Patent ID: 6909066

Claim:
An adaptive and synergic fill welding apparatus for joining at least a first work piece and a second work piece along a joint having a variable joint profile, comprising: a means for profiling and tracking the joint; a means for welding the joint by creating an electrical arc between a tip of a consumable electrode and the first or second work piece thereby melting the electrode and producing a weld bead at a predetermined weld bead size; a means for feeding the consumable electrode to the welding means at a predetermined wire feed speed; a means for controlling the power necessary to create the electrical arc; a means for adjusting the location of the profiling and tracking means and the welding means; a means for adjusting the rotation of the welding means; a means for moving the profiling and tracking means, the welding means, the location adjusting means, the rotation adjusting means, and the electrode feed means, along the joint at a predetermined travel speed; a portable means for user input and display; a means for controlling the welding means, the location adjusting means, the rotation adjusting means, the electrode feed means, the moving means, and the power controlling means based upon input from the profiling and tracking means and the user input and display means to obtain a predetermined base metal dilution; and a means for communicating a plurality of input and output commands, and power among the various means of this apparatus.