System and method of controlling heat input in tandem hot-wire applications

A welding system, said system comprising:

• a high intensity energy source to create a molten puddle on a surface of a workpiece;
• a wire feeder that feeds a wire to said molten puddle via a contact tube;
• a power supply that outputs a first heating current during a first mode of operation and a second heating current during a second mode of operation, said power supply providing said first heating current or said second heating current to said wire via said contact tube;
• and
• a controller that initiates said first mode of operation in said power supply to heat said wire to a desired temperature and switches said power supply from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation to create a micro-arc, said micro-arc created between said wire and said workpiece,
• wherein said second mode of operation provides at least one of an increased heat input to said molten puddle and an increased agitation of said molten puddle relative to said first mode of operation,
• wherein said controller controls a duration of said micro-arc during said second mode of operation, and
• wherein said output of said power supply is turned off or reduced in power to extinguish said micro-arc after said duration has elapsed.