Improving Global Quality of Life
Improving Global Quality of Life
Improving Global Quality of Life
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Use <strong>of</strong> manufacturing simulation for automated process planning and real-time system monitoring<br />
Autonomous robot transport vehicle (RTV) navigation for high accuracy positioning <strong>of</strong> a robot arm<br />
in an industrial manufacturing environment.<br />
Design and build <strong>of</strong> an industrially rugged RTV with the accuracy and stability required for welding<br />
tasks.<br />
Use <strong>of</strong> specially developed welding consumables, welding procedures and sensor systems designed<br />
to allow “all positional” robotic welding with a degree <strong>of</strong> control and dexterity unmatched by<br />
current systems. Figure 5.2 illustrates the developed system.<br />
Figure 5.2 Robot with all its equipment<br />
mounted on a RTV welding a large structure<br />
(Reproduced courtesy: TWI Ltd)<br />
The system can be equipped with several sensors:<br />
Torch collision unit, contact sensor for searching start and endpoints for the welds.<br />
Laser sensor system for joint tracking and through-the-arc system for joint tracking as well as a<br />
camera system for monitoring the complete station.<br />
The application also includes a CAD-based system for simulation <strong>of</strong> the whole process and <strong>of</strong>f-line<br />
programming. This solution with the welding system moving to and around the large work piece can<br />
become a new concept instead <strong>of</strong> manipulating the work piece to get the best welding position for the<br />
robot. Simulation s<strong>of</strong>tware are becoming powerful tools. ABB is marketing a programme named VirtualArc®<br />
for simulation <strong>of</strong> the arc welding process. Robot Studio is another simulation package for movement <strong>of</strong><br />
the robot <strong>of</strong>fered by ABB. The two programmes can easily be justified due to the high savings that can be<br />
achieved.<br />
5.1.2 Renaissance for EB welding<br />
Thanks to the great interest in laser beam welding and the increased number <strong>of</strong> applications, the electron<br />
beam (EB) welding process has been rediscovered and considered to be complementary to laser welding.<br />
Earlier the EB was judged to have many advantages when considered alongside more conventional multipass<br />
arc welding processes for fabrication <strong>of</strong> heavy section structures and components.<br />
Figure 5.3 Comparison <strong>of</strong> single pass EB<br />
weld pr<strong>of</strong>ile with multi pass submerged arc<br />
welded joint in 100 mm thickness C-Mn steel<br />
(Reproduced courtesy: B. Pekkari)<br />
Through Optimum Use and Innovation <strong>of</strong> Welding and Joining Technologies<br />
<strong>Improving</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Quality</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
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