SteelMax Rail Runner Gen III User manual

The tools of innovation.
112 Inverness Circle East Suite F Englewood, CO 80112
1–87STEELMAX, FAX [phone]
www.steelmax.com [e-mail]
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
WELDING CARRIAGE
R
Ra ai il l R Ru un nn ne er r G Ge en n I II II I

Contents
1. GENERAL INFORMATION............................................................................................... 3
1.1. Application................................................................................................................. 3
1.2. Technical data............................................................................................................ 4
1.3. Equipment included ................................................................................................... 5
1.4. Dimensions................................................................................................................ 6
1.5. Design ....................................................................................................................... 7
2. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.................................................................................................. 8
3. STARTUP AND OPERATION..........................................................................................10
3.1. Assembling the hi-flex, semi-flex, or rigid track..........................................................10
3.2. Assembling the ring track..........................................................................................12
3.3. Positioning on a straight track...................................................................................14
3.4. Positioning on a curved track....................................................................................16
3.5. Preparing and connecting.........................................................................................17
3.6. Connecting to the welding circuits.............................................................................18
3.7. Operating..................................................................................................................19
3.8. Adjusting the pressure of rollers................................................................................25
3.9. Adapting for seam tracking (option)...........................................................................26
3.10. Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................30
4. MAINTENANCE...............................................................................................................31
5. ACCESSORIES...............................................................................................................32
5.1. Seam tracking attachment.........................................................................................32
5.2. Tracking sensor tips..................................................................................................32
5.3. Motorized vertical slide..............................................................................................33
5.4. 0.5 m (1.5 ft) cable....................................................................................................33
5.5. Hi-flex track...............................................................................................................34
5.6. Semi-flex track..........................................................................................................35
5.7. Rigid track.................................................................................................................35
5.8. Rack adjustment tool.................................................................................................35
5.9. Contact block............................................................................................................36
5.10. Magnetic units.........................................................................................................37
5.11. Semi-flex track support............................................................................................42
5.12. Vacuum track system..............................................................................................43
5.13. Ring tracks..............................................................................................................44
5.14. Ring track supports and bracket..............................................................................46
5.15. Torch holders, clamps, and rods.............................................................................47
5.16. Transport attachment..............................................................................................49
5.17. Pendulum oscillator.................................................................................................50
6. EXPLODED DRAWINGS AND PARTS LIST....................................................................52
7. DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY.................................................................................63
8. WARRANTY CARD..........................................................................................................64

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1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1. Application
The Rail Runner Gen III is a track carriage designed to make butt and fillet welds with
or without oscillation and to cut. The carriage allows MIG/MAG, TIG, oxy-fuel, or plas-
ma torches. The track is clamped with magnetic units to ferromagnetic surfaces that
are flat or curved.
Accessories allow using torches with a larger diameter, guiding the carriage on a
hi-flex, semi-flex, rigid, or ring track, and tracking the welding seam. Using a vacuum
track system allows the track to be clamped to surfaces that are non-ferromagnetic.
Two intended configurations are shown in the figure that follows.
Basic configuration
Configuration with seam tracking in two axes
(requires an optional tracking attachment and
a motorized vertical slide)
Travel direction

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1.2. Technical data
Voltage
1~ 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz
Power
60 W
Welding position
(according to EN ISO 6947 and
AWS/ASME)
Horizontal
PA/1F/1G
PB/2F
PC/2G
PD/4F
PE/4G
Vertical
PF/3G
PG/3F (contact your dealer)
PG/3G
Diameter
of round workpiece
Ring tracks (OD)
200 mm (8″) – 3 m (10 ft)
Hi-flex tracks (OD)
Minimum 1.5 m (5 ft)
Hi-flex tracks (ID)
Minimum 3.4 m (11 ft)
Custom rolled tracks (OD)
3–10 m (10–32 ft)
(contact your dealer)
Semi-flex tracks (OD)
Minimum 10 m (32 ft)
Torch type
MIG/MAG, TIG, oxy-fuel, plasma
MIG/MAG torch diameter
16–22 mm (0.63–0.87″)
Minimum workpiece thickness for magnetic clamping
5 mm (0.2″)
Vertical pulling force
315 N (70 lbs)
Horizontal speed
0–250 cm/min (0–98 in/min)
Vertical speed
0–250 cm/min (0–98 in/min)
Oscillation type
Linear
Weld path
Straight, triangle, trapezoid, square
Oscillation width
0.1–11.8 cm (0.04–4.5″)
Oscillation speed
10–200 cm/min (5–78 in/min)
Oscillation dwell time at center and on ends
0–5 s
Required ambient temperature
0–50°C (32–122°F)
Maximum allowed ambient humidity non-condensing
80%
Protection level
IP 20
Weight
13 kg (29 lbs)

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1.3. Equipment included
1
Carriage
1 unit
2
Plastic box
1 unit
3
Remote control
1 unit
4
Contact block
1 unit
5
300 mm (12″) rod
1 unit
6
300 mm (12″) rack with 180 mm (7″) adjustment
1 unit
7
Rack holder
1 unit
8
Clamping block with levers
1 unit
9
Short rod torch holder with clamp
1 unit
10
Cable anchor
1 unit
11
6 mm hex wrench
1 unit
12
6.5 m (21 ft) arc ignition cable
1 unit
13
Power cord
1 unit
14
0.5 m (1.5 ft) cable
1 unit
15
3 m (10 ft) cable
1 unit
16
5 m (16.5 ft) cable
1 unit
–
Operator’s Manual
1 unit
12
1
3
4
7
8
9
10
11
13
5
6
2
14
16
15

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1.4. Dimensions
510 mm (20″)
195 mm (7.7″)
350 mm (13.8″)
267 mm (10.5″)
73 mm(2.9″)
400 mm (15.7″)

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1.5. Design
Drive clutch knob
Pressing lever (pressing rollers are loose in
this position)
Pressing roller
Limit switch
Drive gear
Mounting bracket
Carrying handle
Rod holder
Passive roller
Knob to attach the remote control to the carriage
Power switch
Remote control / cable / tracking sensor / motorized
vertical slide connection
Display guard
Arc ignition socket
Power cord
Carriage / cable connection
Front cover

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2. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. Before use, read this Operator’s Manual and complete a training in occupational
safety and health.
2. Use only in applications specified in this Operator’s Manual.
3. Make sure that the carriage, remote control, and other equipment have all parts.
Make sure that all parts are genuine and not damaged.
4. Make sure that the specifications of the power source are the same as those
specified on the rating plate.
5. Supply the 42 V carriage through an isolation transformer with class II protection
only.
6. Do not carry the carriage, remote control, and other equipment by cables. Do not
pull the cables. This can cause damage and electric shock.
7. Keep untrained bystanders away from the carriage.
8. Before each use, ensure the correct condition of the carriage, power supply,
remote control, and other equipment, power source, cables, connections, rollers,
and gear.
9. Before each use, make sure that no part is cracked or loose. Make sure to main-
tain correct conditions that can have an effect on the operation of the carriage.
10. Keep the carriage, remote control, and other equipment dry. Do not expose them
to rain, snow, or frost.
11. Keep the worksite well lit, clean, and free of obstacles.
12. Do not use near flammable materials, or in explosive environments.
13. Transport and position the carriage by using the carrying handles.
14. Install the carriage only on the supplied track.
15. Make sure that the gear and rollers are clean.
16. Connect the cables only after you set the power switch to ‘O’.
17. Keep the sockets clean. Do not use high pressure during cleaning.
18. Install only torches whose diameter matches the diameter of the torch holder.
19. Hang the cables to decrease the load applied on the carriage.
20. Do not bend the hi-flex track to a radius less than 0.75 m (2.5 ft).
21. Do not bend the semi-flex track to a radius less than 5 m (16.5 ft).
22. Use the rigid track only on flat surfaces.

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23. At heights, protect the carriage and the track from falling. To do this, use chains
(not included) to attach the leftmost and rightmost magnetic units of the hi-flex,
semi-flex or rigid track to a stable structure. To protect the carriage, attach a
chain to a carrying handle. Make sure that the chains are not loose.
24. Do not stay below the carriage or the track that is put at heights.
25. Use eye protection (helmet, shield, and screen), ear protection, gloves, and
protective clothing. Do not use loose clothing.
26. Do not stop the carriage by hand. To stop, set the direction switch to ‘O’.
27. Do not touch moving parts, and do not put fingers in the front cover holes.
28. Do the maintenance only after you unplug the carriage from the power source.
29. Repair only in a service center appointed by the seller.
30. If the carriage falls, is wet, or has any damage, stop the work and immediately
send the carriage to the service center for check and repair.
31. Do not leave the carriage unattended during work.
32. If you are not going to use the carriage, remove it from the worksite and keep in a
safe and dry place.

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3. STARTUP AND OPERATION
3.1. Assembling the hi-flex, semi-flex, or rigid track
Attach magnetic units to the rail, and put it on the workpiece. Use the 4 mm or 5 mm
hex wrench to attach more rails (1, Fig. 1). Then, set the levers of the magnetic units
to ‘I’ (2). This will clamp the rails to the surface.
When working in PC/2G welding position, put the rails so that the teeth of the
racks point down.
Fig. 1. Connecting the rails and clamping the magnetic units to the surface
If a semi-flex rail is put on a curve, before you attach more rails use the 4 mm hex
wrench to loosen the screws of the connecting plates (1, Fig. 2) and of the racks (2).
Next, attach the rails, clamp them with levers, and then tighten the connecting plates.
Put the rack adjustment tool (not included) into the hole (3), and rotate the tool to the
1
2

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left (4) to remove the gap (5) between the racks. Then, tighten the leftmost screw and
the rightmost screw of each rack (2).
Fig. 2. Removing the gap between the racks of a semi-flex track
1
2
5
3
4

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3.2. Assembling the ring track
Select the track that matches the outer diameter of the round workpiece. Use the
4 mm hex wrench to attach the supports to the rails (1, Fig. 3). Next, on all supports,
move back the bolts (2, or screws) as much as possible. To clamp the track to the
workpiece with a smaller diameter, you can use brackets (3). But this will decrease
the stiffness of the clamping.
Fig. 3. Connecting the supports to the rails
Put the workpiece vertically, and then put the rails onto the workpiece so that the
teeth of the racks point down. Next, for all rails, use the 12 mm hex wrench to set the
hinge as shown in Fig. 4. Then, put the lock pin through the holes (1), and then rotate
the wrench (2) to connect the rails.
1
2
2
Screw with plastic foot
25 mm (1″) adjustment range
Bolt
25 mm (1″) adjustment range
Screw with magnet
25 mm (1″) adjustment range
3

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Fig. 4. Connecting the rails of the ring track
Use the 13 mm flat wrench to adjust the bolts (or the screws by hand) until they are
in contact with the workpiece (1, Fig. 5). Adjust each support equally to make the
track concentric to the workpiece. Lock the supports with the nuts (2) or levers.
Fig. 5. Attaching the ring track to the workpiece
1
2
2
1

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3.3. Positioning on a straight track
Set the power switch, arc ignition switch, oscillation switch, and direction switch to
‘O’. Pull the lever lock (1, Fig. 6). Next, set the lever to OFF (2), and loosen the knob
(3) fully to move back the gear (4). Then, put the carriage so that the mounting
brackets are on the rail (5, 6).
Fig. 6. Putting the carriage on a straight track
3
4
Gear moved back
5
Mounting bracket
montażowy
Mounting bracket
6
1
2

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Set the lever to ON (1, Fig. 7) to put the rollers into the grooves (2). Tighten the knob
(3) to engage the gear of the carriage with the rack of the rail (4). Keep a small
backlash between the gear and the rack. Move the carriage slightly back and forth to
make sure that there is a backlash.
Fig. 7. Engaging the carriage with the track
3
Not engaged
×
Engaged
✓
1
2
2
4

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3.4. Positioning on a curved track
Use the 6 mm hex wrench to loosen four screws (1, Fig. 8), and then put the carriage
on the track. Rotate two roller brackets (2) to put the rollers into the grooves, and
then set the levers to ON (3). Next, move the carriage back and forth to make sure
that it moves smoothly. Then, tighten the screws (1) and use the knob (4) to engage
the gear with the rack as described in “Positioning on a straight track”.
Fig. 8. Rotating the rollers for a curved track
1
2
2
4
3

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3.5. Preparing and connecting
At heights, protect the carriage and the track from falling. To do this, use chains
(not included) to attach the leftmost and rightmost magnetic units of the hi-flex, semi-
flex or rigid track to a stable structure. To protect the carriage, attach a chain to a
carrying handle. Make sure that the chains are not loose.
Use the 0.5 m (1.5 ft) cable to connect the remote control to the carriage
(1, Fig. 9), if the remote control will be put onto the carriage, or use the
3 m (10 ft) / 5 m (16.5 ft) cable (2). Then, connect the carriage to the power source
and put the torch and torch cables into the holders.
Fig. 9. Connecting the carriage
3 m (10 ft) cable
1
2
2
1
0.5 m (1.5 ft) cable

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3.6. Connecting to the welding circuits
Before connecting, read the operator’s manual of the welding source. Connect the
arc ignition cable only to the remote control socket of the welding source.
Do not connect the carriage to sockets other than the remote
control socket.
The carriage can control two torches by using the arc ignition cable plugged into
the arc ignition socket. To do this, refer to the diagram from Fig. 10 and connect one
blue-jacketed wire to one terminal of the welding circuit. Then, connect the other
blue-jacketed wire to the other terminal of the same circuit. To control the second
torch, connect the green-jacketed wires to the terminals of the second welding circuit.
Fig. 10. Connecting the arc ignition cable to welding circuits
Make sure that the arc ignition cable is connected correctly. To do this, turn on the
power of the carriage, and then set the arc ignition switch to TEST. This should
enable the arc for a while.
Blue Blue
Green Green
Welding circuit 2
Welding circuit 1

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3.7. Operating
Set the power switch to ‘I’ to turn on the carriage. To pause loading to check the
firmware version, press and hold one of the navigation buttons. After you release the
button, the control system loads and the main screen from Fig. 11 shows.
Fig. 11. Control panel with the main screen displayed
Tab. 1 explains the symbols shown on the right of the main screen.
Operating mode
Arc ignition switch
(TEST/O/I)
Direction switch
(Forward/O/Backward)
F1
F3
F2
Oscillation switch
(TEST/O/I)
Navigation button 2
Navigation button 1

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Tab. 1. Symbols of connected modules
Symbol
Description
Motorized vertical slide (option).
Tracking sensor (option).
Use the knobs to set the required parameters (Tab. 2). Rotate to the right to increase
the value of the parameter. Rotate to the left to decrease the value.
Tab. 2. Parameters shown on the main screen
Parameter
Value
Description
Method of control
0–5 s [step: 0.1]
(with tracking off)
0.2–5 s [step: 0.1]
(with tracking on)
Oscillation dwell time
in left position.
Press and hold and rotate
0–5 s
[step: 0.1]
Oscillation dwell time
in center position.
Press and hold and rotate
0–5 s [step: 0.1]
(with tracking off)
0.2–5 s [step: 0.1]
(with tracking on)
Oscillation dwell time
in right position.
Press and hold and rotate
0.1–11.8 cm
0.04–4.5 in
[step: 0.1/0.01]
Oscillation width.
Press and release (activates
) and rotate
10–200 cm/min
5–78 in/min
[step: 5/1]
Oscillation speed
(when the vertical
slide is not connect-
ed).
Rotate
Oscillation speed
(when the vertical
slide is connected).
Press and release (activates
) and rotate
0–250 cm/min
0–98 in/min
[step: 1/0.5]
Carriage speed.
Rotate
Travel the carriage
with the maximum
speed in the direction
set by the direction
switch.
Press and hold when the
arc ignition switch is set to ‘O’
From –9.9 to +9.9
cm
From –3.9 to +3.9 in
[step: 0.05/0.02]
Oscillation offset.
Rotate
From –2.5 to +2.5
cm
From –1 to +1 in
[step: 0.02/0.01]
Torch height
(when the vertical
slide is connected).
Rotate