A tele-manufacturing system comprising a manufacturing environment containing equipment used for a manufacturing process; a plurality of sensors positioned within the manufacturing environment in proximity to the manufacturing equipment, wherein each sensor is configured to gather data from the manufacturing environment; at least one digitizer in communication with the sensors for receiving data from sensors and converting the data into one or more three-dimensional digital maps or point clouds; at least one processor in communication with the at least one digitizer, wherein the processor includes software for receiving and analyzing the digital maps or point clouds; and at least one manual controller in communication with the processor, wherein the manual controller receives motion input from a user, wherein the software on the processor mathematically transforms the motion input into corresponding motion commands that are sent to the manufacturing equipment by the processor, and wherein the manufacturing equipment, which is physically remote from the at least one controller, executes the motion commands in real-time during the manufacturing process.

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 machining program generation device that generates a machining program for controlling a 3D printing apparatus to form an object by stacking a plurality of layers, includes: a machining route generation unit that extracts a plurality of support points that are based on an end point, an intersection point, and a bending point of the machining path from machining path data indicating a shape and a position of the machining path for forming each of the plurality of layers, and generates a machining route by adding, to the machining path, an order of shaping indicating that shaping of the support points is to be executed first and then shaping of a gap line segment connecting the plurality of support points shaped is to be executed; and a machining program generation unit that generates a machining program for controlling the 3D printing apparatus according to the machining route.

A machining program generation device that generates a machining program for controlling a 3D printing apparatus to form an object by stacking a plurality of layers, includes: a machining route generation unit that extracts a plurality of support points that are based on an end point, an intersection point, and a bending point of the machining path from machining path data indicating a shape and a position of the machining path for forming each of the plurality of layers, and generates a machining route by adding, to the machining path, an order of shaping indicating that shaping of the support points is to be executed first and then shaping of a gap line segment connecting the plurality of support points shaped is to be executed; and a machining program generation unit that generates a machining program for controlling the 3D printing apparatus according to the machining route.

Methods and apparatus to synergically control a welding-type output during a welding-type operation are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes a power conversion circuit configured to convert input power to welding-type power and to output the welding-type power to a welding-type torch; a communication circuit configured to receive a control signal from a remote control device during a welding-type operation; and a control circuit configured to synergically control a voltage of the welding-type power and a wire feed speed based on the control signal.

Systems, methods, and apparatus to control weld current in a preheating system are disclosed. An example preheating power supply includes power conversion circuitry configured to output welding-type power via a first output power connector and a second output power connector, and a bypass path prevention circuit configured to prevent less than a threshold voltage applied to the first output power connector and the second output power connector from a different power supply from causing current to flow between the first output power connector and the second output power connector.

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.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for detection of fire states in the presence of welding activities. In some examples, the welding detection system may algorithmically calculate a risk of a fire state developing. In some embodiments, the welding fire detection and prevention system may communicate warning states to users, supervisors, equipment and/or building monitoring systems.

The present invention provides a unique and novel, low-cost external assembly that can be used to add a pulsed current functionality to a continuous welding machine. The external assembly is located in series between a pedal for controlling the welder and the welder itself. The external assembly includes a controller that modifies the pedal input signal typically entering directly into the welder. The modified signal converts the continuous welding machine such that it operates as a pulsed welding machine.

An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type output power; auxiliary power output circuitry configured to output auxiliary power via an auxiliary power connection; communications circuitry configured to communicate via the auxiliary power connection; and processor(s) configured to: detect, via the communications circuitry, that a robot control system is coupled to the auxiliary power connection; and in response to detecting the robot control system, configuring the welding-type power supply based on receiving a communication from the robot control system via the communications circuitry.