The Hotstart function is a smart solution that provides an additional, short-lived pulse of current (higher amperage) at the very beginning of the welding process, lasting for the first few seconds (in the range of 0 to 10 seconds) after arc ignition. For the professional welder, the main benefit is that it significantly facilitates arc ignition, especially when using cold electrodes, welding materials of greater thickness or working with surfaces that may be slightly contaminated. Hotstart ensures that the right temperature is reached in the weld pool from the very beginning of weld formation, resulting in better material fusion and significantly reducing the risk of the electrode sticking to the workpiece at the very beginning. This feature is particularly helpful for less experienced welders who are just learning arc starting techniques, as it makes starting welding much easier and less frustrating.

In Migatronic’s informational materials, the Arc Force function is often referred to as Arc Power. It works by automatically and instantaneously temporarily increasing the welding current when the welding arc voltage begins to drop, which usually happens when the welder brings the electrode too close to the weld pool or during short arc welding. For the professional welder, the main advantage of this function is that it effectively prevents the welding arc from “dimming” and annoying sticking of the electrode to the material being welded. The Arc Force function provides a more stable and “softer” arc, which makes it significantly easier to maintain a constant optimal arc length, especially when welding in difficult positions such as vertical or overhead welding. As a result, it contributes to a deeper weld fusion and a more even and aesthetically pleasing weld face.

The Anti-stick function, often referred to as Anti-freeze in Migatronic materials, is an intelligent safety system that activates automatically when the electrode is accidentally short-circuited to the workpiece, that is, when the electrode sticks to the workpiece. In such an emergency situation, the welding current is immediately and rapidly reduced to a minimum safe level (for example, to about 10A, according to the manufacturer). For the professional welder, the main benefit is the effective protection of the electrode from overheating and potential damage to its sheath, allowing the stuck electrode to be more easily and safely detached from the material being welded without risking damage to the electrode itself or the electrode holder. The Anti-stick function significantly improves work safety, increases welder comfort by eliminating the frustration of sticking electrodes, and reduces material waste by preventing electrode damage.

The Migatronic Focus Stick 161 E PFC welder also offers the basic but extremely useful functionality of TIG (Wolfram Inert Gas) welding. However, it should be clearly emphasized that in this model TIG welding is realized by simple contact ignition, also known as Scratch TIG. This means that the welding arc is initiated by briefly rubbing the non-fusible tungsten electrode against the material to be welded, similar to igniting a match. This method of arc ignition is less precise and carries the potential risk of tungsten particle contamination of the weld compared to more advanced ignition methods, such as Lift TIG (ignition by lifting the electrode without rubbing, available on the RallyMIG 161i model, for example) or HF TIG (high-frequency contactless arc ignition, available on higher series, such as the Focus TIG). The TIG function of the Focus Stick 161 E PFC is mainly designed for simple and occasional welding tasks, primarily for welding stainless steel and carbon steel (black) with direct current (DC). To take advantage of this feature, it is necessary to use a special TIG handle equipped with a gas valve located in the handle (this handle is available as an optional accessory), which allows manual control of the shielding gas flow. Despite its certain limitations, due to the method of arc ignition, the TIG welding function significantly increases the versatility of the device, enabling more precise and aesthetic welds to be made where the traditional MMA method may not be sufficient, without having to invest in a separate, dedicated TIG welder.

A key technological element that fundamentally affects the versatility and reliability of the Migatronic Focus Stick 161 E PFC welder is the advanced Power Factor Correction (PFC) system. This innovative feature is not just a mere technical addition, but an integral part of the design that actively shapes the current waveform drawn from the mains supply, bringing it closer to the ideal sinusoidal waveform and synchronizing it with the mains voltage. For the professional welder, PFC technology brings a number of invaluable benefits. First of all, it results in significantly higher energy efficiency, which means minimized power losses and lower power consumption, translating into lower operating costs. What’s more, thanks to PFC, the welder can deliver more welding power from a standard electrical outlet, enabling welding current to be about 25% higher with the same mains protection (standard 16A) compared to inverter welders without this technology. This is an invaluable advantage in areas with limited electrical capacity. PFC technology also guarantees extremely stable operation of the welder even when using very long power cables, compensating for voltage drops, and ensures reliable operation with generators, making the welder less sensitive to the unstable parameters of the current generated by these devices. Finally, the PFC provides wide line voltage tolerance, enabling stable operation over a voltage range of approximately 138V to 253V (-40% / +10%). All these advantages translate into improved welding arc stability, which in turn results in a more even, easier to control and higher quality weld for every user.