Arc start

Abstract

An arc welding system includes a temperature determination module and a parameter optimization module. The temperature determination module is configured to determine, from among a plurality of possible temperature categories, a temperature category of an electrode during an interruption to an arc welding process on a workpiece based on a comparison of information indicative of a duration of the interruption to one or more timing thresholds. An electric arc between the electrode and the workpiece is extinguished during the interruption. The parameter optimization module is configured to set one or more current parameters of an output current to be applied to the arc welding process when the arc welding process restarts. The current parameters are based on the temperature category of the electrode determined by the temperature determination module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arc welding system, comprising:
 a temperature determination module to determine, from among a plurality of possible temperature categories, a temperature category of an electrode during an interruption to an arc welding process on a workpiece based on a comparison of information indicative of a duration of the interruption to one or more timing thresholds, wherein an electric arc between the electrode and the workpiece is extinguished during the interruption; and   a parameter optimization module to set one or more current parameters of an output current to be applied to the arc welding process when the arc welding process restarts, wherein the current parameters are based on the temperature category of the electrode determined by the temperature determination module.   
     
     
         2 . The arc welding system of  claim 1 , wherein the duration of the interruption comprises an amount of time since a last weld. 
     
     
         3 . The arc welding system of  claim 1 , wherein the duration of the interruption comprises an amount of time since the output current was last provided. 
     
     
         4 . The arc welding system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of temperature categories includes a warm electrode category and a cool electrode category. 
     
     
         5 . The arc welding system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more current parameters include a rise time, a rise time constant, or a ramp up time of the output current subsequent to the electrode contacting the workpiece after the interruption. 
     
     
         6 . The arc welding system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more current parameters include a time delay measured from a time when the electrode contacts the workpiece to a start of a current increase, wherein a duration of the time delay is a function of the temperature category of the electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The arc welding system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more current parameters include a ramp up filter coefficient for the output current. 
     
     
         8 . The arc welding system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more current parameters include a current level for the output current. 
     
     
         9 . The arc welding system of  claim 1 , wherein the arc welding system is a manual metal arc (MMA) welding system, the electrode is an MMA welding electrode, and the welding process is an MMA welding process. 
     
     
         10 . An arc welding method, comprising:
 receiving information indicative of a duration of an interruption to an arc welding process involving an electric arc between a welding electrode and a workpiece, wherein the electric arc is extinguished during the interruption;   determining, from among a plurality of possible temperature categories, a temperature category of the welding electrode based on a comparison of the received information indicative of the duration of the interruption to one or more timing thresholds;   setting one or more current parameters of an output current for the welding process based on the determined temperature category of the welding electrode; and   providing the one or more current parameters to one or more components of an arc welding system to adjust operation of the arc welding system when the arc welding process restarts.   
     
     
         11 . The arc welding method of  claim 10 , wherein the duration of the interruption comprises an amount of time since a last weld. 
     
     
         12 . The arc welding method of  claim 10 , wherein the duration of the interruption comprises an amount of time since the output current was last provided. 
     
     
         13 . The arc welding method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of temperature categories includes a warm electrode category and a cool electrode category. 
     
     
         14 . The arc welding method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more current parameters include a rise time, a rise time constant, or a ramp up time of an output current subsequent to the welding electrode contacting the workpiece after the interruption 
     
     
         15 . The arc welding method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more current parameters further include a time delay measured from a time when the welding electrode contacts the workpiece to a start of a current increase, wherein a duration of the time delay is a function of the temperature category of the welding electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The arc welding method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more current parameters further include a ramp up filter coefficient for the output current. 
     
     
         17 . The arc welding method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more current parameters include a current level of the output current. 
     
     
         18 . The arc welding method of  claim 10 , wherein the arc welding process is a manual metal arc (MMA) welding process, the arc welding system is an MMA welding system, and the welding electrode is an MMA welding electrode.