WIRE FEEDERS WITH WIRE SPOOL BRAKE RELEASE

Abstract

Examples of disclosed welding wire feeders include: a reel hub configured to hold a wire reel; a wire drive mechanism configured to feed wire from the wire reel; a reel brake configured to selectively resist rotation of the wire reel; and control circuitry configured to: control the reel brake to resist rotation of the wire reel while the wire drive mechanism is not feeding wire from the wire reel; and in response to operator input, control the reel brake to reduce resistance to rotation of the wire reel and control the wire drive mechanism to not feed wire from the wire reel.