Patent ID: 7291807

Claim:
A TIG welding apparatus for a TIG welding process on a surface of a workpiece while supplying a filler wire from a filler wire guide to a space to generate an arc therein between a TIG torch and said workpiece, thereby forming a bead on said surface of said workpiece, said TIG welding apparatus comprising: an articulated robot for imparting movement to said TIG torch to make a weaving action to move toward and away from said surface of said workpiece; and filler wire guide moving means held by said articulated robot, said filler wire guide moving means being independently movable for moving said filler wire guide relative to the movement of said TIG torch in directions toward and away from said surface of said workpiece, wherein said filler wire guide moves in a direction opposite to said weaving action of said TIG torch and said filler wire guide is moved a predetermined distance toward and away from said surface of said workpiece while maintaining a relatively constant predetermined apparent height with respect to a weld region of the workpiece.