Method of and system for monitoring a quality of a weld

Abstract

A method of monitoring a quality of a weld includes collecting a first sample of a shielding gas flowing between a gas source and a welding device; analyzing the first sample to determine a shielding gas composition and thereby monitor a quality of the shielding gas; and forming the weld on a workpiece with the welding device to generate an evolution product of the weld. The method also includes, after collecting the first sample, collecting a second sample of the evolution product; and analyzing the second sample to determine an evolution product composition and thereby monitor the quality of the weld. A system includes the welding device; the gas source; an analyzer disposed between the welding device and the gas source; a first sampling device for collecting the first sample; and a second sampling device configured for collecting the second sample.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.