Wire Feeder with Automatically Adjustable Wire Clamping Force

A wire feeder for a welding system has an automatically generated clamping force on welding wire. The wire feeder includes a drivestand having a lower feed roll. An upper feed roll is positionable adjacent to the lower roll, the upper and lower rolls being configured to receive a wire therebetween. A motor includes an output motor shaft, the lower roll being connected to the output motor shaft. A connecting arm is attached to the upper roll, and attached to the drivestand at a first end. An arm is attached to the connecting arm at a second end, and coupled to the motor. The arm and the connecting arm draw the upper roll towards the lower roll in response to a torque applied by the motor, such that the upper and lower rolls generate a clamping force for the wire, the clamping force being proportional to a torque of the motor.