MK Products Sidewinder - Manual (Page 10)

Sidewinder ® MiniSpool™ Gun Owner's Manual - Page 2
Section B Operation
General Description
The 12 VDC Sidewinder ® motor is controlled by an external motor/wire speed
controller. This can be an intergral circuit within a welding power supply or
through an MK Control Module.
The trigger is designed so when it is partially depressed, gas flow starts via
the valve located in the gun body - prior to ignition of the arc. When the
trigger is partially released after welding - just as the arc is extinguished, gas
flow continues until the trigger is fully released. This is designed as built-in
Pre and Post gas flow.
The 1/4” Contact Tips and the standard knurled Drive Roll used on the
Sidewinder
® are the same as those used on the Cobra® Gold or classic
Gooseneck. Whereas the Gas Cups and the Idler Roll are unique to this
gun.
Barrels
Barrel Selection
The Sidewinder ®
MiniSpool™ gun is available with a 4” or 7” Straight Air
Cooled barrel.
Barrel Removal and Installation
To remove a barrel assembly, the handles must first be removed. There are
four socket screws which hold the barrel onto the front of the body assembly.
The barrel assembly has a gas passage bayonet, with two o-rings, inserted
into the body. Once the screws are removed, simply pull to remove the
barrel from the body.
To replace a barrel assembly, take care not to damage the o-rings when
inserting into the body. Apply a small amount of o-ring lube to the o-rings,
insert bayonet into body and secure with screws and washers previously
removed. Reassemble handles to the gun.
Controls and Settings
Speed Control
The wire speed of the Sidewinder ® is controlled by variable DC motor input
voltage either from a welding power supply with Wire Speed/Amperage
Control or from an MK Control Module.
The MK Control Module is designed to connect between the Sidewinder ® and
both the welding power supply and the input power for the module. While
converting its input power to controllable DC motor voltage for welding wire
speed, the MK Control Module interfaces the Sidewinder
® trigger microswitch
to the welding power supply contact closure signal.
Reference Section F for Module connection configuration.
Drive and Idler Rolls
The Sidewinder ® gun comes standard with a knurled drive roll (universal to
all aluminum alloys) and a grooved idler roll designed for wire diameters from
.023” to .035”.
Drive roll tension is accomplished by means of a spring loaded idler lever,
applying a constant - non-operator adjustable - but controlled pressure on
the welding wire against the knurled drive roll. Proper tension is measured
when wire does not slip if a small amount of pressure is added to the wire as
it exits the tip.