Approaches herein provide a torch handle including a pneumatically controlled jaw operable to engage an electrode. In one approach, a system is provided for distributing gas within the torch handle, the system including a pneumatic cylinder within a main housing of the torch handle. The pneumatic cylinder is coupled to a shaft for actuating first and second members of the jaw. The system further includes a gas passageway through the main housing, the gas passageway extending to an exit orifice disposed within the second member. A flow controller, including first and second valves, is operable to direct a flow of a gas to either the pneumatic cylinder or the gas passageway. In one approach, the first member is actuated towards the second member when the gas is directed through the gas passageway, and actuated away from the second member when the gas is directed to the pneumatic cylinder.

A method for providing a welding score, comprising determining an initial position of a welding operation, determining a terminal position of the welding operation, determining a welding path between the initial position and the terminal position, and determining the welding score based on the welding path, wherein the welding score takes into account one or both of a time used for welding and a length of the welding path. A system comprising a welding torch, and a computer configured to: determine an initial position of a welding operation, determine a terminal position of the welding operation, determine a welding path between the initial position and the terminal position, determine a welding score, wherein the welding score takes into account a time used for welding and/or a length of the welding path, and comparing the welding score to a score threshold.

Some examples of the present disclosure relate to feeder pen tracking attachments that allow trackable markers to be easily attached to filler rod feeder pens, thereby removing the need for costly customized/modified filler rod feeder pens (and/or filler rods). In some examples, each feeder pen tracking attachment includes one or more trackable markers that can be detected and/or tracked by a monitoring system. In some examples, the trackable marker(s) of the feeder pen tracking attachment facilitate tracking and/or monitoring of welding technique by aiding in the tracking/monitoring of the position(s) and/or orientation(s) of the filler rod feeder pen (and/or filler rod) during welding-type operations.

Some examples of the present disclosure relate to tracking attachments that allow trackable markers to be easily attached to TIG welding torches, thereby removing the need for costly customized/modified TIG welding torches. In some examples, each tracking attachment includes one or more trackable markers that can be detected and/or tracked by a monitoring system. In some examples, the trackable marker(s) of the tracking attachment facilitate tracking and/or monitoring of welding technique by aiding in the tracking/monitoring of the position(s) and/or orientation(s) of the TIG welding torch during welding-type operations.

A processing head assembly is disclosed. In some examples, the processing head assembly comprises a fabrication energy source; a wire feedstock surrounded by a shield and one or more filler feedstocks surrounded by one or more nozzles. In some examples, the fabrication energy source includes the wire feedstock surrounded by the shield. A method of depositing material on a substrate using a processing head assembly for use with a fabrication energy source; a wire feedstock surrounded by a shield and one or more filler feedstocks surrounded by one or more nozzles is disclosed. In some examples, the method comprises projecting a fabrication energy beam from the fabrication energy source onto the substrate at a spot, projecting the wire feedstock surrounded by the shield onto the substrate at the spot and projecting the one or more filler feedstocks surrounded by the one or more nozzles onto the substrate close to the spot.

Cutting or welding torch component comprising a ridge (8) forming a thread for connecting the component to other parts of the cutting or welding torch, the thread having a pressure flank (81, 91), a clearance flank (82, 92), a root flat (84, 94) and a crest flat (83, 93), whereinthe angle included by the pressure flank (81, 91) and clearance flank (82, 92) is 60 or less, the angle included by the pressure flank (81, 91) and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10, 20, 30) of the thread is 40 to 50, the angle included by the clearance flank (82, 92) and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10, 20, 30) of the thread is 0 to 20, andthe height (VZ) of the ridge (8) is 0.4 times the pitch of the thread or less.