A spool gun having a very unique look, due to its arrangement of internal and external features. The spool gun has its wire spool compartment located below the handle and the user's hand, when the user is gripping the spool gun in an operational position, thus providing a wire path through the handle to the body of the spool gear wherein the wire feed mechanism is located. The wire feed mechanism includes a 90-degree drive system, which can include a worm gear. A gas/power cable is connected to the body of the spool gun forward of the handle.

A spool gun having a very unique look, due to its arrangement of features. The spool gun has its wire spool compartment located below the handle and the user's hand, when the user is gripping the spool gun in an operational position. Operably connected to the wire spool compartment is wire spool brake configured to engage with the wire wraps. The brake can have a lock and/or a wire spool life indicator. The wire spool compartment has a cover that is non-threadedly engaged. The feed rate of the wire from the wire spool compartment can be adjusted by a control device, such as a knob, located proximate the user's hand, when the user is gripping the spool gun in the operational position.

Systems and methods are disclosed that provides a helical wire for use in welding applications. A torch can be adapted to form the helical wire from a straight wire and to provide the helical wire as a consumable electrode in a welding or cladding application. The helical wire can be, for example, solid, tubular, or seamless tubular. The torch concurrently forms the helical wire and provides welding current for the welding or cladding application.

Provided is a strap guide including: a first module including a first base, a strap boss formed on the first base and including a first slot through which a strap passes, and at least one protrusion accommodation part located at an outer circumferential portion of the strap boss and including a bore; and a second module having a second base, a second slot formed in the second base, and at least one coupling protrusion located at an outer circumferential portion of the second slot and configured to form a pair with the protrusion accommodation part, wherein the first module and the second module are coupled to form an opening having a single closed surface.

Disclosed welding-type systems and methods are directed to employing a wire feeder for feeding an electrode wire from a wire source in a welding system. The wire feeder includes one or more drive rolls to advance the electrode wire by contact force. In disclosed examples, a contact force on the wire from the drive rolls is adjustable. In some examples, the system includes a controller to receive a feedback signal corresponding to the contact force. The controller commands an actuator or other mechanism to adjust the contact force on the wire, such as by adjusting a position of the one or more drive rolls in response to the contact force falling outside a range of threshold contact force values.

In embodiments, a welding apparatus includes an automated wire feed mechanism to output wire at a wire feed rate, where the wire is to provide a welding arc to a weld site. The wire feed rate is based at least in part on selected power to be provided to the weld site. Additional embodiments are described and claimed.

A rotating tool system attachment on the spindle of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine includes a rotating assembly mounted on a static assembly. The rotating assembly provides a continuous supply of a wire material for deposition on a substrate during an additive manufacturing process. The rotating assembly includes a material supply housing a feedstock of wire mounted on a rotating spindle and a wire feeder configured to draw the wire from the wire supply and provide the wire for application during the additive manufacturing process. The tool system can be attached to the spindle of CNC machine to provide additive manufacturing capabilities to the CNC machine.

A welding or additive manufacturing wire drive system includes a welding wire spool and first and second drive rolls. One or both of the drive rolls has a circumferential groove. The system includes a first welding wire, drawn from the welding wire spool, and located between the drive rolls in the circumferential groove, and a second welding wire, drawn from the welding wire spool, and located between the drive rolls 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, and 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.

Provided are a systems and methods for continuously providing a metal wire to a welding torch for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication to provide continuous deposition of metal to the freeform object, especially objects made with titanium or titanium alloy wire.

A welding or additive manufacturing wire drive system includes a first drive roll having a first annular groove, a second drive roll having a second annular groove, a first welding wire located between the drive rolls in the annular grooves, and a second welding wire located between the drive rolls in the annular grooves. A biasing member biases the first drive roll toward the second drive roll to force the first welding wire to contact the second welding wire. The first welding wire contacts each of a first sidewall portion of the first annular groove, a first sidewall portion of the second annular groove, and the second welding wire. The second welding wire contacts each of a second sidewall portion of the first annular groove, a second sidewall portion of the second annular groove, and the first welding wire. The drive rolls rotate in opposite directions thereby moving the welding wires through the wire drive system.