A method and apparatus for starting a wire fed weld operation includes monitoring at least one of a prior run-in time, a prior run in distance, a prior run in wire feed speed, and/or whether or not there is contact at the time of a prior start. Then the wire position is controlled for a present weld operation in response to the monitored data.

A method and apparatus for starting a wire fed weld operation includes monitoring at least one of a prior run-in time, a prior run in distance, a prior run in wire feed speed, and/or whether or not there is contact at the time of a prior start. Then the wire position is controlled for a present weld operation in response to the monitored data.

Present embodiments include a system that includes a welding tool configured to receive a welding wire from a wire feeder, to receive welding power from a power source, and to supply the welding wire to a workpiece during a welding process. The system also includes a mechanical oscillation system configured to mechanically oscillate a structural component toward and away from the workpiece. The structural component is external to the wire feeder and the power source. The system further comprises control circuitry configured to control the welding power based on feedback relating to the welding process.

Present embodiments include a system that includes a welding tool configured to receive a welding wire from a wire feeder, to receive welding power from a power source, and to supply the welding wire to a workpiece during a welding process. The system also includes a mechanical oscillation system configured to mechanically oscillate a structural component toward and away from the workpiece. The structural component is external to the wire feeder and the power source. The system further comprises control circuitry configured to control the welding power based on feedback relating to the welding process.

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 gas tungsten arc welding system includes a welding power source including a controller comprising a memory storing a plurality of parameters that at least partially define a welding waveform. The welding waveform includes a high frequency stage, an AC arc initiation stage following the high frequency stage wherein the AC arc initiation stage comprises a plurality of AC current pulses that decrease in amplitude during a slope duration, and an AC sequencing stage following the AC arc initiation stage. The system further includes a user input in communication with the controller and configured to receive a manual activation of an increased energy AC arc initiation mode. The controller is configured to increase energy of the AC arc initiation stage, when the increased energy AC arc initiation mode is activated, by at least lengthening the slope duration of the AC arc initiation stage.

Various embodiments may be generally directed to a welding system that monitors an output of the welding system to determine if an output arc should be extinguished or maintained. The welding system can compare an arc voltage output to a voltage threshold and a temporal threshold. When the arc voltage output exceeds the voltage threshold in an uninterrupted manner for the duration of the temporal threshold, an output weld current can be stopped. In turn, the output arc can be broken or extinguished. After a predetermined amount of time, the power source can be re-engaged to prepare for re-ignition of another arc. By tracking the amount of time the arc voltage output exceeds the predetermined threshold, a probability of unwanted arc outs can be reduced or minimized while still providing quick and reliable arc breaking when desired.

Various embodiments may be generally directed to a welding system that monitors an output of the welding system to determine if an output arc should be extinguished or maintained. The welding system can compare an arc voltage output to a voltage threshold and a temporal threshold. When the arc voltage output exceeds the voltage threshold in an uninterrupted manner for the duration of the temporal threshold, an output weld current can be stopped. In turn, the output arc can be broken or extinguished. After a predetermined amount of time, the power source can be re-engaged to prepare for re-ignition of another arc. By tracking the amount of time the arc voltage output exceeds the predetermined threshold, a probability of unwanted arc outs can be reduced or minimized while still providing quick and reliable arc breaking when desired.

Methods and system of the present invention include hot-wire strip deposition system used in combination with a high heat source, where the system deposits a strip consumable into a molten puddle. During deposition the strip consumable is deposited at an angle relative to the workpiece surface and in some embodiments has a downforce applied to the consumable to maintain contact between the puddle and the consumable. The heating current for the consumable is turned off or greatly reduced when an arcing event is detected. In some embodiments the strip consumable can be curved to promote contact during the deposition process.

A plurality of welding torches, which are disposed in a welding device and are made movable in three-dimensional directions, are provided with welding wires that differ in composition and diameter from each other. When welding is performed in the horizontal direction, an arc is generated by at least two of the welding torches to form a bead while the welding wires are being fed. When welding is performed in the vertical direction, the arc is generated by any one welding torch of the two welding torches to form a bead while the welding wire is being fed. Thus, a steel sheet to which an anti-corrosion material has been applied can be welded continuously with high quality and high-efficiency in a horizontal orientation and vertical orientation.