Welding type power supply for TIG starts
A method and apparatus for TIG welding and starting a TIG welding process includes limiting the pulse width of a power circuit when a TIG start is being performed, and monitoring for the creation of a welding arc. After the welding arc has been detected the limiting of the pulse width is ended.
1. A method of starting a TIG welding process, comprising:
limiting the pulse width of a power circuit to be less than a desired magnitude when a TIG start is being performed;
monitoring for the creation of a welding arc; and
ending limiting the pulse width after the welding arc has been detected.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delaying ending limiting the pulse width after the welding arc has been detected.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delaying ending limiting the pulse width after the welding arc has been detected for a fixed period of time.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delaying ending limiting the pulse width after the welding arc has been detected for at least one millisecond.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing a closed loop control after ending limiting of the pulse width.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein limiting the pulse width includes providing an output voltage of about 10 volts.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein limiting the pulse width of a power circuit is done when a TIG scratch start is being performed.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring includes monitoring the output voltage.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring includes monitoring the output current.