Product Code: ICAL05_2301

Sensor Integration for Robotic Laser Welding Processes
Authors:
Dimitrios Iakovou, University of Twente; Enschede Netherlands
Presented at ICALEO 2005

The use of robotic laser welding is increasing among industrial applications, because of its ability to weld objects in three dimensions. Robotic laser welding involves three sub-processes: seam detection and tracking, welding process control, and weld seam inspection. Usually, for each sub-process, a separate sensory system is required. This may lead to heavy and bulky tools, whereas compact and light sensory systems are needed to reach sufficient accuracy and accessibility. In out solution we will integrate all these functions in one compact multi-purpose welding head.

This multi-purpose tool is under development. The system consists of a laser welding head, with integrated sensors for seam detection, inspection and weld process control. It can provide the relative position of the tool and the work piece in three-dimensional space. Additionally, it can cope with the occurrence of sharp corners along a three-dimensional weld path, which are difficult to detect and weld with conventional equipment due to measurement errors and robot dynamics.