Method and Apparatus For Welding Cost Calculator

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a cost calculator.

1 . A welding-type system, comprising:
 a source of welding-type power;   a controller, including a control output connected to the source of welding-type power; and   a cost calculator, connected to the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The welding-type system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user cost input module, connected to provide data to the cost calculator. 
     
     
         3 . The welding-type system of  claim 2 , wherein the cost calculator includes a material cost module connected to receive data from the user cost input module, and a cost determination module connected to the material cost module. 
     
     
         4 . The welding-type system of  claim 3 , wherein the cost calculator further includes a time calculator connected to the cost determination module. 
     
     
         5 . The welding-type system of  claim 2 , wherein the cost calculator includes a time calculator, and includes a cost determination module connected to the user input cost module and connected to the time calculator. 
     
     
         6 . The welding-type system of  claim 5 , wherein the cost calculator includes a consumable cost module connected to receive data from the user cost input module, and connected to the cost determination. 
     
     
         7 . The welding-type system of  claim 4 , wherein the cost calculator includes a consumable cost module connected to receive data from the user cost input module, and connected to the cost determination. 
     
     
         8 . The welding-type system of  claim 2 , wherein the cost calculator includes a consumable cost module connected to receive data from the user cost module, and a cost determination module connected to consumable cost module. 
     
     
         9 . The welding-type system of  claim 8 , wherein the user cost module is connected to the consumable cost module over a network. 
     
     
         10 . The welding-type system of  claim 2 , wherein the user cost module includes software residing on a personal computer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing welding-type power, comprising:
 receiving input power and converting it to welding-type power;   controlling the converting; and   calculating at least one aspect of the cost of performing a weld.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving from the user cost data related to the at least one aspect, and using that cost data in the calculating. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one aspect includes material costs and receiving includes receiving from the user cost data related to materials. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes labor costs, and receiving includes receiving from the user cost data related to labor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one aspect includes labor costs, and receiving includes receiving from the user cost data related to labor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes consumable costs, and receiving includes receiving from the user cost data related to consumables. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes consumable costs, and receiving includes receiving from the user cost data related to consumables. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes consumable costs, and receiving includes receiving from the user cost data related to consumables. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein receiving includes receiving data over a network. 
     
     
         20 . A system for providing welding-type power, comprising:
 means for receiving input power and converting it to welding-type power;   means for controlling the converting, connected to the means for converting; and   means for calculating at least one aspect of the cost of performing a weld, connected to the means for controlling.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising means for receiving from the user cost data related to the at least one aspect, connected to the means for calculating. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one aspect includes material costs and the means for receiving receives from the user cost data related to materials. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes labor costs, and the means for receiving receives from the user cost data related to labor. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes labor costs, and the means for receiving receives from the user cost data related to labor. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes consumable costs, and the means for receiving receives from the user cost data related to consumables. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes consumable costs, and the means for receiving receives from the user cost data related to consumables. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one aspect further includes consumable costs, and the means for receiving receives from the user cost data related to consumables. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the means for receiving is connected to a network.