An apparatus for making three-dimensional physical objects of a predetermined shape includes a printing header having a least one arc welding torch. The arc welding torch includes an axially extending first nozzle and an axially extending non-consumable electrode, which is disposed substantially coaxially within the first nozzle and having a tip disposed at a distal end thereof and/or outside the first nozzle; means for supplying electricity to the electrode; means for supplying a protecting gas to the first nozzle for shielding the electrode from oxidising conditions; an axially extending through-hole formed through the electrode; an elongated non-electrified guide portion disposed within the through-hole terminating inwardly of the tip; and a consumable material wire that is fed through the guide portion relatively to the electrode so that the material wire is not electrified by the guide portion or by the electrode.

Various welding chambers are disclosed herein. A welding chamber body has a glove tube attached to its sidewall. A windowed hood structure is attached to the welding chamber body using a hinge assembly. A manifold assembly has a main branch and perforated secondary branches. A cross sectional area of the main branch is greater than a second cross sectional area of one of the secondary branches.

An example welding-type system includes: a welding-type power source configured to provide welding-type current to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a first portion of the welding-type electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch; a switching circuit configured to control a current flow between the welding-type power source and the first contact tip; and a preheat control circuit configured to control the switching circuit to: selectively direct current from the welding-type power source to the second contact tip; and selectively divert current from the electrode preheating circuit to the first contact tip

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for obtaining a desirable shielding gas flow in a welding device. The system includes a user interface configured for a user to input the size of the nozzle, a processor that is configured to calculate a desirable flow rate of shielding gas based at least in part on the input nozzle size, and a flow regulator that is configured to control the flow of the shielding gas in order to obtain the desirable flow rate.

The present disclosure is directed to a component of a welding device that is configured to produce a shielding gas having a developed flow profile, which provides for a shielding gas column having a laminar profile over a greater length than has been achieved through conventional means. The component utilizes one or more flow restrictors, which are configured to provide higher resistance to the flow of shielding gas at increasing distances from the center of a shielding gas flow channel. By providing increasing resistance toward the periphery of the channel, a developed shielding gas flow profile may be achieved over a relatively short flow length.

The invention relates to a single- or multi-wire welding torch (6), more specifically to a laser-hybrid single- or multi-wire welding head provided with the welding torch (6) which can be connected to a welding device via a hose pack and consists of several parts such as a torch handle, a tubular welding torch housing, a contact housing, a contact tube for each welding wire (21a, 21b), a gas nozzle (2) etc., wherein an internal insert (28) for receiving the contact tube(s) (20a, 20b) and the gas nozzle (2) is mounted in an end area of the welding torch housing. A fixing element (30) made at least partially of a flexible material is placed on the internal insert (28) or on the housing (2) for producing as required an, in particular, gas-tight connection between said internal insert (28) and the gas nozzle (2) pushed thereon. This connection can be established by the spatial extension of the fixing element. A method for the process control of a robot welding system, a gas nozzle cap and a gas nozzle (2) for a welding torch (6) are also disclosed.

Example fume extractors provide improved fume at the point of fume generation extraction for welding torches. In some examples, a fume extractor attachment is mounted onto the welding torch (e.g., a metal inert gas (MIG)), in which the fume extractor attachment enables fume extraction at a location adjacent to a nozzle of the welding torch, which captures and channels fumes for collection and filtering. Example fume extractor attachments enable an operator to modify a variety of torches to easily add fume source capture capabilities to a standard welding torch, thereby providing improved fume extraction efficiency by locating the fume extraction closer to the welding arc.

An example welding-type system includes: a welding-type power source configured to provide welding-type current to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a first portion of the welding-type electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch; a switching circuit configured to control a current flow between the welding-type power source and the first contact tip; and a preheat control circuit configured to control the switching circuit to: selectively direct current from the welding-type power source to the second contact tip; and selectively divert current from the electrode preheating circuit to the first contact tip.

Systems and methods are provided for utilizing gas lens interfacing collets. A welding-type system may include an electrode holder configured for use in conjunction with an arc welding based torch, a gas nozzle configured to engage a torch head of the welding-type torch, and a gas flow control component. The electrode holder may be configured to engage a non-consumable electrode. The gas flow control component may include a hole through which the electrode extends. The electrode holder may be secured via holder securing features configured to engage the electrode holder onto one or both of the torch head and a back cap at a back-end of the welding-type torch. The torch head may include a nozzle securing element configured to secure the gas nozzle onto the torch head. The gas flow control component may be secured in place by one or both of the gas nozzle and the electrode holder.

Presented herein are techniques for activating auxiliary features of an arc process system when a controller determines a torch is in a user's hand. The controller will determine, via a motion sensor in the torch, when the torch moves and/or a user picks up and handles the torch. Once the system detects motion of the torch, the system may automatically activate auxiliary features of the system in anticipation of arc initiation.