Why must Gas Metal Arc welders have a 100 percent duty cycle?

Answer 1

The duty cycle of the welding machine indicates the time the machine can be energised before it must rest. Given in relation to a 10 minute time span, a machine with 100 per cent duty cycle can weld continuously for10 minutes, while machines with 50 per cent can only weld for 5 minutes.

Typically when welding by hand it is not necessary to weld continuously for long periods before letting off of the trigger which gives the machine its rest.

When the machine is set up for welding long beads, such as with a track system, then it is important to have the 100 per cent duty cycle. Otherwise the machine will kick off before a weld is completed.