Patent ID: 8445816

Claim:
A method of operating a welder, comprising the steps of: selecting at least one modular welder component thereby composing a welder for establishing a welding arc used in a welding process by connection to a power supply; querying a power supply memory to gather various welding process information corresponding to said connected at least one modular welder component; providing a user interface operatively communicated with the at least one modular welder component, the user interface being operable to display options selectable by an end user for engaging the welder in the welding process, said display options specific to said connected at least one modular welder component and said power supply; providing a memory source operatively communicated with the user interface, the memory source storing a list of options for engaging the welder in at least two different welding processes; and displaying a list of selectable options on the user interface corresponding to the unique combination of said at least one selected modular welder components and said power supply; and further wherein the at least one modular welder component comprises a first set of circuitry operable to establish a welding arc in a first mode of welding operation; and the at least one modular welder component further comprises a second set of circuitry for establishing a welding arc in a second substantially different mode of welding operation.