Welding gun

A welding gun comprising:

• a generally tubular portion comprising a substantially rigid housing, the substantially rigid housing defining a length;
• a wire feed mechanism within the generally tubular portion;
• a motor that drives the wire feed mechanism, the motor extending along the length of the substantially rigid housing;
• a speed control mechanism for the motor electrically coupled to the motor, wherein the speed control comprises:
• a control unit positioned within the generally tubular portion;
• and
• a user input mechanism coupled to the control unit and positioned in a first recess in the substantially rigid housing;
• and
• a torch portion, the torch portion comprising a torch barrel having a distal end configured to receive a welding tip assembly.

A welding gun comprising:

• a housing;
• a wire feed mechanism within the housing;
• a motor that drives the wire feed mechanism;
• a speed control mechanism for the motor electrically coupled to the motor, wherein the speed control comprises:
• a control unit positioned within the housing;
• and
• a user input mechanism coupled to the control unit and accessible to a user from a first recess and a second recess in the housing;
• and
• a torch portion, the torch portion comprising a torch barrel having a distal end configured to receive a welding tip assembly.

A welding gun comprising:

• a generally tubular portion comprising a housing;
• a wire feed mechanism within the housing;
• a motor that drives the wire feed mechanism;
• and
• a torch portion, the torch portion comprising:
• a torch barrel configured to receive a welding tip assembly;
• and
• wherein the wire feed mechanism comprises:
• an idler roller;
• a feeder roller;
• and
• a body configured to support the idler and feeder rollers such that they rotate about axes that extend transversely to a first longitudinal axis of the generally tubular portion;
• and
• wherein the idler roller is disposed on a pivotable lever such that the idler roller is configured to be pivotable away from the feeder roller without opening the housing.

A welding gun comprising:

• a generally tubular portion comprising a substantially rigid housing;
• a wire feed mechanism within the generally tubular portion;
• a motor that drives the wire feed mechanism;
• a torch portion, the torch portion comprising:
• a torch barrel;
• a variable profile insulating boot disposed around the torch barrel;
• and
• wherein the torch barrel is configured to receive a welding tip assembly;
• and
• a speed control for the motor electrically coupled to the motor, wherein the speed control comprises:
• a control unit positioned within the generally tubular portion;
• and
• a user input mechanism coupled to the control unit and positioned in a first recess in the substantially rigid shell;
• and
• wherein the wire feed mechanism comprises:
• an idler roller;
• a feeder roller;
• a block configured to support the idler and feeder rollers such that they rotate about axes that extend generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the generally tubular portion;
• and
• wherein the idler roller is disposed on a pivotable lever such that the idler roller is configured to be manually pivotable away from the feeder roller without opening the substantially rigid housing.