FXT20 vs FXT40 Pro Orbital TIG Systems

Compare the actual configuration

Where FXT20 and C-series enclosed heads fit

FXT20 with a C-series head is an enclosed, autogenous TIG system for tube butt joints. The standard family covers actual OD 6.35–168 mm and wall thickness 0.5–3 mm across different heads; every individual head has a narrower rating. The listed heads are C5, C10, C40, C80, C120 and C170. Select the head and its collets from the actual tube dimensions, then check whether the head can be installed and removed at the intended joint.

Autogenous welding melts the parent material without adding filler wire. That makes a consistent end face and fit-up especially important: there is no added wire to compensate for a poorly prepared gap. The enclosed chamber protects the outside of the hot joint with argon. It does not eliminate the need to establish the required protection inside the tube. Material, purge arrangement and inspection criteria still belong in the procedure review.

The FXT20 power source uses single-phase 220 V input and provides 5–200 A DC output. C5 is air-cooled; C10, C40, C80, C120 and C170 are water-cooled. The host itself is air-cooled, with an internal tank and pump supplying the water-cooled head circuit. These are separate cooling functions. Tube OD 3.175 mm is outside the standard range and requires a paid custom assessment of control precision and current capability. Do not treat a headline family maximum or a custom enquiry as the standard rating of every head.

Where FXT40 Pro and K-series open heads fit

FXT40 Pro with a K-series head addresses open-head industrial TIG welding, including prepared joints that need filler wire and multiple passes. The standard family OD range is 20–325 mm. K76 covers 20–76 mm with a standard wall range of 2–10 mm. K114, K168, K219 and K325 have standard wall ranges of 2–12 mm, with their own diameter coverage. Check the actual head rating before grouping small and large pipe into one package.

The standard three-phase 380 V power-source version provides 10–400 A DC; the optional single-phase 220 V version provides 10–300 A. These are different configurations, so a quotation must identify the intended version rather than combining the current rating of one with the supply requirement of the other. The power source is air-cooled and the K-series head is water-cooled. Site power, cooling connections and the working cable route all need to be included in commissioning planning.

Arc-voltage control and oscillation can help control the process, but arc-voltage control is not automatic seam tracking. Joint alignment, bevel geometry, wire position and the approved pass sequence remain essential. Custom K-series work up to 20 mm wall thickness can be evaluated for a confirmed head, material and procedure; it is not the standard rating of every head. Choose the open-head route because the joint needs its process and access capabilities, rather than assuming that a higher maximum current automatically makes it better for thin clean tubing.

Make the program and weld record useful to the inspection team

Program storage and weld-data output are different functions. FXT20 stores 200 program groups, has a built-in micro printer and supports USB export of weld data. Confirm the exported fields and file format against the supplied software version. FXT40 Pro stores 50 program groups; parameter printing requires its optional printer, and USB weld-data export is not supported. Identify the exact model and record function rather than assuming every USB socket provides the same capability.

A usable job record links the joint to its approved program, workpiece dimensions, material identification, operator and inspection disposition. Some information can come from the equipment record and some must come from the workshop's weld map or quality system. Ask which fields the actual configuration produces, how the joint identifier is associated with them and how records will be retained. A printout without a clear connection to the physical weld can be difficult to use during a later review.

Give each validated joint family a controlled program name and revision. Record the reason for a change, the associated sample results and who authorized production use. Avoid overwriting a successful recipe without retaining its relationship to earlier welds. Where several heads share a power source, identify the head and tooling as well as the program.

An equipment log demonstrates what was recorded during the cycle; it does not replace visual examination, leak testing or other inspection required by the project. Plan how process records and inspection results will be joined into the final handover package. That makes traceability a practical production activity instead of a promise that is discovered to be incomplete at delivery.

Compare complete supported configurations

When comparing suppliers, give each the same joint-family sheet and the same inspection plan. Ask for the proposed power source, exact head models, fixtures, cooling arrangement, preparation tools and record output. A quotation for only a host and an unspecified head cannot be compared fairly with a package that includes collets, consumables, training and documented sample work.

Check the distinction between standard and optional items. For example, FXT20 includes a built-in printer and supports USB weld-data export, whereas FXT40 Pro printing requires an optional printer and its USB does not export weld records. Accessories shown in a catalogue are not automatically included in the shipping package. Request an itemized packing list and identify any special fixtures or custom configurations separately. Confirm consumable availability and the information required to order replacements.

Use representative samples to compare the complete operating sequence and inspection outcome. Ask what evidence will be supplied with the demonstration and how the trial setup relates to the offered configuration. Do not infer another supplier's limits, price or certification from an unverified comparison chart. Compatibility between brands also needs confirmation at the interface and component level; similar terminology is not proof of interchangeability.

Complete the comparison with site voltage and frequency, commissioning scope, training responsibilities, support arrangements and a current written delivery estimate. Confirm warranty and shipment terms in the quotation or contract. This process gives the buyer a defensible selection based on supported joint coverage and a usable workflow, rather than a ranking based solely on a machine's maximum current or the reputation of its brand.

Practical questions

What if both systems fit the same outside diameter?

Compare wall thickness, filler requirement, end preparation and access. Diameter overlap does not make the welding processes or heads interchangeable.

Is FXT20 Pro simply another name for FXT20?

No. The U-tube FXT20 Pro configuration has dedicated U heads and different geometry requirements. Identify the full host and head combination in the offer.

Can a special thickness be ordered as a standard configuration?

No. K-series custom work up to 20 mm wall needs a confirmed configuration, joint and procedure review. Standard head ratings remain separate.

What should the sample comparison include?

Use the actual material and joint geometry, end preparation, shielding, full handling sequence and the agreed inspection and record requirements. Compare accepted joints rather than one photographed bead.

Discuss your joint and equipment configuration

Send FYID-Feiyide the actual outside diameters, wall thicknesses, material grades, joint drawing, available working space, site voltage and inspection requirements. Include the expected production mix and any sample-test requirement so the head, tooling and operating workflow can be reviewed together. Contact our team, or compare the system selection guide and model specification tables.