Welding head

A method comprising:

• providing a welding head having a bracket, a central block and a pair of side blocks coupled to the bracket;
• attaching, detachably, a tip holder having a plurality of contact tips to a lower portion of the central block and a side tip holder having a plurality of side contact tips to a lower portion of each of the pair of side blocks;
• receiving an electrode in each of the plurality of contact tips and the plurality of side contact tips;
• adjusting a positioning of the pair of side blocks relative to the bracket;
• and
• depositing a cladding material on a workpiece.

A cladding machine comprising:

• a power source;
• a wire feeder;
• a flux system;
• a travel carriage;
• and
• a welding head affixed to the cladding machine, the welding head comprising:
• a bracket;
• a central block coupled to the bracket, the central block comprising:
• a tip holder detachably coupled to a lower portion of the central block;
• and
• a plurality of contact tips attached to the tip holder,
• wherein each of the plurality of contact tips is adapted to receive an electrode;
• and
• a pair of side blocks pivotally coupled to the bracket, each of the pair side blocks provided on either side of the central block, the each of the pair of side blocks comprising:
• a side tip holder detachably coupled to a lower portion of the pair of side blocks;
• and
• a plurality of side contact tips attached to the side tip holder, wherein each of the plurality of side contact tips is adapted to receive the electrode;
• wherein the pair of side blocks is capable of variable positioning relative to the bracket.