Embodiments of a welding power supply include an engine adapted to drive a generator to produce a first power and a energy storage device adapted to discharge energy to produce a second power. The welding power supply also includes control circuitry adapted to detect a commanded output. The control circuitry is adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power when the commanded output is below a first predetermined load level. The control circuitry is further adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the engine and the energy storage device to produce the first power and the second power when the commanded output is above a second predetermined load level.

Embodiments of a welding power supply include an engine adapted to drive a generator to produce a first power and a energy storage device adapted to discharge energy to produce a second power. The welding power supply also includes control circuitry adapted to detect a commanded output. The control circuitry is adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power when the commanded output is below a first predetermined load level. The control circuitry is further adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the engine and the energy storage device to produce the first power and the second power when the commanded output is above a second predetermined load level.

A pulsed welding regime includes a peak phase in which energy is added to an electrode and a weld puddle, and a molten ball begins to detach from the electrode, followed by a dabbing phase in which current is significantly reduced to place the ball in the weld puddle with addition of little or no energy. The resulting short circuit clears and the system proceeds to a background phase. The current in the dabbing phase is lower than the current during the background phase. The process may be specifically adapted for particular welding wires, and may be particularly well suited for use with cored wires. The dabbing phase allows for lower energy to be transferred to the sheath of such wires, and resets the arc length after each pulse cycle.

An example welding apparatus includes a welding power source configured to output current between a consumable electrode and a workpiece; a feeding apparatus configured to move the consumable electrode toward the workpiece; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to: control the welding power source to repeat a sequence including: outputting a positive peak current from the workpiece to the consumable electrode during a positive peak period; outputting a first base current between the consumable electrode and the workpiece during a first base period following the positive peak period, an absolute value of the first base current being less than the positive peak current; and outputting a negative peak current from the consumable electrode to the workpiece during a negative peak period following the first base period, an absolute value of the negative peak current being greater than the absolute value of the first base current. The circuitry is further configured to control the feeding apparatus to move the consumable electrode close to the workpiece so as to temporarily short circuit the consumable electrode and the workpiece during the first base period.

The invention relates to a method for contactless ignition an arc (L) between an electrode (3) and a workpiece (4) which is to be welded, for carrying out a welding process, wherein a welding current (I) and a welding voltage (U) are provided at an output (2) of a welding current source (1), wherein the welding current source (1) contains a resonance converter (5) for generating a periodically varying, preferably substantially sawtooth-shaped, open circuit welding voltage (U.sub.LL) with voltage maxima (U.sub.LL,max) which recur periodically with a repetition rate (f.sub.w) and a welding current source (1) for carrying out the igniting process. In order to achieve reliable contactless ignition of the arc (L) without complicated circuitry, the resonance converter (5) is formed by a series-parallel resonant converter, and temporally synchronous high-frequency pulses (U.sub.I,HF) are superimposed on the open circuit welding voltage (U.sub.LL) in the region of at least some of the periodically recurring voltage maxima (U.sub.LL,max) of the open circuit welding voltage (U.sub.LL).

A multiple welding method and a welding device with at least two electrodes which ensure a welding quality that is as consistent as possible and stable welding processes. A test parameter is applied to one of the at least two welding current circuits before the start or after the end of the multiple welding method and at least one electrical. welding parameter is recorded in at least one other welding current circuit, with an electrically conductive connection between the at least two welding current circuits being detected if the recorded welding parameter is influenced by the test parameter and fulfills a predetermined test criterion. Alternatively, at least one electrical welding parameter is recorded in each welding current circuit during the multiple welding method, with an electrically conductive connection between the at least two welding current circuits being detected if the recorded welding parameters change simultaneously.

An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; a user interface configured to receive two or more inputs associated with corresponding qualitative characteristics of a welding arc created by the welding-type power, wherein the two or more inputs are defined within corresponding ranges of the respective qualitative characteristics; and control circuitry configured to: in response to a change in a first one of the two or more inputs, determine a corresponding change in a second one of the two or more inputs based on a relationship between the first and second ones of the two or more inputs; determine two or more welding-type parameters based on the two or more inputs; and control the power conversion circuitry based on the determined welding-type parameters.

A system and method generates a short circuit arc welding waveform output, having a pinch phase with a break point and a necking threshold, between a welding electrode and a work piece during a short circuit arc welding process. A necking threshold energy and a break point energy of the short circuit arc welding waveform output are monitored during the short circuit arc welding process, and a running average of the necking threshold energy is generated. An actual pinch energy relationship value is calculated based on the running average of the necking threshold energy and the break point energy, and is compared to a previously specified pinch energy relationship value. The break point energy of the short circuit arc welding waveform output is adjusted in response to the comparison to maintain the actual pinch energy relationship value to be at the specified pinch energy relationship value.

A system and method of electric arc welding that includes a welding apparatus having an electric arc welder torch with sensors to determine the absolute position of the torch tip and the relative position of the torch tip to the weld joint during automatic welding. Combining absolute and relative positional data can be used to adjust the path of the robot during automated or robotic welding in response to variations in the weld joint.

A welding or additive manufacturing power supply includes output circuitry configured to generate a welding waveform, a current sensor for measuring a welding current generated by the output circuitry, a voltage sensor for measuring an output voltage of the welding waveform, and a controller operatively connected to the output circuitry to control the welding waveform, and operatively connected to the current sensor and the voltage sensor to monitor the welding current and the output voltage. A portion of welding waveform includes a controlled change in current from a first level to a second level different from the first level. The controller is configured to determine a circuit inductance from the output voltage and the controlled change in current, and further determine a change in resistance of a consumable electrode in real time based on the circuit inductance.