Abstract: A contact tip for hot-wire welder is provided that are adapted to operate in deep and narrow recessed gaps within a work piece. Contact tips in accordance with the current invention provide for an assembly having a body portion with a cavity and an extension portion which is inserted into the cavity. The extension portion is non-electrically conductive and allows the contact tip assembly to reach into deep, narrow grooves without worry of shorting the contact tip of the consumable.

Abstract: A contact tip for hot-wire welder is provided that are adapted to operate in deep and narrow recessed gaps within a work piece. Contact tips in accordance with the current invention provide for an assembly having a body portion with a cavity and an extension portion which is inserted into the cavity. The extension portion is non-electrically conductive and allows the contact tip assembly to reach into deep, narrow grooves without worry of shorting the contact tip of the consumable.

Abstract: A hot-wire and arc welding system and method. The system includes an arc welding power supply to supply a welding waveform. The welding waveform includes a plurality of welding pulses, with each welding pulse having a peak welding current level. The system also includes a hot-wire power supply to supply a heating waveform. The heating waveform includes a plurality of heating pulses, with each heating pulse having a peak heating current level. A controller, which is operatively connected to the arc welding power supply and the hot-wire power supply, synchronizes the plurality of welding pulses and the plurality of heating pulses such that at least a portion of the peak welding current level overlaps with at least a portion of the peak heating current level.

Abstract: A system and method of welding stainless steel to copper is provided. The method includes providing a first workpiece composed of stainless steel and providing a second workpiece composed of copper. The method also includes heating by using a laser a root area of a joint created by the workpieces. The heating by the laser creates a keyhole in at least one of the first workpiece and the second workpiece. The method also includes providing a consumable electrode that is composed of nickel to the joint and creating an arc between the consumable electrode and the joint using a welding current. The preheating of the arc using the keyhole eliminates the need to preheat the second workpiece.