Automatic tip changer for burnback in an arc welding robot

A robotic welding system including a robotic arm, a welding torch arm coupled to the robotic arm, a nozzle coupled to the welding torch, a wire feeder configured to supply a welding wire to a contact tip disposed at the nozzle, the system comprising:

• a fixture for replacing the contact tip including:
• i) a first station configured to remove the nozzle from the welding torch arm to expose the contact tip and to hold the nozzle for reattachment to the torch arm;
• ii) a second station including a clamp to clamp and unclamp the contact tip, and a cutter to separate the contact tip from the welding wire;
• and iii) a third station including one or more holding units each of which holds an unused contact tip, wherein the third station is configured to move each one of the one or more holding units to a predetermined location to locate the unused contact tip for attachment to the welding torch arm, wherein the system performs a method of:
• removing the nozzle from the welding torch arm to expose the contact tip;
• clamping the contact tip at a first location;
• releasing the clamped contact tip from being clamped;
• identifying whether the contact tip is located at the first location after being released;
• moving the welding wire until the contact tip is located at a second location if the contact tip was identified as being located at the first location after being released;
• and
• cutting the welding wire to separate the contact tip from the welding wire.