A gantry robot consisting of three industrial robots
2021-10-23
I. Common Functions and Characteristics of TIG Welding Robots:
As is well known, under normal conditions, the TIG welding process is much more complex than that of general welding robots. Precise control is required for the tool center point (TCP)—that is, the movement path of the electrode tip—as well as the robot's posture and welding parameters. Therefore, in addition to the general-purpose functions mentioned above, TIG welding robots must also possess features specifically suited to the requirements of TIG welding.
Although, in theory, a 5-axis welding robot can be used for TIG welding, using a 5-axis robot for welding complex shapes can present many unexpected challenges. Therefore, unless the welding task is very simple, customers should opt for a 6-axis welding robot whenever possible.
In addition to the previously mentioned capability of the welding manipulator to follow a path resembling a "z" shape during corner welding or small-diameter circular welding—a path that closely resembles a gait analysis trajectory—it should also feature software functions for various oscillation patterns to be selected during programming to facilitate oscillation welding. Furthermore, at the pause points in each oscillation cycle, the welding robot should actively suspend its forward motion to meet the requirements of the welding method. Additionally, functions such as contact positioning, active tracking of the weld starting point, arc tracking, and active re-ignition are required.
II. Supporting Robotic Automation Technology to Improve Welded Part Quality:
Welding manipulators typically employ gas-shielded welding processes (MAG, MIG, TIG), and general-purpose welding robot power supplies—such as bidirectional thyristor-based, inverter-based, waveform-controlled, pulsed, or non-pulsed types—can be integrated into the robotic welding system for arc welding. Since the robotic welding controller employs a digital control system, while the power supply typically uses analog control, an interface must be added between the power supply and the controller. Nowadays, welding robot manufacturers generally offer their own proprietary automated welding machines (e.g., Fronius, Lincoln, and Megamit), which incorporate the necessary interface boards; therefore, these robotic welding systems do not require an additional interface box. It should be emphasized that the arc-on time accounts for a significant portion of a welding robot's operating cycle; therefore, when selecting a power supply for robotic automated welding, the power supply capacity should generally be determined based on a 100% duty cycle.
The wire feeder can be mounted on the robot arm or positioned outside the robot. In the former case, the flexible hose between the welding machine and the wire feeder is shorter, which helps maintain consistent wire feeding. In the latter case, the hose is longer; when the robot moves the welding machine to certain positions, the hose may become excessively kinked, which can severely compromise wire feeding quality; Therefore, the installation method of the wire feeder must take into account the need to ensure reliable wire feeding.
