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 wire shaping device for shaping a welding wire stored in a bulked storage container shapes the welding wire by flexing of the welding wire as it is drawn around sheaves. The wire shaping device can be located immediately adjacent to a wire feeding device of the welder. In use, the wire shaping device may include an inlet port for receiving the wire, a first rotatable sheave for receiving the wire from the inlet port, the first rotatable sheave being rotatable in a first direction; a second rotatable sheave for receiving the wire from the first rotatable sheave, the second rotatable sheave being rotatable in a second direction opposite of the first direction; and an outlet port for receiving the wire from the second rotatable sheave. The wire shaping device may also include a mounting plate and first and second rollers operatively associated with the first and second sheaves, respectively.

A system for dispensing weld wire comprises a container including walls and inside corners, a coil of weld wire within the container, and a de-coiling cone on the weld wire. The coil includes inner and outer circumferences, and the de-coiling cone includes an inner ring smaller than the inner circumference of the coil, an outer ring larger than the inner circumference and smaller than the outer circumference of the coil, and a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the inner ring to positions adjacent respective inside corners of the container. Each leg includes a first leg portion connecting the inner and outer rings, a second leg portion extending radially outwardly from the first leg portion, and a backwardly bent leg portion adjacent a corresponding inside corner of the container.

A system and method of welding or additive manufacturing is provided where at least two welding electrodes are provided to and passed through a two separate orifices on a single contact tip and a welding waveform is provided to the electrodes through the contact tip to weld simultaneously with both electrodes, where a bridge droplet is formed between the electrodes and then transferred to the puddle.

A kit or set of components, which can be assembled, in a mix-and-match manner, to provide multiple, different despoolers, for different wire spool sizes. One particular kit or set has components to provide three unique despoolers; the kit has a shaft, a tension spring, a first shaft body, a second shaft body having a length different than the length of the first shaft body, and a tension lock. The components provide despoolers that are easy to install and easy to set-up, having a limited number of components, and that are easy to use.

A feed assist unit includes a base portion having a plurality of ribs on a lower surface thereof. A dome portion is connected to the base portion, and a rotating conduit portion has a curved shape and is coupled to the dome portion. Each of the ribs has a first end adjacent to the dome portion and a second end adjacent an associated side of the base portion. The feed assist unit has first and second central axes oriented perpendicular to each other. First and third of the ribs are oriented parallel to the second central axis and the second and fourth of the ribs can be oriented parallel to the first central axis. The first and third ribs are offset from the second central axis by an offset length and the second and fourth ribs are offset from the first central axis the offset length.

A system for dispensing weld wire comprises a container including walls and inside corners, a coil of weld wire within the container, and a de-coiling cone on the weld wire. The coil includes inner and outer circumferences, and the de-coiling cone includes an inner ring smaller than the inner circumference of the coil, an outer ring larger than the inner circumference and smaller than the outer circumference of the coil, and a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the inner ring to positions adjacent respective inside corners of the container. Each leg includes a first leg portion connecting the inner and outer rings, a second leg portion extending radially outwardly from the first leg portion, and a backwardly bent leg portion adjacent a corresponding inside corner of the container.

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 system for dispensing weld wire comprises a container including walls and inside corners, a coil of weld wire within the container, and a de-coiling cone on the weld wire. The coil includes inner and outer circumferences, and the de-coiling cone includes an inner ring smaller than the inner circumference of the coil, an outer ring larger than the inner circumference and smaller than the outer circumference of the coil, and a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the inner ring to positions adjacent respective inside corners of the container. Each leg includes a first leg portion connecting the inner and outer rings, a second leg portion extending radially outwardly from the first leg portion, and a backwardly bent leg portion adjacent a corresponding inside corner of the container.

A system for dispensing weld wire comprises a container including walls and inside corners, a coil of weld wire within the container, and a de-coiling cone on the weld wire. The coil includes inner and outer circumferences, and the de-coiling cone includes an inner ring smaller than the inner circumference of the coil, an outer ring larger than the inner circumference and smaller than the outer circumference of the coil, and a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the inner ring to positions adjacent respective inside corners of the container. Each leg includes a first leg portion connecting the inner and outer rings, a second leg portion extending radially outwardly from the first leg portion, and a backwardly bent leg portion adjacent a corresponding inside corner of the container.