Patent ID: 9266184
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B23K

Claim Text:
1. A welding system, comprising: a welding torch; a welder coupled to the welding torch configured to produce a welding arc; and a sensor disposed within the welding torch and configured to sense a parameter indicative of a size of an electrode used by the welding torch based on a configuration of a collet body of the welding torch, wherein the collet body comprises a mechanical key feature extending from the collet body and representing the size of the electrode, wherein the collet body is configured to mate with a corresponding receiving portion of the welding torch, and wherein the sensor is configured to sense a location of the mechanical key feature within the corresponding receiving portion of the welding torch and to send a signal to the welder, the signal representing the parameter indicative of the size of the electrode, wherein the welder is configured to automatically implement at least one of an arc starting parameter or a welding parameter based on the signal.