Abstract: An electric arc welder having an inverter with a waveform generator that generates a welding waveform with a waveform period and a root mean square (RMS) level for maintaining a stable short welding arc based on at least a cored welding electrode. The electric arc welder having a circuit to adjust a wave balance of the welding waveform to maintain the stable short welding arc, where the wave balance is a ratio between a period of a positive portion of the welding waveform and the waveform period.

Abstract: There is provided an improved TIG welder comprising a power source for performing an AC TIG welding process across an electrode and a workpiece with a controller for creating an AC waveform. The controller having a synergic input device with an input for receiving a signal level representing a desired set current for the welding process and an output signal determining an aspect of the waveform and representing a non-linear relationship between peak positive current and peak negative current for certain desired set welding currents.

Abstract: An electric arc welder for creating a welding process in the form of a succession of AC waveforms between a particular type of cored electrode, with a sheath and core, and a workpiece by a power source comprising a high frequency switching device for creating the individual waveforms in the succession of waveforms, each waveform having a profile is formed by the magnitude of each of a large number of short current pulses generated at a frequency of at least 18 kHz where the profile is determined by the input signal to a wave shaper controlling the short current pulses; a circuit to create a profile signal indicative of the particular type of electrode; and a select circuit to select the input signal based upon the profile signal whereby the wave shaper causes the power source to create a specific waveform profile for the particular type of cored electrode.

Abstract: An electric arc welder for creating an arc welding process between an electrode and a workpiece where the welder comprises a preregulator having a first DC signal as an input and a regulated second DC signal as an output, an unregulated isolation inverter to convert the regulated second DC signal into a DC power signal and a weld control stage for converting the DC power signal into a welding signal. A controller causes the weld control stage to conform the welding signal into a waveform to provide welding process between the electrode and the workpiece, which controller has an output control signal regulated to produce a selected waveform or waveforms and the polarity of the waveform or waveforms. A device selects one of several stored welding processes as a program and a corresponding polarity for outputting by the controller.

Abstract: A method of arc welding with a cored electrode comprising creating a positive waveform with a first shape and having a first time; creating a negative waveform with a second shape and having a second time; making one of the first and second shapes greater in magnitude than the other of the shapes; and, adjusting the percentage relationship of the first and second times so the time of the shape with the greater magnitude is substantially less than the time of the other shape.

Abstract: A method of arc welding with a cored electrode comprising creating a positive waveform with a first shape and having a first time; creating a negative waveform with a second shape and having a second time; making one of the first and second shapes greater in magnitude than the other of the shapes; and, adjusting the percentage relationship of the first and second times so the time of the shape with the greater magnitude is substantially less than the time of the other shape.

Abstract: Apparatus, devices, and methods for providing a voltage reduction capability in a welding power source for safety purposes. The resistive load and the output voltage of the welding power source output are monitored and compared to predefined or preselected threshold values to generate a load condition signal and an output voltage condition signal (e.g., logic signals). The load condition signal and the output voltage condition signal serve as inputs to a voltage reduction device control logic which generates control signals to enable and disable the input and output of the welding power source according to the defined control logic. As a result, an extra measure of safety in preventing electrical shock is provided to users of the welding power source during hazardous operating conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus, devices, and methods for providing a voltage reduction capability in a welding power source for safety purposes. The resistive load and the output voltage of the welding power source output are monitored and compared to predefined or preselected threshold values to generate a load condition signal and an output voltage condition signal (e.g., logic signals). The load condition signal and the output voltage condition signal serve as inputs to a voltage reduction device control logic which generates control signals to enable and disable the input and output of the welding power source according to the defined control logic. As a result, an extra measure of safety in preventing electrical shock is provided to users of the welding power source during hazardous operating conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus, devices, and methods for providing a voltage reduction capability in a welding power source for safety purposes. The resistive load and the output voltage of the welding power source output are monitored and compared to predefined or preselected threshold values to generate a load condition signal and an output voltage condition signal (e.g., logic signals). The load condition signal and the output voltage condition signal serve as inputs to a voltage reduction device control logic which generates control signals to enable and disable the input and output of the welding power source according to the defined control logic. As a result, an extra measure of safety in preventing electrical shock is provided to users of the welding power source during hazardous operating conditions.

Abstract: An electric arc welding system including a power lead for providing welding current between an advancing welding wire and a workpiece, a short circuit sensor having a short circuit output signal when the electrode is shorted with the workpiece and a premonition sensor having a fuse output signal when a short circuit is about to break. This welding system has at least two power source modules, each with a common isolated DC input and an output connected to the power lead with each of the modules controlled to perform a short circuit arc welding process. The individual module comprises a regulated DC to DC converter having a DC output signal with a waveform controlled by a waveform signal from a controller and an output switch receiving the DC output signal and in series with the power lead where the output switch is opened by a gate signal to reduce the welding current in the power lead.

Abstract: A welder for performing a welding process which includes a wire feeder and a code reader. The code reader is designed to obtain information from the welding wire based on a plurality of different cross-sectional sizes and/or different cross-sectional shapes on the outer surface of the welding wire. The information from the code reader is used to monitor at least one welding parameter of an electric arc welding process and/or to control at least one welding parameter of an electric arc welding process.

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: 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: An electrode position detection system for a welder having a laser that is projected in a lateral plane to laterally cross a welding wire at a location below a contact tip of a welding gun and a receiver that receive the laser bean after crossing the welding wire, and a measuring device that determines one or more parameter of the welding wire based on the received laser beam. Arc voltage measurements can also be used to determine one or more parameter of the welding wire.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for pulse welding, in which a welding signal is provided to an electrode in series of pulse welding cycles, where the amount of energy applied to the electrode in each cycle is determined and a pulse is provided to initiate a transfer condition of each cycle based at least partially on the energy applied in the cycle.

Abstract: A device to control operation of a power source for an electric arc welder comprising an oscillator for inducing a high frequency voltage into a series circuit including the welding gap, a detector tuned to the high frequency for sensing the level of current in the series circuit at the high frequency and an output circuit to create a start signal when the received signal level exceeds a given value representing a resistance in said gap below a given amount.

Abstract: A system for welding with a first and second arc between a first and second electrode, respectively, and a common workpiece, where each of the electrodes is driven by a power lead from a single power source. The system comprises an inductor with a core, a center tap, a first end, a second end, a first coil section between the tap and the first end and a second coil section between the tap and the second end where the power lead is connected to the tap. A first circuit connecting the first arc in series with the first coil section and a second circuit connecting the second arc in series with the second coil section, a first separate auxiliary inductor in the first circuit between the first coil section and the first arc and a second separate auxiliary inductor in the second circuit between the second coil section and the second arc.

Abstract: A system and method for welding with a first and second arc between a first and second electrode, respectively, and a common workpiece, where each of the electrodes is driven by a single power source, where there is a first inductor connected in series with the first electrode and a second inductor connected in series with the second electrode and each of the inductors has sufficient inductive reactance to store enough energy to maintain an existing arc associated with one of the electrodes for a selected general time with essentially no current to the one electrode.

Abstract: An electric arc welder for creating a welding process in the form of a succession of AC waveforms between a particular type of cored electrode, with a sheath and core, and a workpiece by a power source comprising an high frequency switching device for creating the individual waveforms in said succession of waveforms, each waveform having a profile is formed by the magnitude of each of a large number of short current pulses generated at a frequency of at least 18 kHz where said profile is determined by the input signal to a wave shaper controlling said short current pulses; a circuit to create a profile signal indicative of said particular type of electrode; and a select circuit to select said input signal based upon said profile signal whereby said wave shaper causes said power source to crate a specific waveform profile for said particular type of cored electrode.

Abstract: An electric arc welding apparatus comprising at least a first consumable electrode and a second consumable electrode movable in unison along a welding path between the edges of two adjacent, mutually grounded plates, a first power supply for passing a first welding current at a first low frequency between the first electrode and the two plates, a second power supply for passing a second welding current at a second low frequency between the second electrode and the two plates, where each of the power supplies includes a three phase voltage input operated at line frequency, a rectifier to convert the input voltage to a DC voltage link and a high frequency switching type inverter converting the DC voltage link to a high frequency AC current, an output rectifier circuit to provide a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, and an output switching network operated at a given low frequency for directing a pulsating welding current at the given low frequency from the two terminals across one of the