A gouging box for safely removing debris and exhaust from the site of arc gouging work. The gouging box is a rigid open-bottomed frame having at least one access opening for insertion of a user's arm, a transparent viewing window, air inlet means, and an exhaust port. Fire retardant materials may cover the arm openings, and extend below the lower edges of the frame. A slag containment and air filtration unit may be added to the exhaust port to collect slag and reduce smoke in the work area.

A computerized method is provided for selecting a direction of formation of a slag puddle on a workpiece during processing of the workpiece by a thermal processing torch. The method comprises causing the torch to emit a thermal arc to gouge the workpiece at a first location without piercing through the workpiece. The method also includes translating the torch from the first location to a second location along a first direction on the workpiece while the torch is gouging the workpiece, the first direction substantially along the selected direction of slag puddle formation. The gouging and translating cause formation of a trench in a surface of the workpiece in the first direction. The method further includes causing the thermal arc emitted by the torch to pierce through the workpiece at the second location, which causes the formation of the slag puddle along the selected direction as guided by the trench.

A computerized method is provided for selecting a direction of formation of a slag puddle on a workpiece during processing of the workpiece by a thermal processing torch. The method comprises causing the torch to emit a thermal arc to gouge the workpiece at a first location without piercing through the workpiece. The method also includes translating the torch from the first location to a second location along a first direction on the workpiece while the torch is gouging the workpiece, the first direction substantially along the selected direction of slag puddle formation. The gouging and translating cause formation of a trench in a surface of the workpiece in the first direction. The method further includes causing the thermal arc emitted by the torch to pierce through the workpiece at the second location, which causes the formation of the slag puddle along the selected direction as guided by the trench.

The base member 3 can be attached to and detached from a base-holding member 5 without using tools and the like. The base-holding member 5 has a positioning mechanism that decides the position of the base member 3 on the base-holding member 5. Here, a reference part that decides the position of the base member 3 on the base-holding member 5 in a direction parallel to an optical fiber installation surface 2, which is an upper surface of the base member 3, is called a horizontal positioning reference part. Also, a reference part that decides the position of the base member 3 on the base-holding member in a direction vertical to the optical fiber installation surface 2 (the direction vertical to the horizontal positioning reference part), which is the upper surface of the base member 3, is called a vertical positioning reference part 6. That is, the horizontal positioning reference part and the vertical positioning reference part 6 are provided on the base-holding member 5.

A torch assembly for cutting or spraying applications. The torch assembly includes a torch connector that connects to at least one cable that communicates with a power supply. The torch assembly includes a trigger mounted on the torch assembly to start and stop torch operations. The trigger electrically communicates with the power supply via the at least one cable. The torch assembly also includes a remote switch mounted on the torch assembly to allow an operator to remotely adjust an output of the power supply to a desired output level. The remote switch is electrically coupled to the power supply via the at least one cable.

A torch assembly for cutting or spraying applications. The torch assembly includes a torch connector that connects to at least one cable that communicates with a power supply. The torch assembly includes a trigger mounted on the torch assembly to start and stop torch operations. The trigger electrically communicates with the power supply via the at least one cable. The torch assembly also includes a remote switch mounted on the torch assembly to allow an operator to remotely adjust an output of the power supply to a desired output level. The remote switch is electrically coupled to the power supply via the at least one cable.

Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically activating or deactivating a gouging torch. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods activate and/or deactivate a gouging torch based on a valve operation selection. For example, for welding power supplies and/or welding wire feeders configured to operate both wire welding processes as well as gouging, a valve can be integrated with a gouging torch, which can be adjusted to allow or arrest the flow of compressed air to the gouging torch. In response, the welding power source and/or welding wire feeder automatically changes one or more output characteristics, to switch between a wire welding process and a gouging process without requiring the operator to interact with either the welding power source or welding wire feeder.

Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically activating or deactivating a gouging torch. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods activate and/or deactivate a gouging torch based on a valve operation selection. For example, for welding power supplies and/or welding wire feeders configured to operate both wire welding processes as well as gouging, a valve can be integrated with a gouging torch, which can be adjusted to allow or arrest the flow of compressed air to the gouging torch. In response, the welding power source and/or welding wire feeder automatically changes one or more output characteristics, to switch between a wire welding process and a gouging process without requiring the operator to interact with either the welding power source or welding wire feeder.

A welding or cutting system having a power supply with no user interface hardware or software for controlling the operation of the power supply, and a mobile communication device which contains an application allowing for control of the power supply. The mobile device is coupled to the power supply through either a wired or wireless connection.

A welding or cutting system having a power supply with no user interface hardware or software for controlling the operation of the power supply, and a mobile communication device which contains an application allowing for control of the power supply. The mobile device is coupled to the power supply through either a wired or wireless connection.