A welding system includes a feeder that advances a self-shielded flux-cored welding electrode toward a weld puddle. A power supply provides a welding output to the electrode to generate an arc, and a controller controls the welding output. The controller controls the power supply to provide a background welding output to the electrode before a shorting event between the electrode and a workpiece is detected. The controller monitors the welding output to detect both the shorting event and the clearance thereof. Upon detecting clearance of the short, the controller automatically switches the welding output to a minimum magnitude fixed current welding output. After the predetermined duration, the controller automatically switches the welding output from the minimum magnitude fixed current welding output back to the background welding output until another shorting event is detected.

A simulator facilitates simulated welding activity of simulated weld joints. The simulator may include a logic processor based system operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in which a welding activity is simulated, the welding activity occurring at an interface of a first simulated work piece and a second simulated work piece that defines a simulated weld joint. The simulator is capable of simulating the simultaneous welding of multiple users on the simulated weld joint in real time. The simulator is capable of simulating the removal of material from the work piece(s). The simulator is capable of simulating the traversal of a weld path corresponding to the simulated weld joint, with the weld path including linear and/or non-linear portions. The simulator is capable of simulating the generation of smoke during the simulated welding activity.

A simulator facilitates simulated welding activity of simulated weld joints. The simulator may include a logic processor based system operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in which a welding activity is simulated, the welding activity occurring at an interface of a first simulated work piece and a second simulated work piece that defines a simulated weld joint. The simulator is capable of simulating the simultaneous welding of multiple users on the simulated weld joint in real time.

A short circuit welding method with successive welding cycles with a respective arc phase and short circuit phase includes controlling at least the welding parameters welding current and feed speed of a melting electrode and feeding the electrode toward of a workpiece at a predetermined forward final speed at least during part of the arc phase and away from the workpiece at a predetermined rearward final speed at least during part of the short circuit phase. A device carries out this method. A change in the feed speed and a rearward final speed are predetermined and a welding current is controlled to complete the short circuit phase after reaching the rearward final speed and after 3 ms at the latest and repeat every 8 ms at the latest. The welding parameters are controlled such that the welding cycle duration8 ms, resulting in a welding frequency125 Hz.

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 system and method to correct for deposition errors during a robotic welding additive manufacturing process. The system includes a welding power source to sample instantaneous parameter pairs of welding output current and wire feed speed in real time during a robotic welding additive manufacturing process while creating a current weld layer of a 3D workpiece part. An instantaneous ratio of welding output current and wire feed speed are determined for each instantaneous parameter pair. A short term running average ratio is determined based on the instantaneous ratios. A relative correction factor is generated based on at least the short term running average ratio and is used in real time while creating the current weld layer to compensate for deviations in a deposit level from a desired deposit level for the current weld layer.

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for mitigating audible noise generated by a welding-type power supply are disclosed. In some examples, the switching frequency of the welding-type power supply may be changed to a frequency that is outside the audible range for humans. This strategy takes advantage of the fact that the observed audible noise is generated by vibrating components within the welding-type power supply that vibrate at a frequency related to the switching frequency. Other noise mitigation strategies include dithering and deactivation of portions of the welding-type power supply that vibrate to generate the audible noise.

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.

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.

Disclosed are apparatus and systems to determine voltage measurements in welding-type applications to facilitate control of welding-type processes. Disclosed systems include a remote operations interface configured to facilitate voltage measurements in welding-type applications and facilitate communication between a welding-type power supply and a wire feeder.