Patent ID: 7129442

Claim:
A welding machine, comprising: a welding torch assembly; a first rotary head configured to receive and selectively retain a first end of a bar and a first link approximate the first end; a second rotary head configured to receive and selectively retain a second end of the bar and a second link approximate the second end; a fixture configured to receive and selectively retain a third link, wherein the fixture is positioned between the first and second rotary heads; a processor coupled to the welding torch assembly, the first and second rotary heads and the fixture; and a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing code that when executed by the processor instructs the processor to perform the steps of: controlling the first and second rotary heads and the welding torch assembly to weld the first and second links to the bar along at least a portion of the circumference of the bar; controlling the welding torch assembly to tack weld the third link to the bar at a first desired orientation; releasing the third link from the fixture; and controlling the welding torch assembly and the first and second rotary heads to weld the third link to the bar along at least a portion of the circumference of the bar.