Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically activating or deactivating a gouging torch. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods activate and/or deactivate a gouging torch based on a valve operation selection. For example, for welding power supplies and/or welding wire feeders configured to operate both wire welding processes as well as gouging, a valve can be integrated with a gouging torch, which can be adjusted to allow or arrest the flow of compressed air to the gouging torch. In response, the welding power source and/or welding wire feeder automatically changes one or more output characteristics, to switch between a wire welding process and a gouging process without requiring the operator to interact with either the welding power source or welding wire feeder.

High-frequency transformers using solid wire for welding-type power supplies are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply transformer includes: a first coil assembly comprising a first plurality of turns of a first solid wire wrapped around a first bobbin to form a first single-layer primary winding, and a second plurality of turns of a second conductor over the first plurality of turns to form a first single-layer secondary winding; a second coil assembly comprising a third plurality of turns of a second solid wire wrapped around a second bobbin to form a second single-layer primary winding, and a fourth plurality of turns of the second conductor over the third plurality of turns to form a second single-layer secondary winding; and first and second cores disposed at least partially within the first and second bobbins.

Embodiments described herein include wireless control of a welding power supply via portable electronic devices. In particular, operating parameters and statuses of the welding power supply may be modified by the portable electronic device, as well as be displayed on the portable electronic device. For example, in certain embodiments, the welding power supply may be an engine-driven welding power supply, and the portable electronic device may be configured to start and/or stop an engine of the engine-driven welding power supply. A pairing procedure may be used to pair the welding power supply and the portable electronic device in a wireless communication network. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, a method of prioritization of control between a control panel of the welding power supply and the portable electronic device may be implemented.

An arc welding system includes a welding power supply. An auxiliary power supply supplies electrical energy to an auxiliary load. An engine-generator is connected to the welding power supply and auxiliary power supply. An engine starting battery is connected to the auxiliary power supply to supply electrical energy thereto during starting of the engine-generator. An auxiliary load sensor is configured to detect a presence of an electrical load on the auxiliary power supply. A speed sensor is configured to sense a speed of the engine-generator. A controller is configured to receive a signal indicating presence of the electrical load on the auxiliary power supply and a signal corresponding to speed of the engine-generator. When presence of the electrical load on the auxiliary power supply is detected, the controller starts the engine-generator, and after the engine-generator has reached a predetermined speed, switches the auxiliary power supply from the battery to the engine-generator.

Systems, methods, and apparatus to preheat weld wire are disclosed. An example welding torch includes a first contact tip configured to conduct welding current to a consumable electrode, a second contact tip configured to conduct preheating current to the consumable electrode, and a plurality of liquid cooling assemblies configured to conduct the preheating current and to conduct the welding current to the consumable electrode.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of argon arc welding machine, and particularly refers to a welding power supply and an AC-DC argon arc welding machine. The welding power comprises a rectifying and wave-filtering unit, a first inverter unit, a transformer and a hybrid inverter unit connected one by one; the hybrid inverter unit has an unitized structural design that combines a rectifying function with a secondary inverting function through an IGBT or an IGBT half-bridge module integrated internally with FRDs; in this way, not only the types and the number of power devices are reduced, but also a difficulty of wire arrangement of an electric board is reduced, and a condition that power switches work under unbalanced state when the welding machine outputs DC is avoided, so that some problems such as a high power consumption of a traditional circuit structure, a big heat sink and a big fan, a high cost, and a complicated wire arrangement, and so on are solved, and a goal of reducing a weight and a volume of the welding machine, and the cost, and improving a welding effect is achieved.

Disclosed is a welding-type power source that includes a first wire feeder provides a wire to a workpiece. A first wire feeder motor of the wire feeder to move the wire from a wire storage device to the workpiece. A second wire feeder motor moves the wire to and away from the workpiece and superimposes movement of the wire onto the movement from the first wire feeder motor. A moveable buffer located between the first and second wire feeder motors, and configured to accommodate a change in length of the wire between the first and second wire feeder motors when the second wire feeder motor moves the wire away from the workpiece. A sensor senses movement or displacement of the moveable buffer, wherein a speed or direction of the first or second wire feeder motors is adjusted based on data from the sensor.

An arc welding system includes a welding power supply having a switching type power converter. A welding electrode is connected to the switching type power converter to receive electrical energy therefrom and produce an electric arc. A variable-frequency auxiliary power supply supplies electrical energy to an auxiliary load through an auxiliary power output of the arc welding system. An engine-generator is connected to the welding power supply and the variable-frequency auxiliary power supply, to supply electrical energy to the welding power supply to produce the arc, and to supply further electrical energy to the variable-frequency auxiliary power supply. A controller is operatively connected to the variable-frequency auxiliary power supply and is configured to control an output voltage frequency of the variable-frequency auxiliary power supply according to an auxiliary power supply frequency setting. The output voltage frequency of the variable-frequency auxiliary power supply is independent from engine speed of the engine-generator.

Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.

A method providing a manual welding apparatus configured to supply a welding wire to a welding gun. The welding gun has a trigger and an opening where the welding wire extends when the trigger is activated. The method also has a computer with a user interface that includes an automatic wire retract program. The program monitors the welding gun and determines when the trigger is disabled. The program indicates when a first condition is satisfied and retracts the welding wire so the welding wire does not extend from the opening of the welding gun.