TRUMPF (Ditzingen, Germany) will showcase a robot that uses sensors to program its own weld path at “Schweissen & Schneiden”, the trade fair for joining, cutting and surfacing technology, in Essen, Germany. The robot makes use of TRUMPF’s new smart seam-tracking technology, which Trumpf developed in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. Housed in the head of the welding torch, the sensor automatically calculates the weld path for each part.
Robot ready to go in seconds
With conventional welding robots, production workers program a new weld spot into the software each time they want the robot to change direction. This is a time-consuming business, especially when it comes to complex parts with many curves or corners. The new smart seam-tracking function makes the whole process a whole lot simpler. The user places the welding robot in the start position, and the technology takes care of the rest. The robot uses the sensor to determine the weld path automatically. The system software quickly calculates the weld spots and creates the welding program for the respective part. The robot is good to go in a matter of seconds.
Less scrap and a more stable process
Smart seam tracking helps companies save time and cut costs while also making life easier for workers on the shop floor. The robot’s ability to automatically correct its weld path makes the whole process more stable. It also simplifies the task of handling tighter tolerances and dealing with warping or distortion.
TRUMPF will be incorporating the solution in its TruArc Weld 1000 arc-welding machines. It can also be retrofitted to existing TruArc Weld systems.