16
AC EASY MODE
6 easy steps are required to setup weld.
Press le / right arrows to select seng which will be highlighted in red circle and descripon shown in
boom of screen. Then use control knob to select value required.
In image below you can see TUNSGTEN SIZE is shown at boom of screen and circle is highlighted in RED
and showing 2.4mm size selected.
Once correct tungsten size has been selected, press right arrow to move to next seng.
MATERIAL THICKNESS
Then use control knob to select work thickness required.
1.0mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 3.0mm, 4.0mm

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METAL TYPE (FILLER ROD TYPE USED)
Then use control knob to select ller rod used.
ALMG = 5356 Filler Rod, ALSI = 4043A Filler Rod
Once correct material work thickness has been selected, press right arrow to move to next seng.
JOINT TYPE
Select from 5 joint types as below.
Once correct material work thickness has been selected, press right arrow to move to next seng.

18
PULSE SETTING
This is where you select pulse o, or sengs as below by turning control knob
Pulse welding was designed mainly for stainless steel and other exoc materials to control heat input to
the metal and decrease heat deformaon.
It can be used on all materials including aluminium in AC.
Base amps is set to 75% in AC EASY mode. I.E if main amps is 80A, then base amps will be 60A
At 0.5Hz the machine will switch between main amps selected and base amps every half a second.
At 50Hz the machine will switch between main and base amps 50 mes a second.
Pulse can also be useful if you are unable to use a foot pedal and want to have more control over heat
input into weld if not welding at bench.
Pulse speed is a personal preference - as the pulse Hz increases you will noce the weld
noise is more higher pitched, this is normal.
Once correct pulse type has been selected, press right arrow to move to next seng.

19
REMOTE
This is where you select how machine is triggered to start and remote control of amperage if required.
2T - Press trigger to start weld, release to nish weld.
4T - Press and hold trigger to start weld at start amps, release trigger to go to
main amps. To nish weld - Press and hold trigger to go to end amps, release
and weld will stop.
PEDAL - Press foot pedal to start weld, fully depress pedal to get 100% of
amps shown in recommended sengs.
I.E If recommended seng was 120A, on a full depress of pedal you will get
120A, if pedal only pressed halfway you will get 60A
4T+F - Torch trigger latch operaon same as 4T but with amperage control by
slider / rotary knob on torch handle.
2T+F - Torch trigger operaon for on/o with amperage control by slider /
rotary knob on torch handle.
Once required remote seng is selected, press right arrow to move to OK
(You can also press the HOME buon)

20
RECOMMENDED SETTINGS
OK will now turn RED, RECOMMENDED SETTINGS will now be loaded for you.
Welding amps - shown in middle of display
Post ow gas me - not shown
The display will also show recommended
Gas ow in LPM (set this on regulator or gas ow meter)
Torch cup ceramic size (If not to hand, you can use a larger size)
You are now ready to weld! Press trigger or foot pedal to weld.
If you want to change any sengs, just simply use le / right arrows to highlight seng in red
and use control knob to change - then use arrows to move to OK to update.
AMPERAGE TRIM
You have 10A trim +/- of recommended amperage, simply turn knob to decrease / increase amperage.
This is to allow ne tuning to personal preferences like travel speed, weld bead appearance.
70 90