Patent ID: 8440935

Claim:
Automatic welding equipment comprising: a welding torch with a non-consumable electrode; an actuator for holding the welding torch, and moving the welding torch; a material feeder for feeding a welding material to a welding position; a power section (i) for selectively supplying power between the non-consumable electrode and a workpiece and (ii) for selectively supplying power between the welding material and the workpiece; a non-consumable electrode voltage detector for detecting voltage between the non-consumable electrode and the workpiece; a non-consumable electrode contact detector for detecting contact of the non-consumable electrode and the workpiece by receiving an output from the non-consumable electrode voltage detector; an actuator controller for controlling the actuator based on a detection result of the non-consumable electrode voltage detector; a first switch for electrically connecting the power section and the non-consumable electrode; a second switch for electrically connecting the power section and the welding material; and a power controller for controlling the power section; wherein after completing welding, the first switch is turned on, and the second switch is turned off, such that the non-consumable electrode contact detector detects whether or not the non-consumable electrode and the workpiece are in contact with each other, wherein when the non-consumable electrode and the workpiece are in contact with each other, the actuator controller executes at least one of an operation for alerting the contact of the non-consumable electrode and the workpiece, and an operation for stopping and holding movement of the non-consumable electrode by the actuator.