A detection device for detecting a diameter and/or composition of a welding wire and/or welding electrode for a welding device, includes an oscillating circuit, which has a coil through which the welding wire and/or welding electrode can be passed. The device further include an evaluation unit connected to the oscillating circuit for determining at least one first oscillating circuit parameter which is characteristic of an attenuation of an oscillation signal occurring in the oscillating circuit, and at least one second oscillating circuit parameter which is characteristic of a signal frequency f of the oscillation signal occurring in the oscillating circuit. The evaluation unit detects the diameter and/or composition of the welding wire passed through the coil of the oscillating circuit and/or of the welding electrode using the determined oscillating circuit parameters.

A detection device for detecting a diameter and/or composition of a welding wire and/or welding electrode for a welding device, includes an oscillating circuit, which has a coil through which the welding wire and/or welding electrode can be passed. The device further include an evaluation unit connected to the oscillating circuit for determining at least one first oscillating circuit parameter which is characteristic of an attenuation of an oscillation signal occurring in the oscillating circuit, and at least one second oscillating circuit parameter which is characteristic of a signal frequency f of the oscillation signal occurring in the oscillating circuit. The evaluation unit detects the diameter and/or composition of the welding wire passed through the coil of the oscillating circuit and/or of the welding electrode using the determined oscillating circuit parameters.

Systems and methods for welding are described. The welding system can include, for example, a welding power source, a welding torch, and a computer. The computer and the welding torch can be operatively coupled to the power source. A first weld is performed and its signature is saved by the computer. It is considered a high quality weld and is selected as a weld reference. A second weld is performed and its signature is saved by the computer. The computer then computes a single weld confidence result for the second weld based on a comparison between the signature data of the second weld and the signature data of the reference weld. A weld fault condition is triggered based on the single weld confidence result which causes the welding system to stop or to modify the welding operation, and/or which causes the welding system to send out communications relating to the triggering of the weld fault condition.

A method for electric welding a workpiece arrangement having at least one workpiece with the aid of a robot arrangement including at least one robot. A rotational movement is carried out between the workpiece arrangement to be welded and at least one welding electrode which contacts the workpiece arrangement. The rotational movement is started as a function of a commanded and/or detected welding start and/or ended as a function of a commanded and/or detected welding end. The direction of rotation of the movement may be changed as a function of a predefined parameter during contact between the welding electrode and the workpiece arrangement.

A weld system includes: a robot control module configured to actuate a robot and move a welder along a joint of metal workpieces during welding, the welder being attached to the robot; a weld control module configured to, during the welding, apply power to the welder, supply a shield gas, and supply electrode material; a vision sensor configured to, during the welding, optically measure distances between the vision sensor and locations, respectively, on an outer surface of a weld bead created along the joint by the welder; and a weld module configured to: determine a strength of the weld bead at a location based on: the distances at the location along the joint; and at least one parameter from at least one of the robot control module during the welding, the weld control module during the welding, and a sensor configured to capture data of the welding during the welding.

A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.

A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.

Disclosed example welding or cutting circuits include: an input leg including a capacitor coupled between a high bus and a low bus; a buck converter coupled in parallel with the input leg, the buck converter having a first transistor, a second transistor, and an output electrically coupled to a node between the first transistor and the second transistor, and wherein the buck converter is configured to convert input voltage to current in an inductor coupled to the output of the buck converter; and a steering leg coupled in parallel with the input leg, wherein the steering leg is configured to control a rate at which the current in the inductor decreases, and wherein a current detector provides current level indications to a hysteretic controller, the hysteretic controller providing signals to the first and second transistors that control the first and second transistors to control the voltage applied to the inductor.

Disclosed example welding or cutting circuits include: an input leg including a capacitor coupled between a high bus and a low bus; a buck converter coupled in parallel with the input leg, the buck converter having a first transistor, a second transistor, and an output electrically coupled to a node between the first transistor and the second transistor, and wherein the buck converter is configured to convert input voltage to current in an inductor coupled to the output of the buck converter; and a steering leg coupled in parallel with the input leg, wherein the steering leg is configured to control a rate at which the current in the inductor decreases, and wherein a current detector provides current level indications to a hysteretic controller, the hysteretic controller providing signals to the first and second transistors that control the first and second transistors to control the voltage applied to the inductor.

A welding system includes one or more sensing devices used to detect and/or determine a position and/or orientation of a welding tool (e.g., a welding torch). The welding tool may be tracked to determine (and/or calibrate) a shape of a welding joint and/or a path of the welding joint. The welding system may determine a virtual line representative of the welding joint. The welding tool may be tracked (and/or the virtual line used) to determine (and/or provide feedback relating to) various welding parameters, including at least a work angle of the welding tool, and/or a travel angle of the welding tool.