Welding process
First Claim
1. A method for welding a first component to a second component, the method comprising:
- positionally calibrating a scanning head within a localised work envelope, the work envelope being defined by boundaries surrounding the first component and the second component, the positional calibration being referenced to at least one datum feature within the work envelope;
scanning profiles of the first component and the second component within the work envelope using the calibrated scanning head;
generating, from the scanned profiles, a cloud point data image of defined coordinate positions of surfaces and edges of the first component and the second component to be welded within a space envelope, the space envelope being larger than the work envelope, which is located inside the space envelope;
scanning an electrode tip of a robotic welding torch using the calibrated scanning head to determine a defined coordinate position of the electrode tip within the space envelope, the electrode tip of the robotic welding torch being located outside of the work envelope at a time of scanning the electrode tip; and
welding the first component to the second component using the robotic welding torch, movement of the robotic welding torch being controlled using the cloud point data image and the defined coordinate position of the electrode tip, such that the electrode tip is held at a plurality of pre-determined stand-off positions around the first component and the second component within the work envelope during the welding.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for welding a first component to a second component. A scanning head is positionally calibrated within a localised work envelope including the components, the positional calibration being referenced to at least one datum feature within the work envelope. Profiles of the components are scanned within the localised work envelope using the calibrated scanning head. A cloud point data image of defined coordinate positions of surfaces and edges to be welded within a space envelope is generated from the scanned profiles. A robotic welding torch electrode tip is scanned using the calibrated scanning head to determine a defined coordinate position of the electrode tip within the space envelope. The components are welded using the torch, the torch controlled using the cloud point data image and the defined coordinate position such that the electrode tip is held at pre-determined stand-off positions around the components during the welding.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for welding a first component to a second component, the method comprising:
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positionally calibrating a scanning head within a localised work envelope, the work envelope being defined by boundaries surrounding the first component and the second component, the positional calibration being referenced to at least one datum feature within the work envelope; scanning profiles of the first component and the second component within the work envelope using the calibrated scanning head; generating, from the scanned profiles, a cloud point data image of defined coordinate positions of surfaces and edges of the first component and the second component to be welded within a space envelope, the space envelope being larger than the work envelope, which is located inside the space envelope; scanning an electrode tip of a robotic welding torch using the calibrated scanning head to determine a defined coordinate position of the electrode tip within the space envelope, the electrode tip of the robotic welding torch being located outside of the work envelope at a time of scanning the electrode tip; and welding the first component to the second component using the robotic welding torch, movement of the robotic welding torch being controlled using the cloud point data image and the defined coordinate position of the electrode tip, such that the electrode tip is held at a plurality of pre-determined stand-off positions around the first component and the second component within the work envelope during the welding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for welding a first component to a second component, the apparatus comprising:
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a scanning head; a robotic welding torch; and a computer control system programmed to; positionally calibrate the scanning head within a localised work envelope, the work envelope being defined by boundaries surrounding the first component and the second component, the positional calibration being referenced to at least one datum feature within the work envelope; control the scanning head to scan profiles of the first component and the second component within the work envelope using the calibrated scanning head; generate, from the scanned profiles, a cloud point data image of defined coordinate positions of surfaces and edges of the first component and the second component to be welded within a space envelope, the space envelope being larger than the work envelope, which is located inside the space envelope; control the scanning head to scan an electrode tip of the robotic welding torch to determine a defined coordinate position of the electrode tip within the space envelope, the electrode tip of the robotic welding torch being located outside of the work envelope at a time of scanning the electrode tip; and control the robotic welding torch to weld the first component to the second component, movement of the robotic welding torch being controlled by the control system using the cloud point data image and the defined coordinate position of the electrode tip, such that the electrode tip is held at a plurality of pre-determined stand-off positions around the first component and the second component within the work envelope during the welding.
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Specification