K3018-2 - Lincoln Electric POWER MIG 180 Dual Wire Feeder Welder K3018-2

Technical Overview of the Lincoln POWER MIG 180 Dual

The Lincoln Electric POWER MIG 180 Dual (K3018-2) is a versatile wire feeder welder engineered for both Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW). Designed to bridge the gap between light-duty home use and professional shop fabrication, this machine features dual input power capability, allowing operation on either 120V or 208/230V single-phase power sources. This flexibility is achieved without the need for tools, enabling rapid adaptation to available power supplies in various environments.

Drive System and Arc Technology

At the heart of the POWER MIG 180 Dual is Lincoln's Industrial Cast Aluminum Drive. This robust system utilizes dual gear-driven drive rolls to deliver positive traction, ensuring consistent wire feeding even with softer wires. The design incorporates a large industrial closed-design drive motor that improves torque and enhances trouble-free performance. Critical conductivity is maintained through a brass-to-brass gun connection, while patented split wire guides ensure optimal wire alignment, reducing the risk of bird-nesting.

The machine employs Diamond Core Technology™, a proprietary feature that delivers a forgiving arc with excellent out-of-position action. This technology provides a wide voltage "sweet spot" at any given wire feed speed, resulting in low spatter and high-quality welds on steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. The output range spans from 30 to 180 Amps, with a rated output of 130A at 20V (30% duty cycle) when operating on 230V input.

Capabilities and Compatibility

The K3018-2 is Spool Gun Ready, allowing users to easily remove the standard MIG gun and connect the optional Magnum® PRO 100SG spool gun for enhanced aluminum wire feeding performance. The unit supports a variety of wire diameters, ranging from .025" to .035" for solid wire and .030" to .045" for flux-cored wire. The "No Hassle" tool-less design extends to wire spool mounting, wire drive service, and polarity changes, streamlining maintenance and setup procedures for the operator.