The latest series of welding helmets released by Miller Electric have so many updates for the modern welder. From peripheral lenses to integrated grind shields, these helmets are some of the most state-of-the-art designs in the industry.
Miller has long used the headline "Built for welders by welders" and includes this statement in their latest product catalogue:
"By listening to welders and working with them side-by-side, we understand their pain points and have developed products that offer protection from the unique physical dangers and health risks prevalent within welding applications"
Well the folks at Miller represented these statements expertly with the design of the T94 series of welding helmets. The updates have clearly been made to tackle the everyday issues and wishes of the modern welder.
Here is a few of the issues, and how Miller tackled and solved them.
Visibility
An extremely common complaint from every welder is their lack of clear visibility through a welding lens.
A welding lens' purpose is to protect the user from the UV (ultraviolet) and IR (infrared) rays emitted from a welding arc.
Auto-darkening was introduced in the 80's when a Swedish manufacturer invented an LCD electronic shutter that would darken automatically when it sensed the brightness of a welding arc. The technology became a popular feature for most welding helmets in the mid 2000's and remains a predominant component on most worthwhile helmets.
There have been many improvements to the auto-darkening technology over the past decade, but the latest update to the technology from Miller takes the cake thus far.
Usually, the operator would see an artificial tint of yellow, green or blue through their lens, as its design prevented the passage of certain colour shades. However, ClearLight Lens Technology allows a much greater range of colour to come through the welding lens than ever before, while still protecting the users vision.
ClearLight Lenses provide a much brighter light state as well. "Light State" refers to the amount of light able to penetrate the lens while the auto-darkening feature is not on. Light State is measured on a numerical scale that usually runs from 4 to 13, with the higher numbers filtering out more and more light. ClearLight lenses are a 3 on the scale, which allows an unprecedented amount of natural light to filter through.
In addition to the ClearLight front lens (which measures 9 sq.in.) the T94 series comes compete with with two side viewing windows. Each window has a 5.0 shade and not only increases peripheral vision but also strengthens the operator’s sense of surroundings.
Grinding Convenience
It's no secret that many welding operators need to incorporate intermittent grinding between welds. This causes the user to remove and replace their welding helmet over and over again. However with the new T94 series this inconvenience is all but eliminated.
Both versions of the T94 tackle this issue in different manners.
The T94 comes complete with an external grind control button. This allows for seamless transitions with the lens, from weld to grind, and back again.
The T94i takes grind control to the next level with the accommodation of an integrated grind shield inside the helmet. Just lifting the front lens engages the shield, which is the largest of its kind in the industry, providing 44 sq.in of clear viewing area for grinding or other tasks.
Fit
Wearing a welding helmet all day or for long periods of time can cause a myriad of issues for the user, including fatigue, neck strain, pressure point irritation and overall discomfort.
The T94, and all Miller welding helmets for that matter, come complete with the newly designed generation 4 headgear.
Weighing 4% lighter than the average helmet, the T94's lightweight design reduces fatigue and strain. The pivoting, oversized headgear back pads and head straps secure the helmet with 14% better balance and 17% less torque, eliminating over tightening and discomfort.
The new headgear was designed with ergonomics in mind, to avoid major pressure points within the head and maximizing comfort for all-day wear.
Temperature
Welding is hot work, with welding flames hitting temperatures around 3100°C, the operator is exposed to high ambient heat. To protect themselves, welders wear everything from jackets, bibs, gloves and of course welding helmets. All of this extra protection only adds to the body heat the user must endure.
The T94 series helmet has a matte silver finish, which actually reflects ambient heat and reduces the temperature more than 13°C under the helmet. This helps with temperature control and increases user endurance and focus.
Right now, Miller is also offering a rebate on the purchase of their T94 series of welding helmets with their Build With Blue program. Click here to find out how to receive this rebate.
Click here to learn more about the T94 models.