ESAB launches RobustFeed AVS ECHO
Published by Emilie Grant,
Editorial Assistant
World Pipelines,
ESAB launched its new RobustFeed AVS ECHO voltage-sensing wire feeder. ECHO is a new communication technology that allows voltage adjustment at the feeder without a communication/control cable to the power source. The RobustFeed AVS ECHO is commonly paired with the Warrior 500i CC/CV power source with the ECHO technology upgrade.
“The RobustFeed AVS ECHO enables operators to adjust both voltage and wire feed speed at the feeder to increase setting accuracy and improve productivity by eliminating trips to the power source to adjust voltage,” says Catalin Toma, Global Product Manager – Heavy Industrial Products, ESAB. “Users can save hundreds of hours per year, as well as enhance safety by reducing movement.”
RobustFeed AVS ECHO uses the weld cables to transmit voltage data to the Warrior® series of power sources (400i, 500i or 750i) outfitted with the required ECHO upgrade kit. Toma notes that the system performs a measurement on the first weld and compensates for any losses that occur in the welding circuit for all the subsequent welds.
“Compensating for voltage drop improves accuracy when using long cables, which is common in off-shore, railcar, ship/barge, construction and repair and maintenance applications,” says Toma. AVS-style (automatic voltage-sensing) feeders eliminate the need for a communication/control cable between the power source and the feeder. The design simplifies cable management in portable applications, eliminating a cable that could potentially get damaged.
The front panel of the RobustFeed AVS ECHO features voltage and amperage controls and digital meters visible in all light conditions, 2T (standard) or 4T (trigger lock) control, gas purge, wire jog, CC/CV mode switch and an optional internal gas flow meter protected by the rugged case.
Durable, high-performance feeder
RobustFeed, which won the prestigious Red Dot Award for product design, improves durability, ergonomics and performance in harsh industrial applications. RobustFeed AVS ECHO has an IP54 weatherproof protection rating. It features a completely-sealed wire feed compartment that protects the wire and internal components from water splashes in all directions. The seal also keeps out dirt, grinding dust and other particles than can damage feeder components or degrade the wire and contaminate the weld pool. The controls, as well as the power and gas cable connections, are also protected inside the housing. On the outside, the feeder uses a double-wall design that has special zones to provide abrasion and impact resistance, while a reliable strain relief removes cable stress.
“RobustFeed AVS ECHO is the only feeder in its category that is truly weatherproof. You can leave this feeder in the rain or drag it through the dirt and it will continue to perform reliably,” says Toma. “Coupled with ECHO technology, its ultra-reliable performance delivers maximum uptime.”
Operator friendly
When carried by the middle handle, RobustFeed AVS ECHO rests comfortably against the side of the operator’s body when walking longer distances. The feeder has three crane-certified handles and two additional lifting points for best-in-class portability and maneuverability. Its front and rear handles make it easy to carry up a ladder, maneuver through confined spaces or pass the unit from one person to another. For greater mobility, the RobustFeed AVS ECHO has an optional wheel kit that mounts on either the bottom or side of the feeder, and the HMI can be rotated 90 degrees to keep the display upright in both configurations.
The RobustFeed AVS ECHO accepts 8 in. and 12 in. diameter wire spools, measures 23.4 x 9.8 x 16.9 in. and weighs 40.5 lbs. It feeds solid wires as large as 5/64 in., cored wires up to 3/32 in. and has a wire feed speed range of 51 to 985 in./minute. It can handle a maximum output of 500 amps and a duty cycle rating of 100% at 350 amps, the best in its class. Where other portable feeders only have 2-wheel drive, the RobustFeed AVS ECHO uses a 4-wheel drive mechanism and encoder-controlled feeding for precision feeding.
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Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/product-news/01082025/esab-launches-robustfeed-avs-echo/
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