System and method for controlling a welding process for an arc welder

A system for controlling an electric arc welder comprising:

• means for providing a number of digitally stored operation programs for controlling the parameters of a weld cycle;
• a weld controller means for operating said arc welder in accordance with a selected one of said programs loaded into said controller;
• a display panel having switches arranged in a preselected pattern with first means for causing one or more of said switches to select one of said programs and second means for causing said switches to change said parameter in a selected one of said programs;
• said first and second means being activated at different times;
• and an overlay adapted to be mounted on said panel with indicia aligned with said switches, said overlay including decode means for activating either said first or second means and decode means for identifying said program to be selected or changed.

A method for controlling a welding cycle of an arc welder, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a number of digital programs stored in a digital memory device, with each of said programs including a plurality of digitally coded welding parameters indicative of selected function of a specific welding cycle;
• (b) a weld controller including means for converting the selected functions of a digital program into welding parameters at the output of said welder;
• (c) providing a display panel having a group of switches located in a given pattern with means for causing at least one of said switches to change said parameter in one of said programs and a decoder network means at a selected position for creating a decoded signal indicative of the activation pattern of said decoder network;
• (d) selecting one of said programs corresponding to said decoded signal;
• and,
• (e) loading said selected one of said programs into said weld controller for controlling said welding parameters of said welder in accordance with selected one of said programs.

A system for controlling an electric arc welder comprising:

• means for providing a number of digitally stored operation programs for controlling the parameters of a weld cycle;
• a weld controller means for operating said arc welder in accordance with a selected one of said programs loaded into said controller;
• a display panel having switches arranged in a preselected pattern with first means for causing one or more of said switches to operate in a first condition and second means for causing said switches to operate in a second condition;
• said first and second means being activated at different times;
• and an overlay adapted to be mounted on said panel with indicia aligned with said switches, said overlay including decode means for activating either said first or second means.

A system for controlling an electric arc welder comprising:

• means for providing a number of digitally stored operation programs for controlling the parameters of a weld cycle;
• a weld controller means for operating said arc welder in accordance with a selected one of said programs loaded into said controller;
• a display panel having switches;
• a selector means for allowing said switches to customize a selected one of said digital programs;
• means for storing said customized digital programs in selected memory locations;
• and, means for allowing said switches to select one of said stored customized digital programs and to load said selected customized digital program into said weld controller, said selector means and means for selecting said program being activated at different times.

A method of controlling an electric arc welder, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a number of digitally stored operation programs for controlling the parameters of a weld cycle;
• (b) operating said arc welder in accordance with a selected one of said programs loading into said controller;
• (c) providing a display panel having switches;
• (d) allowing said switches to customize a selected one of said digital programs;
• (e) storing said customized digital programs in selected memory locations;
• and,
• (f) loading a selected one of said customized digital programs into said weld controller, said loading of said program and customizing said program occurring at different times.