Method and apparatus for welding and control thereof

A method of providing welding power, comprising:

• providing a welding-type output;
• feeding back an output parameter;
• determining an eta of the output;
• controlling the welding-type output in response to feeding back;
• and
• setting a response time of the controlling in response to eta.

A system of providing welding power, comprising:

• means for providing a welding-type output;
• means for feeding back an output parameter, connected to the means for providing;
• means for determining an eta of the output, connected to the means for feeding back;
• means for controlling the welding-type output in response to the output parameter, connected to the means for providing and the means for feeding back;
• and
• means for setting a response time of the means for controlling in response to eta, connected to the means for controlling and the means for determining.

A system for welding, comprising:

• a welding-type power source, having
• at least one control input, and
• a welding-type output;
• a feedback circuit, responsive to the welding-type output, and having a feedback output;
• a controller having
• a feedback input connected to the feedback output,
• a voltage control loop responsive to the feedback input,
• a temporal control loop responsive to the feedback input,
• a control output, responsive to that voltage control loop and the temporal control loop, connected to the control input.

A welding-type power supply controller comprising:

• at least one feedback input;
• a voltage control loop, including
• a voltage feedback input connected to the feedback input, and
• an integrator having first and second feedback capacitors, wherein
• a switch, having a switch control input, is in series with the second capacitor;
• and
• an eta controller having an input connected to the feedback input, and an output connected to the switch control input.

A method of controlling welding-type power comprising:

• providing voltage feedback;
• integrating the difference between a voltage feedback and a threshold using an integrator with first and second capacitors in a feedback path;
• comparing eta to a window;
• switching the second feedback capacitor in and out of the feedback path in response to comparing eta.

A system for welding, comprising:

• a welding power source having at least one power source control input and a welding power output;
• a wire feeder connected to the welding power output and having a wire feed speed input;
• a feedback circuit, responsive to the welding power output, and having a feedback output;
• and
• a controller, having
• a feedback input connected to the feedback output,
• a fast-tack detect circuit responsive to a trigger signal,
• a speed control output responsive to the fast-tack detect circuit, and in electrical communication with the wire feed speed input, and
• a power source control output responsive to the fast-tack detect circuit, and in electrical communication with power source control input.

A method of welding, comprising:

• supplying welding power to an arc;
• feeding wire to the arc;
• feeding back a signal responsive to the welding power;
• detecting whether or not the process is a fast-tack process;
• controlling the supply of power according to a first control scheme if the process is a fast-tack process;
• and
• controlling the supply of power according to a second control scheme if the process is not a fast-tack process.

A system for performing a welding process, comprising:

• power means for providing welding power to an arc;
• feeder means for feeding wire to the arc;
• feedback means for feeding back a feedback output in response to the welding power provided;
• detect means for detecting whether or not the process is a fast-tack process, connected to a trigger input;
• speed control means for controlling a speed of the feeder means in response to the detect means, in electrical communication with the feeder means;
• and
• power control means for controlling the power means in response to the detect means, in electrical communication with power means.

A system for welding, comprising:

• means for supplying welding power to an arc;
• means for feeding wire to the arc;
• means for feeding back a signal responsive to the welding power, in electrical communication with the means for supplying;
• means for detecting whether or not the process is a fast-tack process, responsive and connected to a trigger signal;
• means for controlling the means for supplying according to a first control scheme is the process is a fast-tack process, connected to the means for supplying, and responsive to the means for detecting;
• and
• means for controlling the means for supplying according to a second control scheme if the process is not a fast-tack process, connected to the means for supplying, and responsive to the means for detecting.

A system for welding, comprising:

• a welding power source having at least one power source control input and a welding power output;
• a wire feeder connected to the welding output and having a wire feed speed input;
• a feedback circuit, responsive to the welding power output and a trigger signal, and having a feedback output;
• and
• a controller, responsive to the feedback output, and having
• a first control output connected to the power source control input and connected to the wire feed speed input, and
• second control output connected to the power source control input and connected to the wire feed speed input.

A system for welding comprising:

• a welding power source having a welding power output;
• a wire feeder connected to the welding output and having a speed control input;
• and
• a controller having a speed control output connected to the speed control input having a weld wire speed set point, and a run-in wire speed set point, wherein the run-in speed set point is a set percentage of the weld wire speed set point.

A system for welding comprising:

• power means for supplying welding power to an arc;
• feeder means for feeding wire to the arc;
• and
• control means for controlling a speed of the feeder means to a weld speed and a run-in speed, wherein the run-in speed set point is a set percentage of the weld speed set point, connected to the feeder means.

A method of welding comprising:

• providing welding power to an arc;
• feeding wire to the arc;
• controlling the speed of the wire during a run-in state;
• and
• controlling the speed of the wire during a weld state, wherein the run-in speed set is a set percentage of the weld speed.

A welding-type power supply, comprising:

• power means for providing power;
• input means for receiving user-selectable input;
• and
• control means, connected to the input means and the power means, for controlling the power means, and for selectively choosing one of a set point and a calibration value as a value received from the input means.

A method of calibrating a welding-type power supply, of the type having a user-selectable set point input, comprising:

• detecting whether or not the power supply is in a calibration mode;
• receiving a value from the user-selectable set point input as a calibration value if the power supply is in the calibration mode;
• and
• receiving a value from the user-selectable set point input as a set point value if the power supply is not in the calibration mode.