Intelligent waveform selection for a welding system having particular electrical output characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10300549-B2
Application number	US-201816011730-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2018
Priority date	May 17, 2012
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for selecting a welding output waveform based on characterizing a welding circuit output path with respect to its electrical characteristics. At least one electrical characteristic (e.g., inductance, resistance) of a welding output circuit path connected to a welding power source is determined. A welding output waveform is selected from a plurality of welding output waveforms based on the determined electrical characteristics. As a result, the selected welding output waveform is matched to the welding output circuit path electrical characteristics to provide superior welding performance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A welding method comprising the steps of:
estimating an inductance value of a welding output circuit path connected to a welding power source; and
applying, by the welding power source, a welding output waveform to the welding output circuit path based upon the inductance value,
wherein the welding output waveform is compatible with rise and fall time limits of the welding output circuit path.

2. The welding method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a resistance value of the welding output circuit path, wherein the welding output waveform applied to the welding output circuit path is further based upon the resistance value.

3. The welding method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the resistance value includes applying a regulated voltage signal to the welding output circuit path.

4. The welding method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the resistance value includes applying a regulated current signal to the welding output circuit path.

5. The welding method of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying includes adjusting a welding output waveform switching speed based upon the inductance value.

6. The welding method of claim 1 , wherein the welding power source automatically performs the step of estimating the inductance value of the welding output circuit path.

7. The welding method of claim 1 , wherein the inductance value of the welding output circuit path is at least in part dependent on a welding cable in the welding output circuit path.

8. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the welding power source includes a look-up table that maps the inductance value to the welding output waveform.

9. A welding system, comprising:
a welding power source having a welding output; and
a welding output circuit path connected to the welding output,
wherein the welding power source automatically estimates an inductance value of the welding output circuit path, and applies a welding output waveform to the welding output circuit path based upon the inductance value, and
wherein the welding output waveform is compatible with rise and fall time limits of the welding output circuit path.

10. The welding power source of claim 9 , wherein the welding power source determines a resistance value of the welding output circuit path, and applies the welding output waveform to the welding output circuit path based upon the resistance value.

11. The welding power source of claim 10 , wherein the welding power source applies a regulated voltage signal to the welding output circuit path to determine the resistance value.

12. The welding power source of claim 10 , wherein the welding power source applies a regulated current signal to the welding output circuit path to determine the resistance value.

13. The welding power source of claim 9 , wherein the welding power source adjusts a welding output waveform switching speed based upon the inductance value.

14. The welding power source of claim 9 , wherein the welding output circuit path includes a welding cable, and the inductance value of the welding output circuit path is at least in part dependent on a length of the welding cable.

15. The welding power source of claim 9 , wherein the welding power source includes a look-up table that maps the inductance value to the welding output waveform.

16. A welding system, comprising:
a welding power source having a welding output; and
a welding output circuit path connected to the welding output, wherein the welding output circuit path includes a welding tool, and a welding cable extending between the welding output and the welding tool,
wherein the welding power source automatically estimates an inductance value of the welding output circuit path, and applies a welding output waveform to the welding output circuit path based upon the inductance value, and
wherein the welding output waveform is compatible with rise and fall time limits of the welding output circuit path.

17. The welding power source of claim 16 , wherein the welding power source includes a look-up table that maps the inductance value to the welding output waveform.

18. The welding power source of claim 16 , wherein the welding power source determines a resistance value of the welding output circuit path.

19. The welding power source of claim 16 , wherein the welding power source applies a regulated voltage signal to the welding output circuit path to determine the resistance value.

20. The welding power source of claim 16 , wherein the welding power source applies a regulated current signal to the welding output circuit path to determine the resistance value.

21. The welding power source of claim 16 , wherein the welding power source adjusts a welding output waveform switching speed based upon the inductance value.

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Chantry Bruce J
• Daniel Joseph A
• Kooken Todd E

Classifications

• B23K9/0953

  using computing means · CPC title

• B23K9/09 Primary

  Arrangements or circuits for arc welding with pulsed current or voltage · CPC title

• B23K9/0956

  using sensing means, e.g. optical · CPC title

• B23K9/1056

  by using digital means (B23K9/1068 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K9/10

  Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls · CPC title