# US 11,027,358 B2 · Systems and methods for auto-tuning a GMAW welding process

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- Number: US 11,027,358 B2
- Document ID: US11027358B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/119,890
- Filed: 2018-08-31
- Published: 2020-03-05
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-31
- Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Inventors: Robert R. Davidson; Valarie Schwartz; Dustin Wagner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027358B2

## CPC

- B23K 9/073: Stabilising the arc
- B23K 9/1043: {characterised by the electric circuit (B23K9/1012 takes precedence)}
- B23K 9/09: Arrangements or circuits for arc welding with pulsed current or voltage
- B23K 9/0953: {using computing means}
- B23K 9/0956: {using sensing means, e.g. optical}
- B23K 9/1062: {with computing means}
- B23K 9/173: and of a consumable electrode
- B23K 9/32: Accessories
- H02M 1/0003: {Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits}
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for auto-tuning a MIG 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. The operating parameters may include an inductance parameter, a slope parameter, or a wet time parameter. During the welding process, in order to control the power conversion circuitry, the system may measure an output from the power conversion circuitry, and may update the inductance parameter, the slope parameter, or the wet time parameter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A welding-type power supply, comprising:
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 short circuit parameters, the short circuit parameters comprising at least one of an inductance parameter, a slope parameter, or a wet time parameter by, during a welding-type operation:
measuring an output from the power conversion circuitry; and
setting updated values for at least one of the inductance parameter, the slope parameter, or the wet time parameter, to control the power conversion circuitry.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set an updated value for the inductance parameter based on a measured output voltage, a commanded output voltage, a measured short circuit event duration, and a measured current change during a short circuit event.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to set the updated value for the inductance parameter based on the following equation:
L
=
V
d
i
⁢
d
t
,
where L is the updated value of the inductance parameter, V is a difference between the commanded output voltage and a representative output voltage value for one or more short circuit clearing events, dt is a representative short circuit event duration, and di is a representative current change for one or more short circuit events.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 3, wherein the representative output voltage value is an average instantaneous voltage measured at the times the one or more short circuit events were cleared, the representative short circuit event duration is an average short circuit event duration, and the representative current change is an average current change during the one or more short circuit events.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set an updated value for the inductance parameter by determining an inductance value that would cause an increase of an average peak short circuit current of one or more short circuit events during the welding-type operation over an average duration of the one or more short circuit events.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set an updated value for the slope parameter based on a measured peak current during a short circuit event, a measured peak voltage during the short circuit event, and a commanded output voltage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to set the updated value for the slope parameter based on the following equation:
S
=
(
V
cmd
-
V
peak
)
I
peak
,
where S is the updated value for the slope parameter, Vcmd is the voltage command, Vpeak is the measured peak voltage during the short circuit event, and Ipeak is the measured peak current during the short circuit event.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to set the updated value for the slope parameter based on the following equation:
S
=
(
V
cmd
-
V
peak
)
I
peak
,
where S is the updated value for the slope parameter, Vcmd is the voltage command, Vpeak is the average measured peak voltage during one or more short circuit events including the short circuit event, and Ipeak is the measured peak current during the one or more short circuit events.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set an updated value for the wet time parameter based on durations of one or more short circuit events in which the durations are less than a threshold duration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 9, wherein the threshold duration is based on a representative short circuit event duration.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to set the updated value by:
determining an average short circuit duration for the one or more short circuit events during the welding-type operation;
determining the threshold duration based on the average short circuit duration;
identifying one or more of the short circuit events having durations less than the threshold duration; and
determining the wet time parameter based on an average of the identified one or more short circuit events.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The welding-type power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the slope parameter in response to a duration of a short circuit event exceeding a threshold duration.

### Claim 13

A method, comprising:
converting, via power conversion circuitry, input power to welding-type power during a welding-type operation;
measuring, via control circuitry, an output from the power conversion circuitry during the welding-type operation;
setting, via control circuitry, updated values for at least one of an inductance parameter, a slope parameter, or a wet time parameter, to control the power conversion circuitry during the welding-type operation; and
controlling, during the welding-type operation via control circuitry, the power conversion circuitry based on the at least one of the inductance parameter, the slope parameter, or the wet time parameter.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the setting of the value for the inductance parameter is based on a measured output voltage, a commanded output voltage, a measured short circuit event duration, and a measured current change during a short circuit event.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the setting of the value for the inductance parameter is based on the following equation:
L
=
V
d
i
⁢
d
t
,
where L is the updated value of the inductance parameter, V is a difference between the commanded output voltage and a representative output voltage value for one or more short circuit clearing events, dt is a representative short circuit event duration, and di is a representative current change for one or more short circuit events.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the setting of the value for the slope parameter is based on a measured peak current during a short circuit event, a measured peak voltage during the short circuit event, and a commanded output voltage.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the setting of the value for the slope parameter is based on the following equation:
S
=
(
V
cmd
-
V
peak
)
I
peak
,
where S is the updated value for the slope parameter, Vcmd is the voltage command, Vpeak is the measured peak voltage during the short circuit event, and Ipeak is the measured peak current during the short circuit event.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the setting of the value of the wet time parameter is based on durations of one or more short circuit events in which the durations are less than a threshold duration.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the threshold duration is based on a representative short circuit event duration.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the setting of the value of the wet time parameter comprises:
determining an average short circuit duration for the one or more short circuit events during the welding-type operation;
determining the threshold duration based on the average short circuit duration;
identifying one or more of the short circuit events having durations less than the threshold duration; and
determining the wet time parameter based on an average of the identified one or more short circuit events.