Advanced welding computer system with integrated process and machine control

摘要

The paper will discuss an advanced computer system that integrally controls the welding process and machine axes. It will also review several production applications where the control has been successfully implemented, along with various sensors that have been integrated into the systems. The advanced control incorporates an international standard VME bus architecture to supply the processing powered flexibility required for precision applications. The Eurocard format enables the use of industrial standard cards along with custom boards where necessary. In addition to processing multiple tasks simultaneously and controlling up to 48 axes of coordinated motion, the system controls the entire welding process. The computer systems have been employed with direct current and variable polarity Gas Tungsten Arc and Plasma Arc welding processes, along with continuous wave Nd:YAG laser technology for welding, cutting and surfacing applications.