External pulse generating device and method

An external pulse generator, comprising:

• a controller for use with a continuous welding machine and an associated pedal for controlling the continuous welding machine, the controller further comprising a discrete circuitry comprising one or more input pins and one or more output pins, the controller being located between the continuous welding machine and the pedal and being:
• in communication with a pedal input port of the controller for receiving a pedal position input signal from the pedal for controlling the continuous welding machine, the pedal position input signal being a constant waveform signal, and converting the pedal position input signal into a digital value that is coupled to one or more input pins of the discrete circuitry of the controller,
• in communication with a modified pulsed waveform output port of the controller, the modified puled waveform output port coupled with the continuous welding machine, the discrete circuitry of the controller outputting a modified pulsed waveform signal that is converted into an analog value and coupled to the modified pulsed waveform output port, and
• in communication with a settings input of the controller for receiving settings identifying waveform characteristic settings comprising a pulse frequency and a wave type of the modified pulsed waveform signal;
• wherein the controller is adapted to, in response to the pedal position input signal received from the pedal at the pedal input port of the controller, generate the modified pulsed waveform signal based upon the waveform characteristic settings received from the settings input and couple the modified pulsed waveform signal to the modified pulsed waveform output port of the controller, and the external pulse generator further comprising a power supply, the power supply being an independent power supply.