Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Zach MacMullen

Craig Steven Knoener

Charles Ace Tyler

Lucas Charles Johnson

Christine Dong

Systems and methods for initiating and/or terminating a GMAW-P welding process are disclosed. A welding-type power supply may include a power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power, and a controller configured to control the power conversion circuitry based on a plurality of operating parameters. In examples, the systems and methods disclosed herein implement pulsed cycles with one or more increased output parameters (such as current, pulse width, etc.) in order to jump start a pulsed welding cycle at a cold start (i.e. at initiation of a welding process), and thereby prevent a ball forming and remaining on the end of an electrode wire as the welding process continues. In a similar manner, a pulsed cycle with one or more increased parameters can be used to terminate the welding process, also preventing the ball forming and remaining on the electrode wire.

Systems and methods for controlling arc initiation and termination in a welding process

Systems and methods for clearing a short during a GMAW-P welding process are disclosed. A welding-type power supply may include a power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power, and a controller configured to control the power conversion circuitry based on a plurality of operating parameters. In examples, if the controller senses an occurrence of a short circuit during the welding cycle (e.g., during the background state), the voltage-controlled process can adjust an output current to increase in order to achieve one or more short state target voltage values. Once the short has cleared (as evidenced by a spike in voltage) and/or a desired short state target voltage value is achieved, the controller can again adjust the output current to decrease until the voltage has returned to a background voltage level.

Systems and methods for voltage control of a short circuit during a pulse welding process

Systems and methods to control pulse welding are disclosed. An example welding-type system includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; and control circuitry configured to control the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power in a plurality of pulse cycles, each pulse cycle comprising a background phase, a ramp up phase, a peak phase, and a ramp down phase. Controlling the power conversion circuitry involves: during the ramp up phase of the pulse cycles, controlling the power conversion circuitry in a current-controlled mode and switching to controlling the power conversion circuitry in a voltage-controlled mode when a peak transition voltage is reached; and during the ramp down phase of the pulse cycles, controlling the power conversion circuitry in a current-controlled mode and switching to controlling the power conversion circuitry in a voltage-controlled mode when a background transition voltage is reached.

Systems and methods to control pulse welding

Systems and methods to control pulse welding are disclosed. An example welding-type system includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; and control circuitry configured to control the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power in a plurality of pulse cycles, each pulse cycle including background, ramp up, peak, and ramp down phases. Controlling the power conversion circuitry involves: during the background phase, controlling the power conversion circuitry in a voltage-controlled mode using a background voltage as a target voltage; during the ramp up phase, controlling the power conversion circuitry by changing the target voltage to a peak voltage; during the peak phase, controlling the power conversion circuitry using the peak voltage as the target voltage; and during the ramp down phase, controlling the power conversion circuitry by changing the target voltage to the background voltage.

Methods and apparatus to control hot-start weld current for arc ignition are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes a power converter to output welding-type current, a temperature monitor to determine a temperature of an electrode using at least one of a temperature measurement or a thermal model, and a current controller to control a hot-start weld current output by the power converter based on the temperature of the electrode.

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Larsen, WI, United States of America

Zach MacMullen