Basics & process choice
What does duty cycle mean on a welder?
Quick answer
Duty cycle is the fraction of each 10-minute period a welder can run at a given output without overheating: 35% at 180 A means 3.5 minutes of arc, 6.5 of cooling. Trade machines quote honestly at working amps; cheap machines quote at low amps to print a bigger number.
Reading the label properly
Always find the amps attached to the duty-cycle figure. A '250 A machine with 10% duty at max' gives you 25 seconds of arc per cycle at full noise — useless for structural work. A 180 A machine at 35% duty covers real fabrication. For hobby use, 20–35% at your working amps is fine; for production, insist on 40–60% or three-phase.