An arc welding torch having a variable electrode receiving aperture including a number of discrete wedges guided within a conical interior surface of a housing to enable the use of electrodes of various diameters without changing components of the torch. An adjusting collar engages the wedges and forms an adjustable opening for an electrode to be inserted therein. Rotation of a tailpiece of the torch handle adjusts the position of the wedges and secures the electrode in position.

A vertical support rigidly mounted to a planar base positions and supports a cryocooler expander unit off axis and away from a sample to be examined. The sample support is likewise rigidly mounted to the planar base with a rigidly mounted sample housing therein. The cryocooler expander unit is suspended in the vertical support by spring dampening bearings. A pair of opposing flexible vacuum bellows connects the cryocooler expander unit to the sample housing and vertical support. This configuration isolates the sample from vibration. Flexible thermal links associated with a predictive electronic closed loop control sequence maintains sample temperature.

A vertical support rigidly mounted to a planar base positions and supports a cryocooler expander unit off axis and away from a sample to be examined. The sample support is likewise rigidly mounted to the planar base with a rigidly mounted sample housing therein. The cryocooler expander unit is suspended in the vertical support by spring dampening bearings. A pair of opposing flexible vacuum bellows connects the cryocooler expander unit to the sample housing and vertical support. This configuration isolates the sample from vibration. Flexible thermal links associated with a predictive electronic closed loop control sequence maintains sample temperature.

A gas shielded arc welding method includes welding a steel sheet with a tensile strength of 780 MPa or more using a shielding gas containing Ar in an amount of 92 vol. % to 99.5 vol. %. In the gas shielded arc welding method, a value calculated from the following expression (1) is 0.20 or more: {√v/(D/2).sup.2}×10−{(100−C.sub.Ar)×I/v}×0.1 . . . (1), where C.sub.Ar represents an Ar content (vol. %) in the shielding gas, D represents an inner diameter (mm) of a nozzle from which the shielding gas is supplied, v represents a welding speed (cm/min), and I represents a welding current (A).

A welding wire feeding device includes a base, a fixing post, a pressing member, a motor, and a conveying mechanism. The pressing member is pivotally connected with a driven wheel. A tension spring is provided between the fixing post and the pressing member. A shaft portion of the motor is pivotally connected with a driving wheel. The conveying mechanism is coupled to the base and has an air hole. The base is formed with a first passage and a second passage connected with a gas cylinder. The length of the conveying tube of the conveying mechanism can be adjusted by pressing. A wire is sandwiched between the driving wheel and the driven wheel through the tension spring. The motor drives the driving wheel to rotate the driven wheel so as to continuously convey the wire; meanwhile, the inert gas can be sent out through the second passage and the conveying mechanism to prevent a workpiece from being oxidized.

A welding-type system with a programmed controller and alert devices for alerting a user as to the impending thermal shutdown of the welding-type system.

In certain embodiments, a welding contact tip includes a first axial end portion having a welding wire outlet of an internal bore of the welding contact tip. The welding contact tip also includes a threaded middle portion adjacent the first axial end portion. The threaded middle portion includes external threads configured to mate with internal threads of a gas diffuser of a welding torch. The first axial end portion includes a tapered outer surface adjacent the threaded middle portion. In other embodiments, a welding torch assembly includes a gas diffuser having an outer circumferential groove having an outer surface with first and second walls that extend radially outward from first and second opposite axial sides of the outer surface, a nozzle having an inner circumferential rib with a tapered inner surface, and a compressible member disposed within the outer circumferential groove of the gas diffuser and the inner circumferential rib of the nozzle.

A process of fabricating a shield, a process of preparing a component, and an erosion shield are disclosed. The process of fabricating the shield includes forming a near-net shape shield. The near-net shape shield includes a nickel-based layer and an erosion-resistant alloy layer. The nickel-based layer is configured to facilitate secure attachment of the near-net shaped to a component. The process of preparing the component includes securing a near-net shape shield to a substrate of a component.

A welding or additive manufacturing wire drive system includes a first spindle for a first welding wire spool, a second spindle for a second welding wire spool, a first drive roll, and a second drive roll. One or both of the drive rolls has a circumferential groove. A first welding wire and a second welding wire are located between the first drive roll and the second drive roll in the circumferential groove. The first welding wire contacts the second welding wire between the first drive roll and the second drive roll. The first welding wire further contacts a first sidewall portion of the circumferential groove. The second welding wire further contacts a second sidewall portion of the circumferential groove. Both of the first welding wire and the second welding wire are radially offset from a central portion of the circumferential groove.

A gas tungsten arc welding torch includes a handle and a nozzle located distal of the handle and having a central bore. First and second tungsten electrodes are located partially within the central bore of the nozzle. The torch includes at least one filler wire channel that terminates radially inward of the first tungsten electrode and the second tungsten electrode. The torch includes a torch trigger. Operation of the torch trigger controls delivery of a first filler wire and a second filler wire through the at least one filler wire channel. The torch includes a wire feed speed control. Operation of the wire feed speed control adjusts a wire feed speed of both of the first filler wire and the second filler wire.