Abstract: An appartus and method for a stud welder power source is disclosed. The power source has a control circuit connected to an inverter which converts an electrical signal from a power source into an electrical signal that can perform stud welding. The inverter conditions the power signal such that a current of at least 1000 amps can be generated nearly instantaneously. Additionally, having a power source that includes a control circuit with an inverter allows for a smaller and lighter appartus when compared to known stud welders.

Abstract: A modular welding system for performing quick, easy and high quality welds. The modular welding system comprises a basic component system and a modular fixture component system. The basic component system provides the basic components which are needed to perform a quality weld efficiently. The modular fixture component system interfaces with the basic component system and provides a particular welding fixture assembly that performs a particular type of weld. More particularly, a stiffener type modular fixture component system and a butt/tee type modular fixture system are described. However, any other particular fixture type system may be integrated with the basic component system of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi process welding includes providing a controlled short circuit output and a pulse output in response to a user selection across a workpiece output stud and a torch output stud.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power are disclosed. They include a source of welding-type power and at least one welding system peripheral. Each includes a network module that has boot loader software. A network is connected to the two network modules, and the network has connection for updates that is capable of receiving software updates. The network connection for updating may be on a user interface module, disposed inside or outside of a housing of the source of welding-type power and may include an RS232 connection. The network modules may include application software. The peripheral may be a wire feeder, a robot interface, or any other peripheral. A second peripheral, with a network module and boot loader software, may also be connected to the network. The updating can occur when the system is powered up. The software update is obtained from a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or over the internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of comparing two or more welding flux systems to determine which flux system results in the smallest incidence of undercut about a weld bead in an inner diameter of a pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of forming a root bead in a gap between spaced ends of at least one workpiece. The gap includes an open root. A metal cored electrode having a metal sheath and core materials is used to for the root bead in the open root. The core materials include little or no flux agents. The metal cored electrode is advanced at a given wire feed rate toward the open root to weld the ends together by at least partially filling the open root in a first weld pass. A welding current having a controlled waveform is used. The waveform includes a succession of welding cycles each having a short circuit portion and a metal the metal cored electrode and to cause the metal cored electrode to melt and transfer to the ends in the open root to form a root bead. The formed root bead has little or no slag on the upper surface of the root bead. A shielding gas is used to at least partially protect the molten metal in the open root from the atmosphere.

Abstract: An auxiliary OCV boost circuit for the power source of an electric arc welder to perform a welding process between an electrode and a workpiece, which power source has a main positive voltage output with a first voltage and a main negative voltage output with a second voltage. The boost circuit comprises a source of positive boost voltage substantially greater than the first voltage, a first switch to add the positive boost voltage to the main positive voltage, a source of negative boost voltage substantially greater than the second voltage, a second switch to add the negative boot voltage to the main negative voltage and a switch control device activated to selectively enable the first and second switches. This OCV boost circuit can be selectively operated in DC mode wherein only the main and boost voltages of one polarity is implemented.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a remote control that uses a welding circuit to transfer control information to a welding power source. The information to be communicated to the power source includes welding power source output command information (amperage/voltage control), welding circuit on/off information (power source output contactor control), and power source mode control (constant voltage/constant current). The control information may be transmitted in a serial communication and/or encoded using frequency and or voltage coding. The control information may be transmitted during dedicated transmission intervals or as an offset to an open circuit voltage between the power source and wire feeder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method that provide for automated notification to entities (e.g., individuals, groups of individuals, computers, systems . . . ) of welding system related information. The invention provides for determination of events and/or conditions that warrant automatic notification thereof to relevant entities. The notifications are conveyed via a most appropriate subset of available communication modes available. The system identifies most appropriate entities to receive the notification about the event, and optionally determines or infers state of the entities and conveys the notification via a communication mode (e.g., text, audio, graphical, video, combination thereof . . . ) and modality (e.g., wireless, Ethernet, cable, optical, telephone, e-mail, voicemail, pager, ghosting, instant messaging . . . ) that is most suitable given context/state of the event and entities.

Abstract: A cable monitoring system, which monitors failure of a plurality of cables connecting a power supply and a welding gun, has voltage detection lines connected to arbitrary two points of each of the cables, an insulating transformer a primary side of which is connected to the voltage detection lines of each cable, and a failure detector connected to a secondary side of the insulating transformer and detecting failure of each cable based on voltage on the secondary side of the insulating transformer for each cable.

Abstract: A method of producing a plate stack preform, including preparing a reinforcement stack having first and second reinforcing plates, overlapping first and second plates respectively larger in size than the first and second reinforcing plates on the first and second reinforcing plates, respectively, inserting a weld-preventing conductive plate between side peripheries of the overlapped first and second reinforcing plates, after the inserting operation, simultaneously conducting joining the first plate with the side periphery of the first reinforcing plate and joining the second plate with the side periphery of the second reinforcing plate by lap resistance welding, and then joining side peripheries of the first and second plates together by continuous welding.

Abstract: An electric arc welder for creating a succession of AC waveforms between an electrode and workpiece by a power source comprising an high frequency switching device for creating individual waveforms in the succession of waveforms. Each of the individual waveforms has a profile determined by the magnitude of each of a large number of short current pulses generated at a frequency of at least 18 kHz by a pulse width modulator with the magnitude of the current pulses controlled by a wave shaper. The welder is provided with a profile control network for setting more than one profile parameter selected from the class consisting of frequency, duty cycle, up ramp rate and down ramp rate and a magnitude circuit for adjusting the waveform profile to set total current, voltage and/or power.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for tactile communication with an operator in an arc processing system, in which a tactile device is mechanically coupled with a handheld torch to provide tactile messages to the operator according to information related to the system or to an arc processing operation being performed.

Abstract: The invention provides an arc welding robot capable of collecting and displaying waveform data in a welding operation without using an external device. The arc welding robot comprises: a manipulator 101 including a welding torch 124 mounted thereon; a control unit 102 for operating the manipulator 101 in a given operation pattern in accordance with a previously taught operation program, the control unit 102 including therein a welding control part 104 for welding a member to be welded 125 under a given welding condition, and a RAM 106 for recording waveform data relating to at least one of a welding current instruction value, a welding current output value, a welding voltage instruction value, a welding voltage output value, a welding speed, a wire feed speed, the number of times of short circuits and a wire feed motor current during a given period; and, display means for graphically displaying the waveform data recorded in the RAM 106.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a welding-type power supply includes providing a current wave form having an arc current portion and a short circuit current portion. An arc state is entered by retracting a welding wire, and a short circuit state is entered by advancing the wire. The current enters the arc current portion prior to the creation of the arc and the current enters the short circuit current portion prior to the creation of the short, by coordinating the wave form with the wire retraction. This may be preformed on a wire having a diameter of 2.4 mm or more to a weld and applying a welding current of less than 100 amps, or of less than 35 amps. One current waveform during the arc state includes at least three segments, and the last segment is entered into prior to the short circuit state being entered, and is the same current magnitude as the current magnitude at the start of the short circuit state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power includes an input circuit, a switched circuit connected to the input circuit, and an output circuit connected to the switched circuit. A controller controls the system output in response to a setpoint and an output feedback signal. A first gain is used to control the output at start up, and a second gain is used to control the output during steady-state welding. The first gain is greater than the second gain.

Abstract: A welding apparatus capable of effecting welding completion processing which is reliable and free of wasteful time, by transmitting the completion of wire fusion prevention processing to a welding machine 11, by transmitting the detected result to a controller 17 upon completion of the subsequent wire fusion detection processing, and by thus proceeding with processing while effecting the confirmation of completion of respective processing between the welding machine 11 and the controller 17.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a welding arc is disclosed. The method of initiating the arc includes the steps of defining a wire feed speed based on a user selected wire feed speed and then abruptly reducing the wire feed speed before the wire feed speed reaches a relatively stabilized speed for welding, thereby allowing a welding arc to initiate and propagate to a generally steady state.

Abstract: A method of welding a stud 15 to a base material 14, both made of magnesium or magnesium alloy, comprising; a first step of disposing the stud 15 having a projection 28 at an end portion thereof to have a gap to the base material 14; a second step of lowering the stud 15 rapidly; and a third step of welding the end portion of the stud 15 to the base material 14 by discharging an electric charge stored in a capacitor 11 between the base material 14 and the stud 15, each having an oxide layer destroyed by the rapid lowering of the stud 15, wherein the discharge of the capacitor 11 is carried out by applying a pulse signal having a duration of more than 0.1 seconds to a gate of a thyristor 13 as a signal to start welding, the thyristor 13 serving as a discharge switch of the capacitor 11.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming a resistance welding electrode. The process includes the step of providing a billet formed from a high conductivity metal. The billet includes a first portion having a first inner cavity formed therein. The process further includes the steps of inserting a dispersion strengthened copper insert into the first inner cavity of the billet thereby forming an insert-containing billet, and deforming the insert-containing billet so as to mechanically lock the insert in place in the billet. The deformed insert-containing billet comprises the resistance welding electrode.