Abstract:
There is provided a system and method for quick identification and selection of torch processes based on a profile scheme. In an illustrated embodiment, a profile selectable via a one-click process may define operational parameters for one or more torch processes. Multiple profiles may be identified by corresponding labels that are visible on the face of the system. Furthermore, in an illustrated embodiment, the profiles and associated torch processes may be automatically stored in the system upon user configuration of the operational parameters. For example, in one embodiment, the user may select a profile and configure a welding process. Upon changing an operational parameter, it may be automatically saved to the selected profile and process. Reselection of that profile may recall the last used process and its associated parameters. The operational parameters of other configured processes may then be retrieved by selecting the desired process within the selected profile.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Non-Provisional patent application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/014,670, entitled “PERSONALIZED INTERFACE FOR TORCH SYSTEM AND METHOD”, filed Dec. 18, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to a torch system and control of various features according to user preferences. 
         [0003]    Torch systems generally support different types of processes, including metal inert gas (MIG) welding, tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, stick welding, air carbon arc cutting (CAC-A), plasma arc cutting, etc. Multi-process torch equipment may provide control for several processes in a single unit. A multi-process torch system may employ a relatively sophisticated user interface with controls, displays, etc. to setup and control the various processes for which it is designed. Depending on the specific application, an operator may be required to switch between welding and/or cutting processes on a regular basis to properly complete a job. Switching between processes may require the operator to select the new process to be used and to change the equipment settings to achieve optimal performance. This process is time consuming, impacts productivity, and requires the operator to remember the specific settings for each particular process. Furthermore, a single torch system is often used by multiple operators, and each operator may have personal preferences for a given type of process. Each operator may need to adjust the system before every use, which can become very time consuming. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0004]    A torch system, in one embodiment, may include a personalized interface having multiple selectors each corresponding to a configurable profile. Each selector may adjust operational parameters of the torch system upon selection. In another embodiment, a torch system may include a programmable controller having a personalized user interface. The personalized user interface may have at least one quick selector for recalling the operational parameters of a torch process. A torch system, in another embodiment, may include tangible, machine-readable media having code executable to save operational parameters for multiple profiles automatically upon user selection of the operational parameters for each profile and/or code executable to recall the operational parameters for each profile to configure the torch system based on a one-click user selection of each profile. In a further embodiment, a method includes automatically saving a user profile to a profile selector based on one or more selections of operational parameters of a torch system via controls separate from the profile selector. A further embodiment of a torch system may include a personalized interface having multiple customizable profiles, each having operational parameters for the torch system, wherein a desired customizable profile is selectable without scrolling through a list of the customizable profiles. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a torch system having a personalized interface in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIGS. 2-4  are front views of exemplary personalized interfaces for use with the torch system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is an organizational chart for a plurality of profiles and processes in accordance with the exemplary embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 ; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 6-7  are front views of exemplary personalized interfaces for use with the torch system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is an organizational chart for a plurality of profiles and processes in accordance with the exemplary embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 7-8 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of a process control board for use in the torch system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0013]    When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Moreover, the use of “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” and variations of these terms is made for convenience, but does not require any particular orientation of the components. Finally, in the illustrated embodiments, features may be referred to as “selectors,” “buttons,” “switches,” or “knobs,” however these elements are not intended to be limited to the specific terminology used. That is, a “button” may include, for example, a push-button, a toggle switch, a knob, or any similar device. Likewise, a “switch” is not limited to a single type of switch, such as a toggle, but may include a push-button or a knob, among other devices. A “knob” may be, for example, a quadrature encoder, a dial, a rotary switch, or a similar device. 
         [0014]    A “quick selector,” as the term is used herein, may include any device that enables quick selection or deselection of an option. For example, a button may be considered a quick selector because an option may be selected or deselected merely by depression of the button. Likewise, a switch or a knob may be considered a quick selector. A scrolling device, on the other hand, would not be considered a quick selector as such a device requires scrolling through a list to select or deselect an option. Similarly, multi-step selection devices are not quick selectors. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a multi-process torch system  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The multi-process torch system  10  may be configured to perform multiple processes, such as, for example, stick welding, flux cored arc welding (FCAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), metal inert gas (MIG) welding, pulsed MIG welding, tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, pulsed TIG welding, spot welding, resistance spot welding (RSW), submerged arc welding (SAW), regulated metal deposition (RMD), air carbon arc cutting (CAC-A), plasma arc cutting, induction heating, power generation, wire feeding, or a combination thereof. 
         [0016]    The system  10  generally includes a power/control unit  12  having a power source  14  and a controller  16 ; right and left torches or guns  18  and  20 , respectively; and a shielding gas source  22 . The power/control unit  12  may be coupled to a wire feeder  24  configured to control the wire supply to the first and second guns  18  and  20 . The controller  16  may include a power source interface  26  and a process control board (not shown). The power source interface  26  includes a process interface  28  for inputting operational parameters to the process control board and a profile interface  30  for selecting a desired profile. The process control board includes hardware and circuitry for storing programs (e.g., code on memory) to operate the torch system  10 . Furthermore, the wire feeder  24  may include a wire feeder interface  32  coupled to the controller  16  such that operational parameters may be input to the process control board via the wire feeder interface  32 . The power source interface  26  and the wire feeder interface  32  may control the same or different configuration settings. 
         [0017]    An exemplary embodiment of the power source interface  26  with unique personalization control features is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The power source interface  26  may include controls for multiple welding, cutting, or heating processes. In the illustrated embodiment, the power source interface  26  includes a plurality of profiles which may be selected by choosing a profile selector  36 . Each profile selector  36  has an adjacent display area  38  for labeling the profile. For example, each profile may be assigned to a different user, and the display areas  38  may list the users&#39; names. In another example, each profile may be assigned to a torch process, and the display areas  38  may list the processes. The display areas  38  may include white boards or ceramic labels on which users may write with a pen, grease pencil, marker, etc. In another embodiment, the display areas  38  may enable application of stickers or magnets to the power source interface  26 . In a further embodiment, the display areas  38  may include digital displays, such as an LCD or similar screen. In this embodiment, labels may be programmed into the power source interface  26  for display on the display areas  38 . A light integral with or adjacent to each profile selector  36  may indicate which profile is selected. The light may be integral with the profile numbers such that the selected profile number lights up while the profile is selected. If the display area  38  is a display, the display may indicate which profile is selected by lighting up or alerting the user in another manner. 
         [0018]    Each profile may correspond to one or more sets of operational parameters for the torch system  10  ( FIG. 1 ). For example, each profile may correspond to a type of process, such as those described above. A user may utilize controls independent from the profile selectors  36 , as described below, to set the operational parameters for each process and then simply choose one of the profile selectors  36  to recall the saved operational parameters for that profile. In another embodiment, each profile may be associated with a particular user, and the operational parameters for multiple processes may be designated within the user&#39;s profile. That is, operational parameters for multiple processes, such as those described above, may be saved to each profile. The desired user profile may be recalled by selecting one of the profile selectors  36 . The desired process may then be selected, as described below, and the user&#39;s saved operational parameters for that process are recalled. In any embodiment, selection of the desired profile selector  36  automatically recalls operational parameters associated with the selected profile without the need to change other settings on the torch system  10 . Additionally, the torch system  10  may be set to a default profile and process upon first use, and each profile may likewise have default settings which can be adjusted by the user, as described below. 
         [0019]    The illustrated exemplary power source interface  26  includes control settings for stick and TIG welding processes. A stick button  40  may initiate the stick welding process. The power source interface  26  may include indicators to notify the user which settings are selected. For example, selection of the stick button  40  may light up the “STICK” label or the button  40 . An electrode switch  42  allows the user to select between multiple possible electrodes to use in the stick welding process. For example, the user may select between an E6010 and an E7018 electrode, depending on the process parameters. Other electrode types may be offered as options in addition to, or instead of, the E6010 and E7018 electrodes. The electrode switch  42  may be a toggle switch, and the selected electrode may be the one toward which the toggle is biased. In another embodiment, the electrode switch  42  may be a push button, and the label for the selected electrode may light up to indicate the selection. Finally, an amperage knob  44  enables the user to adjust the amperage supplied to the torch (e.g., welding gun) in the stick welding process. The amperage may be displayed on a display  46 , such as, for example, an LED or a seven-segment display. As described in more detail below, after the user selects one of the profile selectors  36  and adjusts the settings for the stick welding process, the selected settings may be automatically saved to the selected profile. That is, the user may return at a later time and select the previously-used profile to enable the configured settings. In another embodiment, the user may adjust the settings for the stick welding process then save the settings to a particular profile. For example, the profile selector  36  corresponding to the desired profile may be depressed and held for several seconds to save the settings to that profile. 
         [0020]    In addition to the stick welding process, the exemplary power source interface  26  includes control settings for a TIG welding process. A single profile may store several processes, including both stick welding parameters and TIG welding parameters. Parameters for additional processes may be stored in each profile and accessed via additional buttons. For example, a TIG button  48  may initiate the TIG welding process. As described above, selection of the TIG button  48  may light up the “TIG” label or the button  48 . Parameters for both stick welding and TIG welding may be stored in a given profile and recalled upon depression of the stick button  40  or the TIG button  48 , depending on the desired process. A start switch  50  enables the user to select whether to use a high frequency start method or a lift arc start method. The chosen start method may be indicated by a toggle switch or a lit label. The amperage knob  44  may be utilized to adjust amperage for the TIG welding process in addition to the stick welding process. Adjusting the amperage knob  44  changes the amperage setting only for the selected process. That is, if the TIG button  48  is depressed, rotating the amperage knob  44  adjusts only the amperage setting for the TIG welding process; the amperage setting for the stick welding process is not affected. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the power source interface  26  with unique personalization control features. In the illustrated embodiment, additional controls are provided to enable programming of additional welding process parameters for each profile. Specifically, the illustrated interface  26  includes all features of the interface  26  ( FIG. 2 ) along with many more user selections related to material, wire size, gas, and so forth. As with the buttons described above, selection of the operating parameters may be indicated by the position of a toggle or knob, or by the chosen option lighting up. 
         [0022]    For each welding process, a base material for creating a weld, such as carbon steel or stainless steel in the illustrated embodiment, may be designated using a base material switch  54 . A wire size switch  56  enables the user to specify the diameter (e.g., 0.035 or 0.045 inches) of the wire used in the welding process. For a MIG welding process, a MIG type switch  58  may be utilized to select the desired MIG welding process. For example, the user may designate a standard MIG process, a regulated metal deposition (RMD) process, or a pulsed MIG process via the switch  58 . 
         [0023]    In addition, a gas selection button  60  may enable the user to select a shielding gas for the MIG welding process. The gas selection button  60  may, for example, be pressed until the desired gas is illuminated on an adjacent display chart  62 . The gas selection may be limited by the base material and MIG type selections, as indicated in the illustrated embodiment. For example, if the user has chosen carbon as the base material (switch  54 ) and pulse as the MIG type (switch  58 ), the gas selection may be limited to C8-C15 (i.e., a mixture of argon and carbon dioxide containing approximately 8-15% CO 2 ) as this is the only option available in the Carbon Steel-Pulse column in display chart  62 . On the other hand, if the user has chosen stainless steel as the base material (switch  54 ) and RMD as the MIG type (switch  58 ), the gas selection may include C2 (i.e., a mixture of argon and carbon dioxide containing approximately 2% CO 2 ), 98/2 Ox (i.e., a mixture containing approximately 98% argon and 2% oxygen), TriH (i.e., a mixture containing approximately 90% helium, 7.5% argon, and 2.5% carbon dioxide), or others as indicated in the Stainless-MIG/RMD column. Selection of “others” may change the displayed options if more options are available than fit on the display  62 . It should be understood that any appropriate gases may be utilized in the present system, and the display chart  62  may be updated accordingly. 
         [0024]    Additionally, if a fixed torch is utilized in the designated welding process, the user may indicate this by depressing a fixed torch button  64 . Finally, a trigger select button  66  may enable or disable the ability of the user to change profiles by clicking a trigger on the torch or gun. 
         [0025]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary embodiment of the wire feeder interface  32  with unique personalization control features is illustrated. The wire feeder interface  32 , like the power source interface  26 , may include control settings for various processes (e.g., welding) using a wire. In the illustrated embodiment, a left gun button  70  and a right gun button  72  may be utilized to select the desired gun  18  or  20 , respectively. As described above, the user may determine whether buttons on the wire feeder interface  32  are selected based on the position of a toggle switch, a lit label, or a similar indicator. For example, where a button has only one selection, as with the left and right gun buttons  70  and  72 , the buttons  70  and  72  may light up upon selection. For each gun, a welding process may be selected using process selection buttons  74  and  76 . For example, the process selection button  74  may be depressed or toggled to select between a MIG welding process and a flux cored arc welding (FCAW) process using the left gun  18 . Similarly, the process selection button  76  may enable selection of a MIG welding process or a FCAW process using the right gun  20 . Within each welding process, parameters may be set utilizing a voltage knob  78  and a wire feed speed knob  80 . The selected voltage and wire feed speed are displayed on displays  82  and  84  adjacent to the knobs  78  and  80 , respectively. The displays  82  and  84  may be, for example, LCDs or seven-segment displays. A trigger hold button  88  may enable the user to weld for an extended period of time without holding down the welding gun trigger. 
         [0026]    In addition, a profile selection button  90  may be disposed on the wire feeder interface  32  to enable the user to easily switch between profiles without returning to the power/control unit  12  ( FIG. 1 ). This feature is useful when the power source  14  is located remotely from the wire feeder  24 . In one embodiment, the label for the chosen profile may be lit to indicate which profile is selected. In another embodiment, the profile selection button  90  may be a knob with an indicator pointing at the selected profile. Other indicators of profile selection may be used as well. Additionally, a jog button  92  may be depressed to thread wire through the welding gun  18  or  20  without activating the weld process. Similarly, a purge button  94  may be depressed to purge shielding gas from the gun  18  or  20  without activating the welding process. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary profile hierarchy  112  that may be associated with the profile selectors  36  and  90  of the exemplary interfaces  26  and  32  illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 . The illustrated embodiments include only four profiles, although an unlimited number of profiles may be utilized. In the illustrated embodiments, a user may select a user/process profile  114  by selecting one of the profile selectors  36  ( FIG. 2  or  3 ) or depressing the profile selection button  90  (FIG.  4 ) until the desired profile number is selected. The first time the profile  114  is selected, default welding parameters are automatically recalled. For example, the default settings for profile one may be a stick welding process utilizing an E6010 electrode at 85 amps. The user may change the settings for the stick welding process or select a different process. In this example, any changes made while profile one is selected are saved such that they may be recalled at a later time. A different user/process profile  114  may be selected, and upon returning to profile one the last utilized process and settings will automatically be recalled. In addition, changes to any other processes within profile one may be recalled by selecting the desired process. 
         [0028]    The user may select the desired profile  114  via the profile selectors  36  and  90 . By programming operational parameters into the profiles  114 , the desired parameters associated with each profile  114  may be recalled with a single push of a button (e.g., the profile selectors  36  and  90 ) without the trouble of manually adjusting each and every control on the system  10 . For example, the profile  114  may correspond to a specific user and/or to a specific process. Within the profile  114 , the user may select between a stick process  116 , a TIG process  118 , a left gun process  120 , or a right gun process  122 . The stick process  116  may include selection of either an E6010 electrode  124  or an E7018 electrode  126 . For each electrode  124  and  126 , amperage  128  and  130  may be set, respectively. Likewise, in the TIG process, an amperage  132  may be input, and a high frequency start  134  or a lift-arc start  136  may be selected. For the left gun  120 , a MIG process  138  or a FCAW process  140  may be selected. A voltage  142  and a wire feed speed  144  may be adjusted for the MIG process  138 , and a trigger hold option  146  may be selected. Likewise, for the FCAW process  140 , a voltage  148  and a wire feed speed  150  may be input, and a trigger hold option  152  may be selected. As with the left gun process  120 , the right gun process  122  may be a MIG process  154  or a FCAW process  156 . For each of the MIG process  154  and the FCAW process  156 , the user may select a voltage  158  and  160 , a wire speed feed  162  and  164 , and a trigger hold option  166  and  168 , respectively. Other settings and processes may be specified based on the processes available on the given welding system  10 . If multiple processes are defined in the desired profile  114 , the user may also press a button (e.g., stick button  40 , TIG button  48 , left gun button  70 , right gun button  72 , etc.) to recall the operational parameters associated with the desired process  116 ,  118 ,  130 , or  122  in the desired profile  114 . 
         [0029]    Furthermore, it may be desirable to set each profile  114  to a specific process having user-independent settings. For example, profile one may be set to automatically recall settings for the stick welding process  116 , while profile two may automatically initialize the TIG welding process  118 . Every user of the welding system  10  may then utilize the same process settings. This feature enables one-touch switching between processes by assigning a different process or different settings to each profile  114 . One-touch recall of different process settings may be especially useful where certain welding processes are commonly used on the welding system  10  and the settings for each process do not change from user to user. The process specified for each profile  114  may be labeled on the display area  38  ( FIGS. 2-3 ) so that the user can easily identify which profile selector  36  corresponds to which profile  114 . 
         [0030]    In addition, if the welding system  10  is used by different welders who have preferred settings for each welding process, each profile  114  may be assigned to a different user. The users&#39; names may be displayed on the display areas  38  ( FIGS. 2-3 ) adjacent to the profile selectors  36 . The user may then select his or her name and adjust the available welding process to preference. In this scenario, the user may press the desired profile selector  36  to return to the last welding process utilized by that user. If desired, a different process may then be selected within that user&#39;s profile  114 . In another embodiment, the profile selectors  36  may be pressed multiple times to step through the processes associated with the user. That is, the user may press the profile selector  36  next to his name once to recall his profile  114  and his first designated process (or last used process). Pressing the same profile selector  36  again may switch the system  10  to the next process associated with the profile  114 . In this manner, the user may select his profile selector  36  until the desired process is activated, as indicated by the same indicators described above which would otherwise indicate selection of a given process. 
         [0031]    Another exemplary embodiment of the power source interface  26  with unique personalization control features is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Many of the controls described in  FIG. 3  are also included in the present embodiment, wherein like element numbers indicate like features. For example, to enable programming of welding process parameters for each profile, the illustrated interface  26  includes user selections related to continuous wire process type, material, wire, gas, and so forth. A cover  170  may be attached to the power source interface  26  to protect and/or hide some or all of the selection buttons when closed. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  170  is rotatably coupled to the interface  26 , e.g., via a hinge or pivot joints  171 . As with the buttons described above, selection of the operating parameters may be indicated by the position of a toggle or knob, or by the chosen option lighting up. As described above, the buttons, selectors, knobs, and so forth described herein may be push-buttons, toggles, knobs, quadrature encoders, dials, rotary switches, or any similar device. In addition, the profile selector  36  operates as described above. 
         [0032]    The power source interface  26  illustrated in  FIG. 6  may enable selection of operating parameters for stick, TIG, and MIG welding processes. For example, the stick button  40  initiates programming of a stick welding process, and the electrode switch  42  allows the user to select the electrode type. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrode types may be denoted as EXX10 and EXX18 to indicate that electrodes of varying tensile strengths may be interchanged in the system. Similarly, the TIG button  48  initiates programming of a TIG welding process. The user may select a high frequency start method or a lift-arc start method using the start switch  50 . In addition, the amperage supplied to the torch (e.g., welding gun) may be altered by rotating the amperage knob  44 , and the output amperage may be displayed on the display  46 . 
         [0033]    When a continuous wire process is selected, the MIG type switch  58  enables the user to select a continuous wire welding process type, such as, for example, a flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) process, a standard MIG welding process, a regulated metal deposition (RMD) process, or a pulsed MIG welding process. For the selected process, the base material may be selected or input via the base material switch  54 , and the wire diameter may be selected or input via the wire size switch  56 . In addition, the gas selection button  60  may enable the user to select a shielding gas for MIG welding processes, as described above. The selected gas may be displayed on the adjacent display chart  62 . The trigger select button  66  may enable or disable the ability of the user to change profiles by clicking the trigger on the torch or gun (e.g., the right and left welding guns  18  and  20 ). 
         [0034]    In addition to the process settings configurable at the power source interface  26 , the left or right gun  18  or  20  ( FIG. 1 ) may be selected via a side select button  172 . By enabling the user to select the gun at the power source, the user may not be required to walk back and forth between the power source and the wire feeder. This feature may be especially useful where the power source is located at a considerable distance from the wire feeder. 
         [0035]    The illustrated embodiment of the power source interface  26  may also include a memory interface  174 . The memory interface  174  may enable communication with a portable memory unit, such as a flash memory card, a pen drive, or an external hard drive, on which profile information may be stored. In an exemplary embodiment, the memory interface  174  may have one or more memory card slots  175  to receive portable memory cards (e.g., Secure Digital, CompactFlash, Memory Stick, xD, PCMCIA, SmartMedia, etc.). In another embodiment, the memory interface  174  may include a port to which an external memory device may be coupled (e.g., USB or mini-USB device, external hard drive, FireWire device, eSATA drive, i.Link device, parallel SCSI device, etc.). A cover  176  may protect the memory interface  174  when not in use or when a memory card is inserted in the card slot  175 . The cover may be rotatably coupled to the interface  26 , e.g., via a hinge or pivot joints  177 . 
         [0036]    While the portable memory unit is coupled to the memory interface  174 , information may be copied to and/or from the process control board (not shown). For example, by pressing a save button  178 , the user may copy the settings from the power source interface  26  to the portable memory device. Similarly, the user may press a load button  180  to automatically implement settings stored on the portable memory device. In another embodiment, the memory interface  174  may automatically load information from the portable memory device upon coupling the memory device to the interface  26  (e.g., plug-and-play). To indicate that the portable memory device is being accessed, a busy indicator  182  may be illuminated and/or may flash on and off. 
         [0037]    As described above, changes input to the torch system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) via the exemplary power source interface  26  may be automatically saved to the profile which is selected at the time, or the changes may be saved manually to the desired profile. The selected profile may be indicated by the profile selectors  36  (e.g., via an integral or adjacent light). Profiles may be saved to the internal process control board and/or to the portable memory unit. Each profile may correspond to one or more sets of operational parameters for the torch system  10 , and the operational parameters may be recalled at a later time upon reselection of a given profile. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the wire feeder interface  32  for use with the exemplary power source interface  26  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The wire feeder interface  32  includes the left gun button  70  and the right gun button  72  to enable selection of the desired gun  18  or  20 , respectively. As described above, the user may determine whether buttons on the wire feeder interface  32  are selected based on the position of a toggle switch, a lit label, or a similar indicator. The MIG process type (e.g., FCAW, standard, RMD, or pulse) selected at the power source indicator  26  ( FIG. 6 ) may be indicated on the wire feeder interface  32  by a continuous wire process indicator  184 . For example, the selected process type may be illuminated and/or may flash on and off to indicate its selection. 
         [0039]    Within each MIG welding process, the voltage parameters and/or arc length may be set using the voltage knob  78 , and the wire speed may be set using the wire feed speed knob  80 . The selected voltage and wire feed speed are displayed on the displays  82  and  84  adjacent the knobs  78  and  80 , respectively. As described above, the jog button  92  may be depressed to thread wire through the welding gun  18  or  20  without activating the weld process. The trigger hold button  88  may enable the user to weld for an extended period of time without holding down the welding gun trigger. The purge button  94  may be depressed to purge shielding gas from the gun  18  or  20  without activating the welding process. 
         [0040]    In addition, the profile selection button  90  may enable the user to easily switch between profiles without returning to the power/control unit  12  ( FIG. 1 ). Again, changes input via the exemplary wire feeder interface  32  may be stored to the selected profile for later recall. Any changes made while a particular profile is selected may be automatically saved to that profile such that reselection of the profile returns the settings to the last used settings for that profile. In another embodiment, changes may be manually saved to a desired profile after the settings have been adjusted. For example, a save button (not shown) may be activated, and the desired profile may be selected by depressing the profile selection button  90 . Selection of the save button again may then save the settings to the selected profile. Furthermore, an indicator  186  may signal to the operator that the portable memory unit is being accessed, similar to the busy indicator  182  ( FIG. 6 ). The indicator  186  may be illuminated when data is being transferred via the memory interface  174 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary profile hierarchy  188  that may be associated with the profile selectors  36  and  90  of the exemplary interfaces  26  and  32  illustrated in  FIGS. 6-7 . In the illustrated embodiments, the user may select a user/process profile  190  by selecting one of the profile selectors  36  ( FIG. 6 ) or depressing the profile selection button  90  ( FIG. 7 ) until the desired profile number is selected. As described above with respect to  FIG. 5 , default welding parameters are automatically recalled the first time the profile  190  is selected. Any changes made while a given profile  190  is selected may be automatically or manually saved such that they may be recalled at a later time by simply selecting that profile  190  again. 
         [0042]    Within the profile  190 , the user may select between a stick welding process  192 , a TIG welding process  194 , a left gun process  196 , or a right gun process  198 . Additionally, a trigger select option  200  may enable the profile  190  to be selected via the trigger on the torch or gun (e.g., the right and left welding guns  18  and  20 ). The stick welding process  192  may include selection of either an EXX10 electrode  202  or an EXX18 electrode  204 . For each electrode  202  and  204 , amperage  206  and  208  may be set, respectively. Likewise, in the TIG welding process, an amperage  210  may be input, and a high frequency start  212  or lift-arc start  214  may be selected. 
         [0043]    If the left gun process  196  is selected, a MIG process type  216  may be chosen. In addition, a voltage  218 , a wire feed speed  220 , a base material  222 , a wire diameter  224 , and a gas type  226  may be selected. A trigger hold option  228 , which allows the user to weld for an extended period of time without holding down the welding gun trigger, may also be enabled or disabled. Similarly, if the right gun process  198  is selected, a MIG process type  230  may be chosen. A voltage  232 , a wire feed speed  234 , a base material  236 , a wire diameter  238 , and a gas type  240  may also be selected. In addition, a trigger hold option  242  may be enabled or disabled. 
         [0044]    Furthermore, the profile  190  may be enabled to permit automatic profile selection through actuation of the left or right gun trigger. Enabling the trigger select option  200  on two or more profiles allows the user to easily switch between the profiles in which trigger select is activated. For example, if profiles  1  and  3  have trigger select enabled, the weld operator may select between the two profiles by rapidly actuating the active gun trigger. Subsequent actuation of the active gun trigger will switch between profiles  1  and  3 . If trigger select is enabled on more than two profiles, trigger actuation will sequentially toggle through the profiles. 
         [0045]    Other settings and processes may be specified based on the processes available on the given welding system  10 . If multiple processes are defined in the desired profile  190 , the user may also press a button (e.g., the stick button  40 , the TIG button  48 , the side select button  172 , the left gun button  70 , the right gun button  72 , etc.) to recall the operational parameters associated with the desired process  192 ,  194 ,  196 , or  198  in the desired profile  190 . Selection of various processes based on the process and/or the user may be programmed, as described above. 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary process control model  250  in accordance with an embodiment of the present technique. Specifically, certain components of the power/control unit  12  ( FIG. 1 ) are illustrated. The process control model  250  may include, for example, a microprocessor  252  connected to a bus  254 . Also connected to the bus  254  are a read-only memory (ROM)  256 , a random access memory (RAM)  258 , user input interfaces  260 , and a display  262 . The ROM  256  and the RAM  258  may be utilized to store programming information, such as, for example, programs to properly translate user input to desired output from the system  10 . The microprocessor  252  may utilize the user input and stored programs to command the power/control unit  12  to operate according to the profiles. The user input interfaces  260  may include, for example, the interfaces  26  and  32  having profile selectors  36  and  90  and various operational control buttons, knobs, and switches described in  FIGS. 2-4  and  6 - 7 . The display  262  may include the amperage display  46 , the voltage display  82 , the wire feed speed display  84 , the profile display  38 , the chart  62 , etc. 
         [0047]    Furthermore, the process control model  250  may include a non-volatile memory  264 . The non-volatile memory  264  may include, for example, a hard drive, a flash memory drive, a tape drive, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc. The non-volatile memory  264  may be integral with or separate from the ROM  256 . User/process profiles may be stored on the non-volatile memory  264 , for example, in a look-up table, and recalled upon selection of the profile selectors  36  and  90 . Default process settings may be initially stored on the non-volatile memory  264 . In one embodiment, the user/process profiles may be updated automatically upon entering settings via the user input interface(s)  260 . That is, as soon as a user changes a setting, such as adjusting the amperage knob  44  or pressing the left gun button  70 , the active user/process profile may be updated to reflect the change. In another embodiment, the user/process profiles may be updated manually upon specific user input via the user input interface(s)  260 . For example, after a user changes a setting, the user may select to save the settings to a specific user/process profile. If a different user/process profile is selected, the previous settings for that profile are recalled automatically from the non-volatile memory  264  and displayed on the display(s)  262 . 
         [0048]    In some embodiments, the non-volatile memory  264  may be portable and easily transferable to another system  10 . For example, user/process profiles may be copied from a first system  10  to a flash memory drive and transported to another system  10 , where the user/process profiles are loaded for use. The process control model  250  may contain both portable and fixed non-volatile memory  264 , and transferring the user/process profiles may consist of copying the profiles between the portable and the fixed non-volatile memory  264 . For example, user depression of the save button  178  ( FIG. 6 ) may initiate copying of the displayed user/process profile from the fixed non-volatile memory  264  to the portable non-volatile memory  264 . Similarly, depression of the load button  180  ( FIG. 6 ) may initiate copying of the displayed user/process profile from the portable non-volatile memory  264  to the fixed non-volatile memory  264 . 
         [0049]    While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.