3MH70-0715-1049-2 - 3M Speedglas 9100V Welding Helmet with SideWindows and 9100 Headgear

Technical Overview: 3M Speedglas 9100V

The 3M Speedglas 9100V Welding Helmet (Part Number 06-0100-30SW) represents a significant evolution in personal protective equipment for professional welders. At the core of this system is the 9100V Auto-Darkening Filter (ADF), which provides a viewing area of 1.8 x 3.7 inches (45 x 93 mm). The lens offers seven user-selectable dark shades, including shade 5 for gas welding/cutting, shade 8 for micro-plasma or low-amp TIG, and variable shades 9 through 13 for standard arc welding processes. The optical quality is designed to provide uniform shading and minimal distortion across the entire field of view.

A distinguishing feature of the 9100 shell is the integrated SideWindows. These are shade 5 passive filters located on the sides of the helmet, expanding the welder's field of vision to approximately 180 degrees. This peripheral visibility is critical in industrial environments, allowing operators to detect movement, obstacles, or hazards without lifting the hood. For applications requiring total darkness, cover plates are available to blank out the SideWindows.

The helmet is equipped with the highly engineered Speedglas 9100 Headgear. This suspension system was developed after extensive study of human head anatomy. It features two adjustable crown straps to distribute weight evenly and avoid sensitive acupressure points, specifically the ophthalmic and trigeminal nerves. The back of the headgear utilizes a smooth ratchet mechanism and a self-adjusting twin-pad design that contours to the head, ensuring stability even when the helmet is in the raised position. The pivot mechanism allows the helmet to park in the 'up' position close to the user's center of gravity, reducing neck strain.

Electronically, the 9100V ADF utilizes three independent arc sensors capable of detecting arcs down to 1 amp, making it suitable for precision TIG applications. The switching time from light to dark is 0.1 milliseconds at 73°F (23°C). Users can adjust sensitivity to filter out interference from other welders or lighting, and a delay function controls how quickly the lens returns to the light state (Shade 3) after the arc stops, protecting the eyes from the afterglow of the weld pool.