A method for preparing an automated welding method for a welding process moves a welding torch with a consumable welding wire during a movement phase at a positioning speed from an actual to a desired start position of a welding seam, and bridges the distance of the welding wire end from the workpiece during a creep phase. The creep phase is at least partially carried out during the movement phase. The wire is moved toward the workpiece at a first specified forward feed speed until a first wire end-workpiece contact is detected, moved away from the workpiece after first contact detection and then recurrently moved away from the workpiece, and the contact is interrupted again upon detection of further contacts, and the movement of the welding wire towards the workpiece and movement away from the workpiece after the contact is repeated until the start position is reached.

A welding or cutting device includes an internal combustion engine coupled to a generator for generating electrical power. A welding or cutting power supply is powered by the generator. The welding or cutting power supply supplies a welding or cutting output signal. An auxiliary outlet circuit is configured to receive power from the generator. The auxiliary outlet circuit includes at least one auxiliary load outlet. A controller controls an engine speed of the internal combustion engine. The controller is configured to determine an anticipated load on the generator to be supplied through the auxiliary load outlet, based on a no load condition of the auxiliary load outlet, and adjust an idle speed of the engine based on the anticipated load. The controller is further configured to subsequently increase the engine speed, from the idle speed to an auxiliary load speed, when the generator supplies power through the auxiliary load outlet.

A method and apparatus for starting a wire fed weld operation includes monitoring at least one of a prior run-in time, a prior run in distance, a prior run in wire feed speed, and/or whether or not there is contact at the time of a prior start. Then the wire position is controlled for a present weld operation in response to the monitored data.

A method and apparatus for controlling arc/short between a wire and a work piece is described. A current path parallel to the wire/work is provided. The voltage drop across the parallel path can be preset, to limit the wire/work voltage, or it can be controlled to a desired level. The control can be in response to feedback.

A method and apparatus for providing welding type power includes a phase shifted double forward converter having a first and second converter with a controller and an output rectifier. The output rectifier has at least one cathode current path that creates a cathode magnetic field when current flows in the cathode current path. The output rectifier also has at least one anode current path that creates an anode magnetic field when current flows in the anode current path. The cathode current path is disposed and oriented and the anode current path is disposed and oriented such that the cathode magnetic field acts to at least partially cancel the anode magnetic field.

Systems and methods for providing welding power supplies with interleaved inverter circuitry are described. In one embodiment, a welding power supply includes, for example, a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit that are arranged in parallel. A voltage source or a current source is coupled to a first same node of the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit. A filter inductor is coupled to a second same node of the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit. The output current of the filter inductor is halved in frequency by disabling one of the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit.

A method and apparatus for controlling arc/short between a wire and a work piece is described. A current path parallel to the wire/work is provided. The voltage drop across the parallel path can be preset, to limit the wire/work voltage, or it can be controlled to a desired level. The control can be in response to feedback.

An arc start adjustment device adjusting an arc start procedure in a welding process comprises an obtainment unit that obtains welding data indicating a welding state during or after a welding process, and a procedure adjustment unit that adjusts the arc start procedure such that the cycle time of the welding process is shortened based on welding data obtained by the obtainment unit.

A submerged arc welding system includes a welding power supply, a welding wire feeder, a control unit for the welding power supply and the welding wire feeder, and a voltage sensor to detect voltage between the tip of the welding wire and a workpiece. Under the control of the control unit, the wire feeder feeds the welding wire at an initial feed speed at start of welding. Further, when the tip of the welding wire shorts to the workpiece, the wire feeder stops the feeding of the welding, and the welding power supply starts outputting welding current. Further, when a detection voltage detected by the voltage sensor reaches or exceeds a voltage threshold, the wire feeder starts feeding the welding wire at a welding feed speed for welding.