Weld cell system with communication
A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a means for communicating.
1. A method of locating a distal end of a weld cable having a proximal end connected to a welding-type power supply, the method comprising:
receiving an identifying signal at the proximal end of the weld cable that is connected to the welding-type power supply, the weld cable configured to conduct electrical power that is output by the welding-type power supply from the proximal end of the weld cable to the distal end of the weld cable;
transmitting the identifying signal through the weld cable to the distal end of the weld cable;
detecting the identifying signal at the distal end of the weld cable via an output device of the weld cable; and
providing a visual output via the output device of the weld cable in response to the identifying signal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises an electrical light.
3. A method of locating a first distal end of a first cable having a proximal end connected to a welding-type power supply, the method comprising:
reading, via a first reader, a first cable identifier off the proximal end of the first cable connected to the welding-type power supply;
storing, in the welding-type power supply, the first cable identifier;
receiving, at the welding-type power supply, a second cable identifier;
comparing the first cable identifier to the second cable identifier; and
providing a signal indicative of the result of the comparison.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
reading, via a second reader, the second cable identifier off the first distal end of the first cable or a second distal end of a second cable; and
transmitting the second cable identifier to the welding-type power supply.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein reading the first cable identifier comprises reading a first RFID tag or a first bar code on the proximal end of the first cable, and reading the second cable identifier comprises reading a second RFID tag or a second bar code on the first distal end of the first cable or the second distal end of the second cable.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second reader comprises a pendant or smartphone.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein transmitting includes transmitting a wireless signal and receiving includes receiving a wireless signal.
8. The method of claim 3 further comprising binding a wire feeder to the welding-type power supply in response to the signal indicative of the result of the comparison.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a binding module of the welding-type power supply or wire feeder binds the wire feeder to the welding-type power supply.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein a first binding module of the welding-type power supply and a second binding module of the wire feeder binds the wire feeder to the welding-type power supply.
11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second cable identifier is received via user input.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a plurality of lights.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a fiber optic strand.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a plurality of fiber optic strands.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a light emitting diode (LED).
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a plurality of LEDs.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the visual output comprises illumination of some or all of the plurality of LEDS.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual output comprises an emission of light pulses.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual output comprises an emission of colored light.