A remotely operable welding machine controller device for controlling a power output of an arc welding machine includes a housing and a remote control. A potentiometer and a power supply are attached to the housing. A motor is operationally engaged to a slider of the potentiometer and is positioned to selectively motivate the slider along turns of a resistance wire of the potentiometer to adjust a magnitude of current in a circuit in which the resistance wire is included. A power cord is attached to and extends from the housing. The power cord is electrically engaged to the potentiometer and operationally engages the potentiometer to a source of alternating current. The power supply is operationally engaged to the motor to selectively power the motor. The remote control is communicatively engaged to the motor is manipulatable by a user to selectively actuate the motor.

Systems and methods for wireless control of welding power supplies are disclosed. An example welding power supply includes: a housing comprising a control panel configured to receive inputs from an operator; power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power into output power for a welding operation; and local control circuitry configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from remote control circuitry of a portable electronic device, and to control the welding power supply based on the received control signal; wherein the local control circuitry is configured to set prioritization of control of the welding power supply between the portable electronic device and the control panel of the welding power supply, prevent the control panel from controlling a parameter of the welding power supply when the portable electronic device is prioritized, and prevent the portable electronic device from controlling the parameter when the control panel is prioritized.

A welding-type system for gas tungsten arc welding including control circuitry to control the initiation of a welding arc and the preflow and postflow of inert shielding gas based on sensed voltages.

A welding system includes a welder, a human-machine-interface, an identification-device, a test-device, a memory, and a controller-circuit. The welder creates an assembly between electrical-components. The human-machine-interface receives an input from an operator and displays instructions to the operator. The identification-device creates a label identifying the assembly. The test-device produces test-data of the weld-joint. The memory stores welder-process-data of the weld-joint. The controller-circuit activates the welder, stores the welder-process-data in the memory, determines whether the welder-process-data violates a quality-metric, determines a number of violating-weld-joints, activates an alert-device to alert the operator to violating-weld-joints, disables the welder when a number of violating-weld-joints exceeds a threshold, activates the identification-device to create the label, instructs the operator to attach the label to the assembly having the violating-weld-joints, instructs the operator to perform a test of the violating-weld-joints with the test-device, and stores the test-data of the violating-weld-joints in the memory linked to the identity.

A welding system includes a welder, a human-machine-interface, an identification-device, a test-device, a memory, and a controller-circuit. The welder creates an assembly between electrical-components. The human-machine-interface receives an input from an operator and displays instructions to the operator. The identification-device creates a label identifying the assembly. The test-device produces test-data of the weld-joint. The memory stores welder-process-data of the weld-joint. The controller-circuit activates the welder, stores the welder-process-data in the memory, determines whether the welder-process-data violates a quality-metric, determines a number of violating-weld-joints, activates an alert-device to alert the operator to violating-weld-joints, disables the welder when a number of violating-weld-joints exceeds a threshold, activates the identification-device to create the label, instructs the operator to attach the label to the assembly having the violating-weld-joints, instructs the operator to perform a test of the violating-weld-joints with the test-device, and stores the test-data of the violating-weld-joints in the memory linked to the identity.

Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example weld circuit communications device includes a receiver circuit, a processor, and a local communications adapter. The receiver circuit to receive a communication via a weld circuit while current is flowing through the weld circuit or after the current has stopped flowing through the weld circuit, the communication including weld voltage feedback information measured at a device remote from a power supply and remote from the weld circuit communications device while the current is flowing through the weld circuit. The processor generates power supply control information based on the weld voltage feedback information. The local communications adapter transmits the power supply control information to control welding-type power output by a power converter to regulate a weld voltage to a weld voltage setpoint.

Embodiments of systems and methods to relate a human operator to a welding power source are disclosed. One embodiment is a networked system having a server computer. The server computer is configured to receive first data including at least one of an identity or a location of a welding helmet within a welding environment, and a triggering status indicating a triggering of an arc detection sensor of the welding helmet due to initiation of a welding arc. The server computer is configured to receive second data including at least one of an identity or a location of a welding power source within the welding environment, and an activation status indicating an activation of the welding power source. The server computer is configured to match the welding power source to a human operator using the welding helmet based on at least the first data and the second data.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed of a membrane panel comprising a close-proximity communication antenna embedded within the membrane panel. In an example, a welding-type system includes a membrane panel with a user interface and a close-proximity communication antenna embedded within the membrane panel.

In certain embodiments, a portable metal working robot system includes a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on one or more metal parts. In addition, the portable metal working robot system includes communication circuitry configured to receive control signals from a control system located remotely from the portable metal working robot system. The portable metal working robot system also includes control circuitry configured to control operational parameters of the portable metal working robot system in accordance with the received control signals.

Provided is a processing apparatus where the exchange of an operating program for an apparatus body is not required each time a jig unit is exchanged. The processing apparatus includes an apparatus body and a jig unit. A master control device is mounted on the jig unit. Operations of the jig unit and the apparatus body are controlled by an operating program in the master control device.