DESCRIPTION
WELDING DEVICE AND SETTER OF THE SAME
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a welding device and a setter
for setting welding conditions of the welding device.
BACKGROUND ART
A conventional welding device comprises a welder power supply
for powering a welder that performs arc-welding or the like, and a
setter for setting a welding condition of the welder power supply
through remote operation. The setter is assigned individually to a
specific welder power supply, and allows setting and displaying only
predetermined welding conditions as well as powering conditions
performable by the welder power supply.
The conventional welding device disclosed in Patent Literature 1
is described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 11, which depicts
schematically a structure of the conventional welding device. Fig. 11
shows setter 101 and welder power supply 102 of the welding device,
and omits other sections of a welder such as a weld-output section
necessary for arc welding.
In Fig. 11 setter 101 is formed of current adjuster 103 for
adjusting a welding current, voltage adjuster 104 for adjusting a
welding voltage, and welding-method switcher 105 which switches a
welding method from one to another. Two switchers 105 shown in Fig.
11 work together as a unit. Welder power supply 102 includes current
control circuit 107 to which a signal from current adjuster 103 is
supplied, voltage control circuit 108 to which a signal from voltage
adjuster 104 is supplied, and switching circuit 109 to which a signal
from switcher 105 is supplied. The welding method includes, e.g. CO2
automatic arc welding method, arc gouging method, and manual
welding method. These methods can be switched from one to another
with switcher 105. Setter 101 is coupled to welder power supply 102
with cable 106, and carries out setting or changing a welding method,
welding current, and welding voltage.
The length of cable 106 between setter 101 and welder power
supply 102 is several meters or sometimes 10-odd meters, so that a
user can change a content set in welder power supply 102 through
remote operation.
Before starting a welding, it is necessary to set welding
conditions to welder power supply 102 according to the characteristics
of a target object which is to be welded. The welding conditions
chiefly include, e.g. a welding method, welding current, welding
voltage. Use of conventional welder power supply 102 and setter 101
needs to switch welding-method switcher 105 for switching the welding
method from one to another. In this case, when switcher 105 selects
contact 105a, welding-method switching circuit 109 determines to use
the CO2 automatic arc welding method. In a similar way, selection of
contact 105b prompts switching circuit 109 to determine to adopt the
arc gouging method, and selection of contact 105c prompts switching
circuit 109 to adopt the manual welding method. The conventional
welding device thus switches the welding method from one to another
among the foregoing three methods with a switching signal
transmitted from setter 101.
However, if a welding method other than the foregoing three
methods is added to welder power supply 102 through altering a
software program for welding, conventional setter 101 cannot select
this additional method because welding-method switcher 105 has no
contact corresponding to this additional method.
The welding conditions include, other than the welding method,
a welding wire diameter, a base material of the target object, a control
method. When the conventional welding device changes these
conditions or adds a new condition, other than the welding method,
through altering the software program for welding, the foregoing
reason prohibits the welding device from selecting these conditions
changed or added because setter 101 is assigned to specific welder
power supply 102 individually.
To overcome this problem, it is possible to increase the number
of contacts in switcher 105 of setter 1011 however, this measures needs
to modify setter 101, and setter 101 having a greater number of
contacts must expressly replace conventional setter 101 which has
been used before a welding condition is added.
On top of that, the problem discussed above can also happen
when a welding output capacity of power supply 102 is changed. In
this case, instead of modifying or replacing setter 101, it is possible to
use a variable resistor (not shown) provided to conventional setter 101
for adjusting the current or the voltage in order to comply with the
change in the welding output. However, although the variable
resistor is kept at the same voltage as before the capacity of power
supply 102 is changed, an actual current or voltage supplied from the
changed power supply 102 differs from what is expected.
As discussed above, when another welding method is added to
welder power supply 102 or an output capacity of power supply 102 is
changed, the conventional welding device cannot use setter 101
anymore, which has been used before these changes with power supply
102. In other words, since setter 101 is assigned to specific welder
power supply 102 individually, if another welding condition is added to
power supply 102 or a capacity of power supply 102 is changed, setter
101 must be replaced or modified in order to comply with the new
conditions.
Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. H10 - 109166
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention aims to provide a welding device and a
setter of the welding device, which setter can be still used together
with a welder power supply without modifying or replacing the setter,
although a welding condition is added to the power supply or the
welder power supply per se is replaced with another one.
The welding device of the present invention comprises a welder
power supply and a setter that sets a welding condition to the power
supply. The setter includes the following structural elements:
a change instruction input section for inputting an
instruction that changes a content of each item of the welding
condition;
a setter data transmitter for transmitting the change
instruction supplied by the change instruction input section to the
welder power supply;
a welder power-supply data receiver for receiving the
information, transmitted from the welder power supply, about the
content of an item of the welding condition; and
a display section for displaying the content of an item of the
welding condition based on the information, received by the welder
power-supply data receiver, about the content of the item of the
welding condition.
The welder power supply comprises the following structural
elements'-
a setter data receiver for receiving the change instruction
transmitted from the setter;
a welding-condition-item memory & selector for storing the
information about the contents of multiple items of the welding
condition and selecting one of the contents of the items based on the
change instruction received by the setter data receiver; and
a welder power-supply data transmitter for transmitting the
information about the content of the welding condition item, which
content is selected by the welding-condition-item memory & selector.
The display section of the setter displays the content of the
welding condition item, which content is selected by the
welding-condition-item memory & selector.
The structure discussed above allows setting with ease the
welding condition including, e.g. a welding method, without modifying
or replacing the setter even if a welding condition is added or the
present welding condition is altered in the welder power supply.
Setter data transmitter 2 for transmitting the information
about setter 1 to welder power supply 8;
welder power-supply data receiver 3 for receiving the
information about welder power supply 8;
display section 5 for displaying a content of a welding
condition item;
displayable data converter 4 for converting the data, which
is one of the information received by welder power-supply receiver 3,
into letters and signs to be displayed on display section 5;
switch-input section 6, i.e. change instruction input section,
for inputting an instruction that changes a content of a welding
condition item; and
switch-data converter 7 for converting an on-off signal, i.e.
change instructing information supplied to switch-input section 6, of
the switch into a switch data to be transmittable from setter-data
transmitter 2.
Switch-input section 6 is, e.g. a push-button switch, and the
on-off signal of the switch refers to a signal produced during a period
from the press of push-button switch to the release of the switch.
Welder power supply 8 includes the following elements:
setter data receiver 9 for receiving the information
transmitted from setter 1, about setter 1;
welder power-supply data transmitter 10 for transmitting
the information about welder power supply 8 to setter 1; and
welding-condition-item memory & selector 11 for storing
multiple contents of a welding condition item and selecting one of the
contents of the welding-condition item based on the change instructing
information supplied from switch-input section 6 and transmitted from
setter 1;
welding condition memory 13 for storing a welding condition
corresponding to the content of the welding condition item; and
welding condition selector 12 for selecting the welding
condition data stored in welding condition memory 13.
The selected content of the welding condition item is
transmitted as data to be displayed from welder power-supply data
transmitter 10 to setter 1, and used when display section 5 of setter 1
displays the content of the welding condition item. The welding
condition data stored memory 13 corresponds to the content of each
item of the welding condition performable by welder power supply 8.
In this first embodiment, the items of welding condition include,
e.g. a welding method, a diameter of welding wire, base material of a
target object to be welded, a control method, a welding current, a
welding voltage. The first embodiment focuses on the welding method,
so that this embodiment counts only one item as the welding condition
item, and welding-condition-item memory & selector 11 stores only the
contents about the welding method. In the case of the welding
condition item referring to the welding methods, the contents include,
e.g. CO2 automatic arc welding, semi-automatic arc welding, arc
gouging, manual welding. In this embodiment, metal active gas
(MAG) welding and metal inert gas (MIG) welding are taken as
examples of the methods of semi-automatic welding. Welding
condition memory 13 thus stores specific numerical data of MAG
welding and MIG welding. To be more specific, the numerical data
relates to welding waveform parameters, which includes, e.g. rising
time of current waveform, of MAG welding and MIG welding actually
performable by welder power supply 8.
In the case that the welding condition item refers to the
diameter of welding wire, specific numerals of the wire diameter such
as 1.0mm, 1.2mm, are stored in welding-condition-item memory &
selector 11. In this case, the welding condition data stored in welding
condition memory 13 includes, e.g. welding waveform parameters for
welding the target object with the welding wires having the foregoing
diameters.
In the case that the welding condition item refers to the base
material, material names such as aluminum, soft steel are stored in
memory & selector 11. In this case, welding condition memory 13
stores, e.g. welding waveform parameters for welding the foregoing
base materials with a welding wire.
Setter 1 exchanges information with welder power supply 8 at
setter data transmitter 2 and welder power-supply data receiver 3,
while welder power supply 8 exchanges information with setter 1 at
setter data receiver 9 and welder power-supply data transmitter 10.
The operation of the welding device formed of welder power
supply 8 and setter 1, in accordance with the first embodiment of the
present invention, is demonstrated hereinafter. First, welder power
supply 8 and setter 1 are coupled together or set to be communicable
with each other, then a starting switch (not shown) of welder power
supply 8 is turned on, which prompts power supply 8 to transmit the
content of the most typical item of a welding condition to setter 1 from
welder power-supply data transmitter 10. For instance,
welding-condition-item memory & selector 11 stores the information
about MAG welding and MIG welding in this order as the contents of
the welding method, i.e. as the contents of the item of the welding
condition. Then the content of the welding method firstly stored is
transmitted to setter 1 as the content to be displayed. Therefore, in
this embodiment, when the starting switch is turned on, the
information about MAG welding is transmitted as the data to be
displayed to setter 1 from welder power-supply data transmitter 10
Setter 1 receives this data about MAG welding at welder
power-supply data receiver 3. Displayable data converter 4 converts
this data received at data receiver 3 so that the data can be displayed
as "MAG" indicating the content of the welding condition item on
display section 5.
In this embodiment, LED 51 having 16 segments for one letter as
shown in Fig. 2A is used in display section 5. Figs. 2B and 2C show
instances of displays with LEDs 51 of display section 5. The turn-on
of the starting switch allows displaying "MAG" indicating a welding
method as shown in Fig. 2B. If welding-condition-item memory &
selector 11 stores MIG welding in the first place, the turn-on of the
starting switch allows displaying "MIG" indicating a welding method
as shown in Fig. 2C.
In this embodiment, it is so prepared that the turn-on of the
starting switch should display the content of the welding condition
item that is firstly stored in welding-condition-item memory & selector
11; however, the present invention is not limited to this preparation.
For instance, the content of the welding condition item used last time
can be displayed, or a content of some predetermined item can be
always displayed, or the content of welding condition item most
frequently used in the past can be displayed.
Next, in Fig. 1, an on-off signal for a switch is supplied from
switch-input section 6 of setter 1, and this on-off signal is converted by
switch data converter 7 into the switch-data transmittable to welder
power supply 8. This converted switch data is transmitted to welder
power supply 8 from setter data transmitter 2. The on-off signal is
thus eventually transmitted to power supply 8. Welder power supply
8 receives this on-off signal at setter data receiver 9, and advances an
index by one step as shown in Fig. 3 based on the on-off signal, i.e.
switch data, in welding-condition-item memory & selector 11. In
other words, welding-condition-item memory & selector 11 stores the
contents of respective welding-condition items together with the
indexes corresponding to the contents, and the index is advanced one
by one in response to each on-off signal. As shown in Fig. 3, memory
& selector 11 stores six contents (W1 - W6) of welding methods. In
this case, the contents from W1 to W6 are sequentially designated by
an operator based on the number of on-off signals. After W6 is
designated, the procedure returns to the designation of Wl again, and
repeats the same operation.
In Fig. 1, when memory & selector 11 is instructed to select one
of the contents of the welding condition, welding condition selector 12
searches welding condition memory 13 for the actual welding condition
data corresponding to the selected content. Memory 13 has stored the
specific welding condition data, which correspond to the contents of the
item stored in memory & selector 11 and are performable by welder
power supply 8. A selection of one of the contents of the welding
condition item by memory & selector 11 thus allows searching memory
13 for the welding condition data corresponding to the selected content.
The welding condition data searched from welding condition memory
13 is used as the data for carrying out the welding by welder power
supply 8 as well as by the welder. The content selected by memory &
selector 11 is transmitted from welder power-supply data transmitter
10 to setter 1 as the data to be displayed. Setter 1 receives the data to
be displayed at welder power-supply data receiver 3, and displayable
data converter 4 converts the data so that the content of welding
condition item can be displayed on display section 5.
Fig. 3 shows that the switch data produced by one on-off signal
is transmitted to welding-condition-item memory & selector 11, and
then content W2 is selected. Content W2 is supplied to welding
condition selector 12, and welding condition data corresponding
to the selected content is searched from welding condition memory 13
in response to the content, supplied to selector 12, of the
welding-condition item. Data corresponding to content W2 is
used as welding condition data for the welding to be done by welder
power supply 8 and the welder. Fig. 3 also shows that content W2
selected by memory & selector 11 is transmitted from welder
power-supply data transmitter 10 as the data to be displayed on
display section 5 of setter 1.
In this embodiment, welder power supply 8 can select either one
of MAG welding or MIG welding as a welding method, i.e. the content
of the welding condition item. Welding-condition-item memory &
selector 11 thus stores MAG welding method and MIG welding method
corresponding to indexes in this order. The indexes can be advanced
by each on-off operation of the switch, so that each one of on-off
operation of the switch done by switch-input section 6 instructs MAG
welding at first, then instructs MIG welding, and instructs again MAG
welding. The operation repeats this procedure. Each on-off
operation advances the index from MAG welding to MIG welding, and
the selection of MIG welding allows inputting MIG welding as the
content of welding-condition item into welding condition selector 12,
which then searches welding condition memory 13 for the welding
condition data about MIG welding based on the content selected.
Welder power supply 8 carries out MIG welding based on the welding
condition data searched. MIG welding as the content of
welding-condition item is transmitted from welder power-supply data
transmitter 10 to setter 1 as the data to be displayed.
When a content of a welding-condition item should be added to
the foregoing welding device in accordance with this embodiment, the
content of the welding-condition item is added, in the first place, to
memory & selector 11 of welder power supply 8. Then the welding
condition data corresponding to the added content is stored to welding
condition memory 13. Only these two steps allow setter 1 to set the
welding condition in welder power supply 8. When a content of
welding-condition item should be changed, the content of the
welding-condition item to be changed and stored in memory & selector
11 is changed firstly, then the welding condition data stored in memory
13 and corresponding to the content to be changed is changed. Only
these two steps allow setter 1 to change the welding condition of welder
power supply 8. In other words, setter 1 only has a function of
instructing a change in the contents of a welding-condition item. This
structure allows, without any modification in setter 1, supplying a
change instruction from switch-input section 6 and displaying the
content of the alteration on display section 5, thereby selecting the
welding condition added or changed. The present invention thus
allows setting a content of a welding-condition item without modifying
or replacing the existing setter 1 when the content of welding-condition
item of welder power supply 8 should be added or changed.
When a new welder power supply is employed, it is not needed to
scrap or replace the setter which has been used together with the
preceding welder power supply. The present invention thus
contributes to resource saving.
The communication between setter 1 and welder power supply 8
is not limited to this embodiment, but any communication method can
be used, such as, various serial communications, parallel
communications, wire communication, infrared communication, radio
communication. In such a case, a transmitter and a receiver of setter
1 and welder power supply 8 should comply with respective
communication methods.
Exemplary Embodiment 2
The second embodiment demonstrates a case where multiple
items of the welding conditions are selected, while the previous first
embodiment describes a case where the welding condition item refers
to only the welding method. The second embodiment differs from the
first one in the number of display sections 5 and switch-input sections
6 of setter 1, for the number of items of welding conditions requires the
same number of display sections 5 and switch-input sections 6.
The second embodiment allows setting three items of a welding
condition, namely, base material of a target object, a diameter of a
welding wire, and a welding method. As shown in Fig. 4, switch-input
section 6 is formed of input section 6a for a base material, input section
6b for a diameter of welding wire, and input section 6c for a welding
method. As shown in Fig. 5, display section 5 is formed of display
section 5a for the base material, display section 5b for the diameter of
welding wire, and display section 5c for the welding method.
Operating respective switch input sections 6a, 6b, and 6c prompts
corresponding display sections 5a, 5b, and 5c to display the contents of
the respective items.
To be more specific, an change instruction for a content of an
item is supplied from switch-input section 6, and then the content of
welding-condition-item memory & selector 11 is selected. The content
selected is transmitted to setter 1 as the data to be displayed. Display
section 5 of setter 1 displays the content corresponding to the input
supplied from input section 6. In the case that multiple change
instructions supplied from input section 6 form a combination which is
stored in welding condition memory 13 and is performable by welder
power supply 8, selected multiple welding conditions are settable.
Therefore, if contents of welding condition items are changed or added
to welder power supply 8, the welding conditions changed or added can
be selected without modifying or replacing setter 1 as the first
embodiment does.
However, in this second embodiment, when the combination of
the contents of welding condition items selected by switch-input
section 6 is not performable by welder power supply 8 and the
combination does not exist in welding condition memory 13 as the
performable condition, a warning is displayed in setter 1. This
mechanism is detailed hereinafter with reference to Fig. 6.
Fig. 6 shows a flowchart illustrating the operation of the second
embodiment, where two items of welding condition can be set, namely,
a base material and a welding method. Each item includes some
contents, e.g. the item of base material includes Ml and M2, and the
item of welding method includes D1, D2, and D3. Welding condition
memory 13, however, stores only the following three combinations of
welding condition data, which are performable by welder power supply
8: The first welding condition data is , namely, base material
M1 in combination with welding method Dl. The second data is
, and the third data is .
Welding-condition-item memory & selector 11 selects content Ml
which is designated by switch-input section 6a assigned to the base
material, and also selects content D3 which is designated by
switch-input section 6c assigned to the welding method. In such a
case, the content combination of welding condition item, i.e.
content Ml in combination with content D3, is set in welding condition
selector 12, which then searches welding condition memory 13 for the
content combination ; however, memory 13 does not store the
welding condition data corresponding to the content combination
, so that the welding condition data cannot be changed, but a
warning signal, namely, signal E, is sent to welder power-supply data
transmitter 10, which then transmits signal E together with a signal
indicating the combination of M1D3 to welder power-supply data
receiver 3 of setter 1. In other words, welding condition selector 12
transmits the signal (warning information) to setter 1 for informing
that the combination of selected contents of the items, i.e. M1D3, does
not exist. This signal is accompanied by the data indicating the
content to be displayed.
For instance, assume that selector 11 stores Ml representing
aluminum and M2 representing iron as contents of the welding
condition item performable by welder power supply 8, and also stores
D1 representing CO2 welding method, D2 representing MIG welding
method, and D3 representing MAG welding method. First, operate
the switch-input section 6a assigned to base material for selecting
aluminum Ml, and operate the switch-input section 6c assigned to
welding method for selecting MAG welding D3. In this case, assume
that welding condition memory 13 does not store the combination of
M1D3 as welding condition data, i.e. the data shows that the aluminum
is to be welded with the MAG welding method, then welding condition
selector 12 of welder power supply 8 transmits aluminum M1 and MAG
welding D3, as the data to be displayed, to setter 1 together with signal
E (warning information) for informing setter 1 that this combination
does not exist. Since welding condition memory 13 does not store
combination M1D3, i.e. aluminum (M1) is to be welded with MAG
welding method (D3), the welding condition data in welder power
supply 8 cannot be changed. Reception of signal E at setter 1 prompts
display section 5 to blink "MAG" for informing an operator of a wrong
combination of the contents.
Other methods than the blinking for informing the operator of a
wrong combination are available, for instance, displaying in red
(warning color) on display section 5, reversing display, or adding "E" to
warn the operator of a wrong combination. In other words, a display
different from a regular one can be used for the warning.
In this second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, display section 5
is formed of LED display devices each having 16 segments; however,
LCD 14 as shown in Fig. 7 for displaying multiple contents on one
screen can be also used. This LCD 14 is formed of LCD 14a assigned
to base material, LCD 14b assigned to diameter of wire, and LCD 14c
assigned to welding method, so that LCD 14 displays these three
contents at once on one screen. LCD 14 thus can display multiple
contents including a warning signal.
The foregoing discussion proves that the second embodiment
allows adding or changing the multiple contents of welding condition
items without modifying or replacing setter 1. On top of that, if a
combination, not performable by welder power supply 8, of the contents
of welding condition items is selected, the second embodiment allows
issuing a warning signal to setter 1.
Exemplary Embodiment 3
Welding devices available today are equipped with multiple
functions in addition to the function of simply selecting a welding
method or a base material as described in embodiments 1 and 2. The
third embodiment introduces such a multi-function welding device to
the present invention. The third embodiment is demonstrated
hereinafter with reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Elements similar to
those used in embodiments 1 and 2 have the same reference signs.
Fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of setter 1 and welder power
supply 8 of a welding device in accordance with the third embodiment.
A welding output section and other sections related to arc-welding are
omitted here as the first embodiment. Fig. 8 differs from the first
embodiment in the following three points: (1) Setter 1 adopts
dot-matrix display section 16 instead of display section 5 because
dot-matrix display section 16 can display various forms such as letter
and graph, (2) Setter 1 includes first switch-input section 61 and
second switch-input section 62, and (3) welder power supply 8 has a
waveform displaying function for display waveforms of a welding
current and a welding voltage, and it has also a help function.
First switch-input section 61 selects a function, and is formed of,
e.g. a cross key. A press onto an upper section of the cross key allows
selecting a function of setting an item of welding condition, which is
already described in embodiments 1 and 2. A press onto a right
section of the cross key allows selecting the help function, and a press
onto a lower section of the cross key allows selecting a function of
displaying a current waveform, and a press onto a left section of the
cross key allows selecting a function of displaying a voltage waveform.
Second switch-input section 62 is formed of, e.g. a cross key, like
the first switch-input section 61, and it sets some condition to the
function selected with first switch-input section 61. To be more
specific, when a function of setting an item of welding condition is
selected by pressing the upper key of first switch-input section 61,
multiple contents of the selected item can be designated by pressing
second switch-input section 62. For instance, a press on an upper
section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62 allows
designating MAG welding, and another press on the same section
allows designating MIG welding. In a similar way, every press on a
right section of the cross key allows designating a base material
(aluminum, iron and the like) one by one. Every press on a lower
section of the cross key allows designating a diameter of welding wire
(1mm, 1.2mm and the like) one by one. In other words, the upper
section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62 corresponds
to switch-input section 6c assigned to welding method as demonstrated
in the second embodiment, and the right section thereof corresponds to
switch-input section 6a assigned to base material, and the lower
section thereof corresponds to switch-input section 6b assigned to
diameter of welding wire described in the second embodiment. The
contents designated with the cross key of second switch-input section
62 are displayed, like the second embodiment, on dot-matrix display
section 16, which allows displaying the contents of three items on one
screen like the second embodiment, i.e. welding method, base material,
and diameter of welding wire, of the welding condition.
Second switch-input section 62 thus allows designating the
contents of the items of welding condition in a similar manner to that
of embodiments 1 and 2. The left section of the cross key of second
switch-input section 62 is left free for a future use or assigned to
another content of an item of welding condition.
In the case that the help function is selected by pressing the
right key of first switch-input section 61, a content of the help function
can be designated with second switch-input section 62. For instance,
a press on the upper or lower section of the cross key of second
switch-input section 62 allows selecting a welding method such as
MAG welding or MIG welding. When one of the welding methods is
selected by pressing the upper or the lower section of second
switch-input section 62, a press on the right or the left section allows
selecting know-how about the welding. For instance, when a pulse
welding method is selected by pressing the upper or the lower section,
a press on the right or the left section allows selecting, e.g. "zero
defect", and then "a method for how to avoid defects in the pulse
welding" is displayed on dot-matrix display section 16. In other words,
a major heading is selected by pressing the upper or the lower section
of the cross key of second switch-input section, and a sub-heading of
the selected major heading can be selected by pressing the right or the
left section of the cross key, whereby a desirable help can be watched
on display section 16. The stored know-how about the welding can be
thus selected from major headings and then from the sub-headings
with a combination of presses on sections of the cross key (combination
of upper or lower section with right or left section) of second
switch-input section 62.
In the case that the function of displaying a current waveform is
selected by pressing the lower section of first switch-input section 61, a
standard waveform of the welding method presently selected is
displayed on dot-matrix display section 16. In this case, a press on
the upper, right, lower, or left section of the cross key of second
switch-input section 62 allows displaying a frequency of the welding
current, a peak current, or a base current thereof on dot-matrix display
section 16, and those contents of the current can be selected to be
changed. When the function of displaying a voltage waveform is
selected, a similar procedure to what is discussed above can be done to
change a content of the voltage.
Welder power supply 8 in accordance with this third embodiment
includes the help function, the current waveform displaying function,
and the voltage waveform displaying function in addition to the
function of setting an item of welding condition which is discussed in
the first and second embodiments. Welding device 8 is thus equipped
with function memory 15 for storing multiple functional items about
the welding as well as function selector 22 for selecting a function or a
content of the function from memory 15.
Operations of setter 1 and welder power supply 8 structured as
discussed above are demonstrated hereinafter. First, in the case that
a content of an item of welding condition is set or changed as it is done
in the first and second embodiments, press the upper section of the
cross key of first switch-input section 61, thereby generating a signal
to be transmitted to setter data receiver 9 of welder power supply 8 via
switch data converter 7 and setter data transmitter 2 of setter 1. The
signal received at setter data receiver 9 is sent to function selector 22
for selecting the function of setting an item of welding condition among
the functions stored in function memory 15. The data of the item
setting function selected from memory 15 is transmitted to setter 1
from welder power-supply data transmitter 10. The data transmitted
from transmitter 10 is received at welder power-supply data receiver 3
of setter 1, then the data undergoes displayable data converter 4, and
then the data is displayed on dot-matrix display section 16 as "setting
an item of welding condition". A user watches this display, and
presses the upper section of the cross key of second switch-input
section 62 for selecting the welding method among the contents of the
welding condition items. Every press on the upper section of the cross
key of second switch-input section 62 allows designating the content of
welding methods one by one. A press on the right section thereof
selects a base material, and every press on the right section allows
selecting the content of base materials one by one. A press on the
lower section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62 selects
a diameter of welding wire, and every press on the lower section
thereof allows selecting a diameter of welding wires one by one. In
other words, a press by the user repeatedly on the upper, right, or left
section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62 allows
designating a change of the content, assigned to the upper, right, or left
section of the cross key, of welding condition item. Dot-matrix display
section 16 displays the content of welding condition item according to
the designation.
For instance, a press on the upper section of the cross key of
second switch-input section 62 selects a welding method, then display
section 16 displays, e.g. MAG welding which is a content of welding
methods and is firstly stored at a welding method area in
welding-condition-item memory & selector 11. Next, if the user wants
to change the MAG welding to another method, a press on the upper
section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62 allows
instructing a change in the content. Every press on the upper section
of the cross key allows an increment in the indexes of
welding-condition-item memory & selector 11 one by one. This
mechanism, similar to that of embodiment 1 or 2, allows selecting a
content of welding condition item one by one stored in memory &
selector 11. The data of the selected content is transmitted from
welder power-supply data transmitter 10 to setter 1. The data is
received at welder power-supply data receiver 3, and the data
undergoes displayable data converter 4, and the data is finally
displayed on dot-matrix display section 16. For instance, in the case
that MIG welding is stored at the second place in memory & selector 11,
one press on the upper section of the cross key of second switch-input
section 62 prompts display section 16 to display "MIG welding" for the
user to acknowledge that MIG welding is selected. Setter 1 and
welder power supply 8 thus perform in a similar way to those
demonstrated in the first and the second embodiments.
Next, in the case that a wire diameter is selected by pressing the
lower section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62, display
section 16 displays the welding condition item firstly stored in an area
of wire diameter in memory & selector 11, i.e. the content of the wire
diameter, for instance, 1.0mm. Then if the user wants to change the
wire diameter, the user presses twice the lower section of the cross key
of switch-input section 62, thereby instructing the index of the content
to increase in two steps, and the wire diameter of, e.g. 1.4 mm is
selected. The data of the selected wire diameter 1.4 mm is
transmitted from welder power-supply data transmitter 10 to setter 1.
The data is received by setter 1 at welder power-supply data receiver 3
and undergoes displayable data converter 4, then the data is displayed
as "1.4 mm" on display section 16 for acknowledging the change of the
wire diameter. At this time, dot-matrix display section 16 also
displays "MIG welding" previously instructed. Every instructed item
of welding condition is thus acknowledged on one display section as the
second embodiment does.
The welding condition items, i.e. MIG welding and 1.4 mm wire
diameter, are thus selected, then welding condition selector 12 search
welding condition memory 13 for specific predetermined welding
condition data fit for the "MIG welding with 1.4 mm wire diameter".
For instance, selector 12 searches and selects a condition data
performable by the welder, .e.g. a welding waveform parameter such as
a rising time of the current waveform. The selected data is sent to the
welder, which then carries out the welding based on this data.
In the case that the welder cannot weld with the wire having 1.4
mm diameter, the combination of the items discussed above is not
stored in memory 13. In this case, welding condition selector 12
transmits a warning signal from welder power-supply data transmitter
10 to setter 1, which receives the warning signal at welder
power-supply data receiver 3 and sends the signal to displayable data
converter 4, and then the signal is displayed by, e.g. blinking, on
display section 16 in order to warn the user. The user acknowledges
this warning, and then presses the upper section of the cross key of
second switch-input section 62 for changing the welding method, i.e. a
content of one of items, or presses the lower section of the cross key
thereof for changing the wire diameter, or presses the right section of
the cross key for selecting and changing the base material, i.e. one of
items of welding condition. Thus another combination performable by
the welder is selected for carrying out the welding.
In this third embodiment, assume that the welder is replaced
with another one, and a program for the welding condition is altered in
welder power supply 8, whereby the content of the welding condition
item and the data of welding condition are changed. In this case,
there is no need to replace setter 1, and items of the welding condition
can be set through the presently-used setter 1. For instance, in the
case that CO2 welding method is available as a content of the welding
method in addition to MAG welding and MIG welding, the program is
altered to permit using the CO2 welding, and the data of welding
condition to permit using the CO2 welding is stored in welding condition
memory 13. In such a case, the presently used setter 1 can be still
used for changing and designating the content of a welding condition
item by pressing the upper section of the cross key of second
switch-input section 62. In the case that welder power supply 8
changes a base material or a wire diameter, the content corresponding
to this change can be changed and designated by pressing the right
section or the lower section of the cross key of second switch-input
section 62. The combination of the contents of welding condition
performable by the welder can be thus selected without replacing the
presently used setter 1.
This third embodiment, as previously discussed, allows the user
to press the right section of the cross key of first switch-input section
61 in order to select the help function, and to press the lower section of
the cross key thereof to select the current waveform displaying
function, and to press the left section to select the voltage waveform
displaying section.
The help function is firstly detailed hereinafter. The data
indicating that the right section of the cross key of first switch-input
section 61 is pressed is transmitted from setter data transmitter 2 to
welder power supply 8 via switch data converter 7. Welder power
supply 8 receives this data at setter data receiver 9 and transmits it to
function selector 22, thereby selecting the help function among the
functions stored in function memory 15. The data of the help function
selected is transmitted from welder power-supply data transmitter 10
to setter 1, which receives this data at receiver 3 and sends the data to
displayable data converter 4 for displaying "help function" on display
section 16. The user acknowledges this display and presses the upper
or the lower section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62
to select a major heading of the help function. The major headings
include MIG welding, MAG welding, CO2 welding, as welding methods.
An item selected among the major headings by pressing the upper or
lower section of the cross key of second switch-input selection 62 is
displayed on display section 16 via data transmitter 10 and data
receiver 3. The user acknowledges this display, and then presses the
right or left section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62 to
sequentially change the subheadings of the major heading for selecting
the subheading. The data of the subheading selected is transmitted
from welder power-supply data transmitter 10 to data receiver 3, and is
displayed on display section 16, so that the user can acknowledge
specific measures against the present situation.
For instance, to press the right or left section of the cross key
allows selecting the know-how of welding such as "zero defects in
welding" or "welding a variety of joints". The press onto the upper or
lower section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62 thus
allows selecting "MAG welding" as a major heading, and the press onto
the right or left section thereof allows selecting "zero defects in
welding", then dot-matrix display section 16 displays the method for
"zero defects in MAG welding".
Next, the current waveform displaying function is described
hereinafter. A press onto the lower section of first switch-input
section 61 allows selecting this function, and then the data about this
function is transmitted from setter data transmitter 2 to function
selector 22 via setter-data receiver 9. This procedure allows display
section 16 to display a standard current waveform of the welding
method presently selected and stored in function memory 15. Fig. 9
shows an example of dot-matrix display section 16 in accordance with
the third embodiment. In Fig. 9, wave form display area 16a of
dot-matrix display section 16 displays, e.g. pulse-like standard current
waveform IW to be used in the pulse welding. Standard waveform IW
shows the locations of the following elements of the current waveform:
pulse frequency PFRQ, rising time PRISE, peak period PPEAK, peak
current IP, base current IB. Among those elements, a specific value of
pulse frequency PRQ, peak current IP, and base current IB is displayed
on each display window, assigned to PFRQ, IP, and IB respectively, of
element display area 16b. Then a press onto the upper or lower
section of the cross key of second switch-input section 62 allows
scrolling upward or downward the display windows, assigned to each
element of the current waveform, in element display area 16b, thereby
highlighting display windows assigned to other current waveform
elements, e.g. rise time PRISE, peak period PPEAK. In this case, the
elements can be changed by inputting numerals through numeral keys
provided to setter 1. In other words, the press onto the upper section
or lower section of second switch-input section 62 allows the display
windows, where desirable current-waveform elements are to be
displayed, to scroll upward or downward, thereby selecting a display
window assigned to a desirable current-waveform element. Then the
element is changed with the numeral keys. This change allows
replacing the current waveform presently displayed with current
waveform IW in accordance with the element now changed. The user
can thus watch desirable current waveform IW with ease.
Next, a press onto the left section of first switch-input section 61
allows selecting the voltage waveform displaying function. When this
function is selected, the procedure thereafter is similar to that of
selecting the current waveform displaying function, so that the
description thereof is omitted here.
As discussed above, the third embodiment proves that a
manipulation of the cross key of first switch-input section 61 allows
selecting a function among such functions as welding-condition-item
selecting function, help function, current waveform displaying function.
The selected function is transmitted to function selector 22, and the
data corresponding to the selected function and selected from function
memory 15 is displayed dot-matrix display section 16. When the
welding-condition-item selecting function is selected, a content of the
item of welding condition is selected by welding-condition-item memory
& selector 11, and welding condition selector 12 searches welding
condition memory 13 for specific data of the welding condition. This
mechanism allows changing a content of the item of welding condition
without replacing setter 1.
Exemplary Embodiment 4
When a current or a voltage as a content of welding condition
item is changed, a user can input an amount to be changed into setter 1
in accordance with the fourth embodiment. Setter 1 thus includes
this input function in addition to the functions described in the first
embodiment. The fourth embodiment is detailed hereinafter with
reference to Fig. 10, and structural elements similar to those used in
embodiments 1-3 have the same reference signs, and the descriptions
thereof are omitted here.
Fig. 10 shows a schematic diagram of setter 1 and welder power
supply 8 forming a welding device in accordance with the fourth
embodiment. Sections, such as a welding output section, related to
the arc welding are omitted as embodiments 1-3 omit them from the
drawings.
This fourth embodiment uses a structure similar to that used in
the first embodiment. To be more specific, setter 1 is formed of setter
data transmitter 2, welder power-supply data receiver 3, displayable
data converter 4, display section 5, switch-input section 6, and switch
data converter 7. Welder power supply 8 is formed of setter data
receiver 9, welder power-supply data transmitter 10,
welding-condition-item memory & selector 11, welding condition
selector 12, and welding condition memory 13.
As shown in Fig. 10, setter 1 includes current/voltage display
section 17 which displays a current or a voltage as a content of an item
of welding condition, and current/voltage change section 18 through
which a user can input an amount to be changed from the current or
the voltage displayed on display section 17. Setter 1 further includes
converter 19 for converting an amount to be changed from a set
current/voltage into data to be transmittable to welder power supply 8.
Current/voltage display section 17 can be formed of two display
sections assigned to the display of current and the display of voltage, or
one LCD screen for displaying both of the current and the voltage on
the one screen. Current/voltage change section 18 can be formed of
two sections for changing a current and changing a voltage, or one
section for both of a current and a voltage. A jog dial or a variable
resistor is an instance of current/voltage change section 18. The jog
dial employs a rotary encoder which can change the amount discretely,
and the variable resistor can change the amount analogically. The
current or the voltage displayed on current/voltage display section 17
is called a set current or a set voltage which is a target value for welder
power supply 8 to operate. This fourth embodiment features a
function of changing this set current or set voltage.
Welder power supply 8 includes current/voltage memory 20
which stores a current or a voltage that will be a reference value proper
to welder power supply 8 and a current or a voltage calculated by
current/voltage determiner 21 which is detailed later. Welder power
supply 8 also includes current/voltage determiner 21 that calculates
and newly determines a current or a voltage based on the transmitted
data about the change amount and the reference current or the
reference voltage stored in current/voltage memory 20.
In other words, this fourth embodiment differs from the first one
in the following two points: (1) Setter 1 additionally includes
current/voltage display section 17, current/voltage change section 18,
and converter 19 for converting an amount to be changed from a set
current/voltage into data. (2) Welder power supply 8 additionally
includes current/voltage memory 20 and current/voltage determiner
21.
The operations of setter 1 and welder power supply 8 are
demonstrated hereinafter. A start-up operation, a selection and a
display of a content of welding condition item are similar to those done
in the first embodiment. Setter 1 in accordance with this fourth
embodiment allows current/voltage change section 18 to determine an
amount to be changed from the current or the voltage presently
displayed on current/voltage display section 17, and allows
current/voltage change-amount converter 19 to convert the
change-amount into the data before the data is transmitted to welder
power supply 8 from setter-data transmitter 2.
Current/voltage determiner 21 of welder power supply 8
calculates a new current or a new voltage based on the data received at
setter-data receiver 9 and the reference current or the reference
voltage stored in current/voltage memory 20.
Use of a jog dial, which can discretely change an amount to be
changed, as current/voltage changing section 18 to change a current
value is demonstrated hereinafter. Assume that a turn of the jog dial
clockwise by one pitch increases a current by 1A, and a turn thereof
counterclockwise by one pitch decreases the current by 1A. Assume
that the reference current stored in current/voltage memory 20 of
welder power supply 8 is 100A.
In the start-up status, the data of reference current 100A stored
in current/voltage memory 20 is transmitted as the information about
the current from welder power-supply data transmitter 10 of welder
power supply 8 to setter 1. Setter 1 receives the data of reference
current 100A at welder power-supply data receiver 3, and
current/voltage display section 17 displays "100A". Assume that the
user turns the jog dial, working as current/voltage changing section 18,
clockwise by one pitch, and then a signal indicating that the jog dial is
turned clockwise by one pitch is transmitted as the data of a change in
the current from setter-data transmitter 2 of setter 1 to welder power
supply 8. This signal is received by current/voltage determiner 21 of
welder power supply 8 via setter-data receiver 9, and determiner 21
calculates to obtain 101A based on the reference current 100A and 1A
corresponding to the turn of the jog dial clockwise by one pitch.
Welder power supply 8 then stores the result of 101A in current/voltage
memory 20 as well as transmits the result as data to be displayed from
welder power-supply data transmitter 10 to setter 1. As a result,
current/voltage display section 17 of setter 1 displays "101A".
The jog dial is further turned clockwise by another one pitch,
then welder power supply 8 adds current value 101A stored in memory
20 to current value 1A corresponding to this another one pitch, and
stores the result of 102A in memory 20. Display 17 of setter 1 displays
"102A". The current value to be referenced in calculating can be thus
changed anytime. When welder power supply 8 is halted, and
re-booted up, the latest value (102A in this case) stored in memory 20
becomes the reference value for the calculation.
A current value or a voltage value corresponding to the action of
turning the jog dial clockwise by one pitch can be varied depending on a
rated output capacity of welder power supply 8 so that the current
value or the voltage value can be changed with ease. The current
value is taken as an example for describing this mechanism. Assume
that the rated output capacity of welder power supply 8 is 500A, and a
turn of the jog dial clockwise by one pitch causes a change in current
value by 1A (reference value). In this case, assume that the
coefficient is 1 (one) with respect to the rated output capacity 500A.
The turn of the jog dial by one pitch clockwise thus corresponds to 1A x
1 = 1A. Assume that the rated output capacity is changed to 350A
because a base material of a target object or a wire diameter is changed,
and assume that the coefficient with respect to 350A is 0.7, then the
turn of the jog dial by one pitch clockwise corresponds to 0.7A (1A x 0.7
= 0.7A.) This coefficient can be set by manual operation or automatic
calculation in a memory (not shown) of welder power supply 8 when the
rated output capacity is changed. In the case of the automatic
calculation, the coefficient can be calculated by using a ratio of 500A vs.
a changed rated-output-capacity. Thus when welder power supply 8
uses different rated output capacities, a current value corresponding to
the turn of the jog dial by one pitch clockwise can be uniquely defined
by welder power supply 8 through changing the coefficient. In the
case that welder power supply 8 changes its rated output capacity,
there is thus no need to modify or replace setter 1 presently used. Use
of the present setter 1 still allows setting a condition of a current value
in response to the changed rated-output-capacity of welder power
supply 8.
A welding output of welder power supply 8 can be controlled by
the current value or the voltage value calculated by current/voltage
determiner 21 and stored in current/voltage memory 20. Those values
are used as a set current or a set voltage.
As discussed above, setter 1 in accordance with the fourth
embodiment includes current/voltage changing section 18 which has
the function of designating an amount to be changed from the set
current or the set voltage. This function of setting a current or a
voltage to setter 1 is added to setter 1 in accordance with the first
embodiment. This additional function allows setter 1 in accordance
with the fourth embodiment to set a current or a voltage by simply
changing a coefficient to be used at a calculation in current/voltage
determiner 21. The calculation is done for adapting the current value
or the voltage value to the rated output capacity of welder power
supply 8. There is thus no need to modify or replace setter 1 presently
used for setting a current or a voltage in response to an output capacity
of welder power supply 8.
In the welding device in accordance with this fourth embodiment,
setter 1 does not transmit an absolute welding current to welder power
supply 8, but it transmits the data of an amount to be changed from a
set welding current. Welder power supply 8 calculates a welding
current value (e.g. 110A) based on a reference current value (e.g. 100A)
stored in current/voltage memory 20 and the data of an amount to be
changed (e.g. +10A) transmitted from setter 1, and carries out the
welding with this welding current (110A). At the same time, welder
power supply 8 transmits this welding current value (e.g. 110A) to
setter 1, which then displays "110A" on current/voltage display section
17. The welding device in accordance with the fourth embodiment
allows displaying an actually-used welding current on setter 1 so that
an operator can watch the current presently used.
Although a conventional welding device sometimes encounters
malfunction when a welding current is input into its setter, the welding
device in accordance with the fourth embodiment can prevent the
malfunction. To be more specific, in the case that the welding current
is changed from 100A to 110A, if this information is not correctly
transmitted to welder power supply 8 although an operator recognizes
that 110A is to be used for welding, the malfunction caused by the use
of 100A instead of 110A can be prevented.
The structure of the third embodiment previously discussed
can be combined with current/voltage display section 17,
current/voltage changing section 18, converter 19 for converting an
amount to be changed from a set current/voltage into data,
current/voltage memory 20, and current/voltage determiner 21,
whereby the welding device in accordance with this fourth embodiment
can be achieved. This structure allows using a new function added to
welder power supply 8.
Current/voltage changing section 18 can be used in order to
determine a change of, e.g. a parameter for controlling a waveform,
besides to change the set current or the set voltage.
The embodiments discussed above use LED display device 51
and LCD display device 14 as display section 5, and those display
devices employ 16 segments/letter; however, the present invention is
not limited these examples, for instance, any display element, such as
organic EL display device, can be selected appropriately to a purpose of
display.
Industrial Applicability
The present invention eliminates a need of modifying or
replacing a setter of a welding device even if a content of a welding
condition item is changed, so that an alteration in the welding device
can be smoothly introduced at production site. The present invention
is thus useful for welding devices in which the setter sets a condition of
a welder power supply.
We claim:
1. A welding device comprising:
a welder power supply; and
a setter for setting data of a welding condition, which
data corresponds to a content of a welding condition item,
wherein the setter includes:
a change instruction input section through which
information of an instruction that changes a content of the welding
condition item is input;
a setter-data transmitter for transmitting the
information of a change instruction, which is input to the change
instruction input section, to the welder power supply;
a welder power-supply data receiver for receiving a
content of the welding condition item transmitted from the welder
power supply; and
a display section for displaying the content of the
welding condition item received at the welder power-supply data
receiver,
wherein the welder power supply includes;
a setter-data receiver for receiving the information of
the change instruction transmitted from the setter;
a welding-condition-item memory & selector for
storing a plurality of contents of the welding condition item and for
selecting a content of the welding condition item based on the
information of the change instruction;
a welding condition memory for storing data of the
welding condition, which data corresponds to the welding condition
item, and in which memory the data of the welding condition is selected
based on the content of the welding condition item, which content is
selected by the memory & selector; and
a welder power-supply data transmitter for
transmitting the content of the welding condition item to the setter,
which content is selected by the memory & selector,
wherein the display section of the setter displays the
content of the welding condition item, which content is selected by the
memory & selector.
2. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the change
instruction input section can input information of a change instruction
that requests a change of respective contents of a plurality of the
welding condition items, and the display section allows displaying each
one of the contents of the respective welding condition items, and the
welding-condition-item memory & selector allows storing each one of
the contents of the respective welding condition items and selecting
each one of the contents of the respective welding condition items
based on the information of the change instructions of the respective
welding condition items.
3. The welding device of claim 2, wherein the welding condition
memory stores data of the welding condition, which data corresponds to
a combination of contents of the welding condition items, which
contents are performable by the welder, among combinations of
contents of each one of the welding condition items,
wherein the welding device includes a welding condition
item selector that determines whether or not the welding condition
memory stores the combination of the contents of the welding condition
items, which contents are selected by the welding-condition-item
memory & selector, and in a case that no combination of the contents,
selected by the welding-condition-item memory & selector, of the
welding condition items is stored in the welding condition memory, the
welding condition item selector transmits warning information, which
warns a user of a wrong combination of the contents of the welding
condition items, to the welder power-supply data transmitter, and
wherein the display section of the setter displays
information about the wrong combination of the contents of the welding
condition items based on the warning information.
4. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the welder power
supply includes a function memory for storing a plurality of function
items about welding, and a function selector for selecting one of the
function items stored in the function memory, and
wherein the display section of the setter displays the
function item selected by the function selector and transmitted from
the welder power supply.
5. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the setter includes a
current/voltage changing section that determines an amount to be
changed from at least one of a current value and a voltage value,
wherein the welder power supply includes a
current/voltage memory that stores a reference value of at least one of
a current value and a voltage value, and a current/voltage determiner
that calculates and determines at least one of a new current value and
a new voltage value based on the to-be-changed amount transmitted
from the setter and the reference value stored in the current/voltage
memory, and
wherein the display section of the setter displays at
least one of the current value and the voltage value determined by the
current/voltage determiner and transmitted from the welder power
supply.
6. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the welding condition
item includes at least one of a welding method, a base material, and a
diameter of a welding wire.
7. A setter of a welding device, the setter comprising:
a change instruction input section through which
information of an instruction that changes a content of the welding
condition item is input;
a setter-data transmitter for transmitting the
information of a change instruction, which is input to the change
instruction input section, to the welder power supply;
a welder power-supply data receiver for receiving the
content of the welding condition item transmitted from the welder
power supply; and
a display section for displaying the content of the
welding condition item received at the welder power-supply data
receiver,
wherein the setter data transmitter transmits the
information of the instruction to a welder power supply that comprises:
a setter-data receiver for receiving the information of
change instruction transmitted from the setter;
a welding-condition-item memory & selector for
storing a plurality of contents of the welding condition item and for
selecting a content of the welding condition item based on the
information of change instruction; and
a welder power-supply data transmitter for
transmitting the content of the welding condition item, which content
is selected by the memory & selector, to the welder power-supply data
receiver,
wherein the welder power-supply data receiver receives
the content of the welding condition item, which content is selected by
the memory & selector and transmitted from the welder power supply,
and
wherein the display section displays the content, selected
by the memory & selector, of the welding condition item.

Setter (1) transmits information of an instruction that changes a
content of a welding condition item to welder power supply (8), which
then selects a content of the welding condition item from welding-
condition-item memory & selector (11) based on the information. At
the same time, welder power supply (8) selects data of the welding
condition, which data corresponds to the content selected, and then
transmits the selected content to setter (1), which displays the content
on display section (5). The foregoing structure allows setter (1) to set
a content of a welding condition item for welder power supply (8)
without modifying or replacing setter (1) presently used.