Method and system to increase heat input to a weld during a short-circuit arc welding process

Abstract

A method and a system to increase heat input to a weld during an arc welding process. A series of electric arc pulses are generated between an advancing welding electrode and a metal workpiece using an electric arc welding system capable of generating an electric welding waveform to produce the electric arc pulses. A cycle of the electric welding waveform includes a pinch current phase providing an increasing pinch current level, a peak current phase providing a peak current level, a tail-out current phase providing a decreasing tail-out current level, and a background current phase providing a background current level. At least one heat-increasing current pulse of the cycle is generated, providing a heat-increasing current level, during the background current phase, where the heat-increasing current level is above the background current level. The cycle of the electric welding waveform with the at least one heat-increasing current pulse may be repeated until the arc welding process is completed.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A system for increasing heat input to a weld during an arc welding process by generating an electric welding waveform to produce a series of electric arc pulses between an advancing welding electrode and a metal workpiece, said system comprising:
 a first configuration of electronic components to generate a background current phase, a peak current phase, and a tail-out current phase of said electric welding waveform;   a second configuration of electronic components to generate a pinch current phase of said electric welding waveform; and   a third configuration of electronic components to generate at least one heat-increasing current pulse of said electric welding waveform during said background current phase, wherein said at least one heat-increasing current pulse provides an intermediate current level that is between a background current level of said background current phase and a peak current level of said peak current phase.