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.

Systems and methods are disclosed for integrated compressed air cooling for welding systems. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods may employ compressed air to implement one or more welding processes (e.g., a gouging or cutting processes), with the compressed air being conveyed through such welding systems. In some examples, the compressed air is routed within the welding system to provide cooling for one or more components therein. For instance, components such as power conversion circuitry may heat up during the welding process. Routing compressed air to or near the components will introduce relatively cool air to the environment. As the passing compressed air heats in response to interaction with the heated components, heat is drawn from the components and/or the nearby environment.

In order to reduce the accumulation of moisture on a welding wire (2, 2′, 2″) arranged in a welding wire cartridge (1, 1a, 1b) or to remove existing moisture in a simple and reliable manner, it is provided that a flow (D.sub.1) of purging air supplied to the welding wire cartridge (1, 1a, 1b) is adjusted by a flow control unit (14), the purging air is supplied to the flow control unit (14) at a first pressure (p) and is discharged at a purging air discharge (24) of the welding wire cartridge (1, 1a, 1b) at a third pressure (p.sub.at), and at a purging air feed (15) of the welding wire cartridge (1, 1a, 1b) a second pressure (p.sub.1) at the purging air feed (15) that is lower than the first pressure (p) results from the adjusted flow (D.sub.1), the third flow (p.sub.at) and a flow resistance between the purging air feed (15) and the purging air discharge (24), the relative humidity (rF.sub.1) of the purging air being reduced by the relief of pressure from the first pressure (p) to the second pressure (p.sub.1).

Systems and apparatus are disclosed relating to improved fluid supply systems. In some examples, the improved fluid supply systems use an electrically controllable proportional valve and a surge prevention process to prevent a surge of pressurized fluid at the end of a welding-type operation. In particular, the surge prevention process may coordinate closure of the proportional valve and an on/off solenoid valve so that pressure in the fluid flow path can equalize to an ambient pressure after a welding operation (and/or a post flow operation) has ended. This coordination ensures that there is no pressure buildup and/or associated surge of fluid when the on/off solenoid valve is next opened (e.g., at the start of the next welding operation).

The invention relates to a device for replaceably fastening a gas nozzle, comprising an elongate support element which has a nozzle portion for fastening a gas nozzle and is provided with a curved mounting portion, and a holding component which is provided with at least one recess which is shaped in such a way that the mounting portion of the support element can be inserted into the recess so as to produce a form-fitting engagement between the support element and the holding component.

A method and apparatus for providing a welding type power is disclosed. It includes an outer housing having a wind tunnel within the outer housing. Air flows through the wind tunnel in an air flow direction. The width of the tunnel is less at one location than at another location. Electrical components receive power and provide a welding type output. A first group of those components require air flow for cooling, and are disposed at least partially in the wind tunnel. A second group of components are not disposed in the wind tunnel. The wind tunnel can also change direction.

Provided is a welding method using a special torch and a flux cored wire, in which the special torch has a suction nozzle between the contact tip and the shield nozzle, and the flux cored wire has a flux filled inside the steel outer casing, and a seam portion where both ends of a metal in a width direction of the steel outer casing are butted or overlapped in a longitudinal direction of the flux cored wire.

A welding torch having a nozzle assembly with multiple attachment methods is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle shell, an electrically insulating sleeve, and a nozzle insert. The nozzle insert is configured for attachment to gas diffuser assemblies with different attachment mechanisms (e.g. a slip-on mechanism relying on frictional force, and/or screw-on mechanism relying on torque).

A torch for performing TIG welding is disclosed. The torch includes an electrode for a TIG/GTAW welding operation with an inert gas and an active gas. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, the torch includes a torch body having a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel, an electrode assembly disposed in the torch body, a nozzle concentric with the electrode and a shield cap concentric with the nozzle. An angle between a longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly and an outer surface of at least one of the electrode holder and the electrode is about nine degrees.

A tungsten inert gas welding torch body, a TIG welding torch handle, and a TIG welding torch has a gas channel terminating in front of the distal end of a plug-in element in an inlet opening arranged on the shell side of the plug-in element, and a central inlet mouth at the distal end of the plug-in element terminating in front of the distal end of the plug-in element in a return opening on the shell side at the plug-in element. The TIG welding torch handle has a second channel arranged coaxially to the central channel, and a third channel arranged coaxially to the second channel. A connection is between the second channel and the third channel. The first channel has a mouth in the center of the receiving part, and each of the second and third channels has a mouth on the shell side of the receiving part.