The present invention provides improved systems for supporting and translating a robotic welder around a structural column to perform automatic welding of joints. The improved system permits a robotic welder to perform the required welds in at least half the time it would take a human welder, thereby significantly reducing construction costs, improving safety of construction, and improving accuracy of welding, and requiring less testing of the welds.

A wire welding and grinding station (100) comprises a wire welder (112), an AC electrical motor (114) for powering a metal grinder (116), and an AC power supply (110) for supplying electrical power to both the wire welder (112) and the electrical AC motor (114). The station (100) further comprises a soft start module (118) to reduce inrush current demanded by the electrical AC motor (114) while starting. The use of the soft start module (118) allows using a battery (102) as power supply and the use of a battery as power supply has the advantage of practical movability and stable welding currents.

A portable welding arrangement includes a welding apparatus having a storage battery, a power source, a welding control means and a connection for a welding torch. The operating mode of the welding apparatus can be changed between a standby mode and a welding mode. The portable welding arrangement includes a charging apparatus that can be connected to a power supply network and to the welding apparatus and has a charge controller for charging the storage battery. In a method for operating such a portable welding arrangement, for optimum charging of the battery, the charge controller of the charging apparatus is designed to control the charge of the accumulator of the welding apparatus in accordance with the operating mode of the welding apparatus.

In some aspects, autonomous motion devices configured to operably connect to a plasma torch of a plasma cutting system can include: a body to support a power supply of the plasma cutting system and move relative to a workpiece; a torch holder connected to the body and configured to position a plasma arc torch tip of the plasma torch relative to a region of the workpiece to be processed; a drive system to translate the body supporting the power supply and torch autonomously relative to a surface of the workpiece during a plasma processing operation; and a processor in communication with the drive system and configured to communicate with the power supply, the processor being configured to control the translation of the body relative to the workpiece in accordance with the plasma processing operation.

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.

A portable welding system casing includes front, rear, top and bottom portions. First and second side members can each have a plurality of fastening lug portions. The first and second side members may each have a recess so that the recess of the first side member receives a first perimeter edge of the front, rear, top and bottom portions and the recess of the second side member receives a second perimeter edge of the front, rear, top and bottom portions. A plurality of handle members can be coupled between associated fastening lug portions of the first and second side member. First and second foot members coupled to respective surfaces of the front, rear and bottom portions. The resulting casing has improved structural strength and rigidity.

A mobile welding system that does not rely exclusively on a track to define the path of the welder. One embodiment includes a mobile welder adapted to move along a work piece. The mobile welder includes a chassis, including a welding implement, and a travel assembly configured to support the chassis over a portion of the work piece. The mobile welder also includes a motor assembly configured to selectively cause the chassis to move relative to the work piece. The mobile welder further includes a chassis holder, having a magnet assembly, configured to provide a force holding the chassis a selected distance from the work piece. The magnet assembly includes a magnet rotatably mounted between a ferrous material and a non-ferrous material to selectively control application of a magnetic field toward the work piece

An automated welding system includes a support structure, a plurality of welding heads, and a controller. The plurality of welding heads are each removably, mechanically coupleable to the support structure. The controller is configured to control welding operations of the automated welding system based on an identity of a particular welding head of the plurality of welding heads that is mechanically coupled to the support structure and operably coupled to the controller.

A mobile welding system that does not rely exclusively on a track to define the path of the welder. The present invention generally provides a mobile welder adapted to move along a work piece, the mobile welder including a chassis supporting a motor assembly; a travel assembly attached to the chassis and adapted to support the chassis over a portion of the work piece, wherein the motor is coupled to the travel assembly to selectively cause the chassis to move relative to the work piece; a controller connected to the motor assembly to control movement of the chassis relative to the work piece; a chassis holder connected to the chassis, the chassis holder being adapted to provide a force holding the chassis a selected distance from the work piece; and a welder supported on the chassis, the welder including an implement adapted to perform a welding operation, wherein the implement is supported on the chassis at a location where the implement and the chassis define an uninterrupted line of sight from the implement to the work piece, wherein the chassis holder is spaced from the line of sight a distance sufficient to prevent the chassis holder from interfering with the welding operation.

Embodiments of a cart for transporting equipment are provided. The cart includes a support, a frame, and legs. The support is configured to hold the equipment. The legs are connected to the support via a first hinge joint. The legs rotate about the first hinge joint between a first leg position and a second leg position. The support is connected to the frame via a second hinge joint. The support rotates about the second hinge joint between a first support position and a second support position. The cart has a first configuration in which the at least one leg is in the first leg position and the support is in the first support position. The cart also has a second configuration in which the at least one leg is in the second leg position and the support is in the second support position.