A cap dispenser for a welding gun includes a sleeve that slidably receives a drawer that is configured to house a column of weld caps. The cap dispenser also includes a spring that cooperates with a slide block that is arranged in the drawer. The spring urges the slide block toward an aperture in the drawer that is configured to receive a welding gun electrode.

A resistance spot welding method comprises: performing test welding; and performing actual welding after the test welding, wherein in main current passage in the actual welding, adaptive control welding is performed, and in subsequent current passage in the actual welding, current passage is performed by constant current control with a current determined based on an electrical property between electrodes in each of main current passage in the test welding and the main current passage in the actual welding.

A resistance spot welding method comprises: performing test welding; and performing actual welding after the test welding. The test welding is performed under each of two or more welding conditions. In the actual welding, preliminary current passage is performed by constant current control in the same current pattern as in the preliminary current passage of the test welding, an electrical property between the electrodes in the preliminary current passage in the actual welding and an electrical property between the electrodes stored in the preliminary current passage in the test welding are compared for each welding condition to set a target in main current passage in the actual welding, and thereafter adaptive control welding is performed to control a current passage amount as the main current passage.

A cap dispenser for a welding gun includes a sleeve that slidably receives a drawer that is configured to house a column of weld caps. The cap dispenser also includes a spring that cooperates with a slide block that is arranged in the drawer. The spring urges the slide block toward an aperture in the drawer that is configured to receive a welding gun electrode.

An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power, and to output the welding-type power via a welding-type circuit; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of at least one component of the welding-type power supply; and stray current detection circuitry configured to detect stray welding-type current based on the measured temperature of the at least one component.

An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power, and to output the welding-type power via a welding-type circuit; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of at least one component of the welding-type power supply; and stray current detection circuitry configured to detect stray welding-type current based on the measured temperature of the at least one component.

Provided is a spot welding machine able to perform spot welding in which the desired nugget size is formed while suppressing spatter even if the strengths or thicknesses of the metal sheets change, the machine comprising: a pair of electrode tips, a pair of pressing members arranged around the tips, a first power supply, first and second drive mechanisms, and a pressing force control part, wherein the tips and the pressing members are respectively arranged facing each other so as to be able to sandwich a set of sheets between them, the first drive mechanisms give pressing forces pressing the tips against the sheets, the second drive mechanisms give pressing forces pressing the pressing members against the sheets, and the control part independently controls the pressing forces given by the first and second drive mechanisms.

A resistance spot welding method comprises: performing test welding; and performing actual welding after the test welding, wherein the test welding is performed under each of two or more welding conditions. In the test welding, for each of the welding conditions, an electrode force parameter from when electrode force application to parts to be welded starts to when a set electrode force is reached before start of current passage and a time variation curve of an instantaneous amount of heat generated and a cumulative amount of heat generated are stored. In the actual welding: electrode force application to the parts to be welded is performed under each of the same conditions as in the test welding before start of current passage, and a corresponding electrode force parameter and the parameter stored in the test welding are compared for each of the welding conditions to set a target of a time variation curve of an instantaneous amount of heat generated and a cumulative amount of heat generated in the actual welding; and adaptive control welding is performed to control a current passage amount according to the target.

A method of projection welding hardware to a plated steel sheet for hot stamping, may include pressing hardware and a plated steel sheet in a state in which a welding projection on the hardware is in contact with the plated steel sheet, supplying a primary current to the hardware and the plated steel sheet in a state in which they are pressed, and supplying a secondary current to the hardware and the plated steel sheet.

A method of projection welding hardware to a plated steel sheet for hot stamping, may include pressing hardware and a plated steel sheet in a state in which a welding projection on the hardware is in contact with the plated steel sheet, supplying a primary current to the hardware and the plated steel sheet in a state in which they are pressed, and supplying a secondary current to the hardware and the plated steel sheet.