Integrating arc welding control saves costs

Offering a flexible arc welding 'platform' that adapts to virtually any welding application involves the 'seamless' integration of waveform control, digital communications and power electronics.

The Lincoln Electric Company has introduced 'Nextweld Solutions' for welding operators and engineers seeking the most advanced welding technologies.

A flexible arc welding platform that adapts to virtually any welding application seamlessly integrates Lincoln's patented Waveform Control Technology, digital communications and power electronics.

This integration provides major benefits, including improved operating efficiencies, higher productivity, higher quality welds and reduced costs.

With Nextweld solutions, operators have the ability to control arc characteristics to precisely match the job at hand through a system of components that communicate accurately and perform reliably.

Waveform Control Technology, power electronics and digital communications are the foundation of Nextweld Solutions.

* Waveform Control Technology - waveform Control Technology is Lincoln's proprietary technology platform that controls and shapes the output waveform.

Since this waveform may be shaped electronically using software without the need to change electrical components, equipment with waveform control can deliver customized results for each application.

With this technology, welding processes can be developed to improve productivity, quality and operator appeal on a wide range of materials.

* Power electronics - power electronics, as Lincoln defines it, is the use of electronic devices to control and convert electric power, including circuit design, magnetic design and control techniques.

Power electronics allows for low power consumption, high efficiency and high power density.

These technologies facilitate continual improvement in power sources and make it possible to have lightweight inverters and high-speed 'choppers'.

Lincoln's inverters endure rigorous environmental, mechanical and weld testing in the design/production phase to ensure reliability and efficiency.

* Digital communications - digital communications is the ability of components to transmit large amounts of data to each other reliably, accurately and at high speeds.

In the context of welding, digital communications helps to deliver consistent and repeatable arc welding performance.

At the same time, wiring costs are relatively low, especially as the number of devices on the network is increased.

Compared to analog, digital communications offers the fabrication industry a faster, less expensive, more reliable way to integrate and operate equipment.

Waveform Control Technology, power electronics and digital communications are the foundation, on which processes like 'Surface Tension Transfer' (STT), 'Pulse-On-Pulse' and 'ArcLink' are constructed.

These technologies are among those built into Lincoln's 'Power Wave/Power Feed' line of products to offer fabricators reduced costs and improved profit potential.

* About Lincoln Electric - The Lincoln Electric Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma-arc and oxy-fuel gas cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market.

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