Extensive Adaptability of Modern Robotic Systems for Welding Components with Particularly High Tolerances in the Thermo-Energy Industry

Robcon ™ SRL
Eneas Street, No. 10, Timişoara, Romania
e-mail: alex.joni@robcon.ro

Abstract: The extremely rapid development of the welding technology has forced the automation - and then the robotization of manufacturing processes - from the 70s to the 80s. In the beginning one have chosen those applications with simpler and more precise parts. Therefore, the robots (nonadaptive at that time) were able to weld good enough the structures. Afterwards, the components required to be welded with a robot became increasingly complex and imprecise. It became necessary to equip the robotic systems with adaptive functions, first with the geometric adaptivity only, then with process adaptivity too. At present, robots with an expanded adaptability are becoming more and more applied to common parts, whose preparation for welding costs less obviously. The paper presents the structure and functioning of the adaptive robotic systems for electric arc welding, especially the sensory device and their adaptive regulators, as well as the specific developments of the welding equipment necessary for them to be successfully integrated into adaptive cells and systems. After introducing systems implemented in major European factories, solutions that work in the Romanian energy industry are described.

Keywords: laser sensor, adaptivity, robot welding, tolerances, cloos.

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References

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