Honda has approved the Chief MI200T Spot Welder for its ProFirst-certified body shops in North America.
The MI200T now is available to dealers through Honda’s tool and equipment program.
Honda recently increased its spot welder squeeze-pressure requirement to 772 pounds of pressure. The MI200T exceeds the requirement, providing 1,256 pounds of squeeze pressure at 116 psi, according to Chief.
“To replace the high-strength steel structures used by Honda, shops have to have the proper squeeze pressure and voltage to get a good spot weld,” explained Bob Holland, director of strategic relationships for Chief. “Spot welding combines electricity with pressure to melt-work pieces together, and the MI200T squeeze-type resistance inverter spot welder actually exceeds the new Honda specs for this type of collision repair. Plus, this top-of-the-line spot welder with lightweight transformer pliers is priced lower than many basic cable models.”
The MI200T can produce up to 14,500 amps (Honda requires at least 9,000 amps) of welding current while drawing up to 40 percent less power than many cable plier units, according to Chief. The design also means that the amperage service required for the MI200T is one of the lowest in the industry, typically requiring only a 40-amp breaker on a three-phase 220-volt service, according to the company.
The TrueAutoMode automatic welding system built into the MI200T reduces the chances of human error by automatically setting the weld parameters for every weld. The technology detects the metal type and thickness, as well as the presence of adhesives and insulation, and then automatically adjusts and sets the welding parameters accordingly.
Instant feedback is provided to the technician about the weld result, with the results logged into memory. At the end of a job, the shop can print out a document verifying that every spot weld was made correctly.
“The Chief pulse control MultiMig 522 was previously approved for high-strength steel and aluminum synergic MIG welding through the Honda ProFirst Certified and dealer tool and equipment programs,” added Holland. “For this type of welding, Honda requires a very specific wire, Bohler Union X96 0.8mm MAG welding wire, and Chief is one of the few approved suppliers to have this wire in stock.”
