A contact device for a welding apparatus is disclosed. The contact device for feeding current to at least a first welding wire and a second welding wire. The contact device including first and second contact jaws. The first and second contact jaws including a slot formed therein to provide the first and second contact jaws with improved flexibility to individually and independently flex about the first and second welding wires to ensure proper contact is maintained between the contact jaws and the welding wire.

In various embodiments, wire composed at least partially of arc-melted refractory metal material is utilized to fabricate three-dimensional parts by additive manufacturing.

In various embodiments, wire composed at least partially of arc-melted refractory metal material is utilized to fabricate three-dimensional parts by additive manufacturing.

A welding gun adapted to secure a contact tip within the welding gun without threading the contact tip and without the use of tools. The contact tip may be adapted to abut a surface of a first member disposed within the welding gun. The surface may be a surface of a gas diffuser. The surface may be adapted to abut the contact tip. The contact tip also may be adapted for abutment with a second member to urge the contact tip toward the first member. The second member may be a portion of a nozzle adapted to abut the contact tip to urge the contact tip toward the surface of the first member. A method of assembling a welding gun also is provided. The method may include disposing a contact tip between a first and a second member and capturing the contact tip between the first and second members.

In various embodiments, wire composed at least partially of arc-melted refractory metal material is utilized to fabricate three-dimensional parts by additive manufacturing.

In various embodiments, wire composed at least partially of arc-melted refractory metal material is utilized to fabricate three-dimensional parts by additive manufacturing.

Systems and methods for pairing welding devices in a welding system. In one method, the method includes sending a pairing request from a first welding device to a second welding device. The method also includes receiving, at the first welding device, a response to the pairing request from the second welding device. The second welding device is physically connected to the first welding device. The pairing request or the response includes a change in welding power, welding consumables, or any combination thereof The method includes pairing the first welding device and the second welding device after the first welding device receives the response to the pairing request from the second welding device.

Systems and methods for pairing welding devices in a welding system. In one method, the method includes sending a pairing request from a first welding device to a second welding device. The method also includes receiving, at the first welding device, a response to the pairing request from the second welding device. The second welding device is physically connected to the first welding device. The pairing request or the response includes a change in welding power, welding consumables, or any combination thereof The method includes pairing the first welding device and the second welding device after the first welding device receives the response to the pairing request from the second welding device.

A contact tip assembly with a preheating tip comprises a welding power source configured to provide welding current to a welding circuit, the welding circuit comprising a welding electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch. The assembly also includes an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a portion of the welding electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch, and a voltage sense circuit to monitor a voltage drop across the two contact tips, and the electrode preheating circuit adjusts at least one of the first current or the preheating current based on the voltage drop.

A contact tip assembly with a preheating tip comprises a welding power source configured to provide welding current to a welding circuit, the welding circuit comprising a welding electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch. The assembly also includes an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a portion of the welding electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch, and a voltage sense circuit to monitor a voltage drop across the two contact tips, and the electrode preheating circuit adjusts at least one of the first current or the preheating current based on the voltage drop.