In some aspects, material processing head can include a body; an antenna disposed within the body; a first tag, associated with a first consumable component, disposed within a flux communication zone of the body at a first distance from the antenna, the first tag having a first resonant frequency; and a second tag, associated with a second consumable component, disposed within the flux communication zone of the body at a second distance from the antenna, the second tag having a second resonant frequency that is different than the first resonant frequency, where the first and second resonant frequencies are tuned based upon at least one of: i) a difference between the first distance and the second distance; or ii) a characteristic (e.g., shape) of the flux communication zone in which the first tag and/or the second tag is disposed.

A torch includes a body that defines an interior cavity, and a fuel inlet connector secured to the body and disposed within the interior cavity. A regulator is disposed within the interior cavity and includes a regulator housing, a regulator valve and a regulator valve actuating device. An intake stem is secured to one of the fuel inlet connector and the regulator housing, and defines an intake flow passage. A burn tube is coupled with the body and defines a burn tube flow passage. A trigger is pivotally coupled with the body. The regulator valve opens as the trigger pivots between an off position and a full flow position, permitting a user to initiate and vary a flow of hydrocarbon fuel to the burn tube flow passage when the intake flow passage is in fluid communication with a source of hydrocarbon fuel, by varying the position of the trigger.

A torch includes a body that defines an interior cavity, and a fuel inlet connector secured to the body and disposed within the interior cavity. A regulator is disposed within the interior cavity and includes a regulator housing, a regulator valve and a regulator valve actuating device. An intake stem is secured to one of the fuel inlet connector and the regulator housing, and defines an intake flow passage. A burn tube is coupled with the body and defines a burn tube flow passage. A trigger is pivotally coupled with the body. The regulator valve opens as the trigger pivots between an off position and a full flow position, permitting a user to initiate and vary a flow of hydrocarbon fuel to the burn tube flow passage when the intake flow passage is in fluid communication with a source of hydrocarbon fuel, by varying the position of the trigger.

An automated oxy-fuel thermal processing system including an oxy-fuel torch, an automated machine tool operatively coupled to the torch for moving the torch relative to a work piece, and a circuit including a voltage source or a current electrically connected to the torch and configured to be electrically connected to the work piece. The automated oxy-fuel thermal processing system may further include a processor that is operatively connected to the torch, the automated machine tool, the circuit, and the voltage source or current source, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the torch, the automated machine tool and the voltage source or current source, and to monitor a current or voltage in the circuit in a predefined manner.

An automated oxy-fuel thermal processing system including an oxy-fuel torch, an automated machine tool operatively coupled to the torch for moving the torch relative to a work piece, and a circuit including a voltage source or a current electrically connected to the torch and configured to be electrically connected to the work piece. The automated oxy-fuel thermal processing system may further include a processor that is operatively connected to the torch, the automated machine tool, the circuit, and the voltage source or current source, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the torch, the automated machine tool and the voltage source or current source, and to monitor a current or voltage in the circuit in a predefined manner.

An automatic and manual welding apparatus includes an operation changeover switch which is provided to be capable of switching a manual input mode for switching off power supplied to an infeed motor to and from an automatic input mode for applying power supplied to the infeed motor, so as to switch the rotation of the infeed motor automatically and manually. A control unit controls the infeed motor such that the power supplied to the forward and backward transfer motor is switched off when the input of the operation changeover switch is in a manual input mode and the power to the infeed motor is applied when the input of the operation changeover switch is in an automatic input mode.

An automated oxy-fuel thermal processing system including an oxy-fuel torch, an automated machine tool operatively coupled to the torch for moving the torch relative to a work piece, and a circuit including a voltage source or a current electrically connected to the torch and configured to be electrically connected to the work piece. The automated oxy-fuel thermal processing system may further include a processor that is operatively connected to the torch, the automated machine tool, the circuit, and the voltage source or current source, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the torch, the automated machine tool and the voltage source or current source, and to monitor a current or voltage in the circuit in a predefined manner.

An automated oxy-fuel thermal processing system including an oxy-fuel torch, an automated machine tool operatively coupled to the torch for moving the torch relative to a work piece, and a circuit including a voltage source or a current electrically connected to the torch and configured to be electrically connected to the work piece. The automated oxy-fuel thermal processing system may further include a processor that is operatively connected to the torch, the automated machine tool, the circuit, and the voltage source or current source, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the torch, the automated machine tool and the voltage source or current source, and to monitor a current or voltage in the circuit in a predefined manner.

In some aspects, material processing head can include a body; an antenna disposed within the body; a first tag, associated with a first consumable component, disposed within a flux communication zone of the body at a first distance from the antenna, the first tag having a first resonant frequency; and a second tag, associated with a second consumable component, disposed within the flux communication zone of the body at a second distance from the antenna, the second tag having a second resonant frequency that is different than the first resonant frequency, where the first and second resonant frequencies are tuned based upon at least one of: i) a difference between the first distance and the second distance; or ii) a characteristic (e.g., shape) of the flux communication zone in which the first tag and/or the second tag is disposed.

In some aspects, material processing head can include a body; an antenna disposed within the body; a first tag, associated with a first consumable component, disposed within a flux communication zone of the body at a first distance from the antenna, the first tag having a first resonant frequency; and a second tag, associated with a second consumable component, disposed within the flux communication zone of the body at a second distance from the antenna, the second tag having a second resonant frequency that is different than the first resonant frequency, where the first and second resonant frequencies are tuned based upon at least one of: i) a difference between the first distance and the second distance; or ii) a characteristic (e.g., shape) of the flux communication zone in which the first tag and/or the second tag is disposed.