Electronic miniaturization and the ever-increasing power of microprocessors yield the availability of advanced sensor systems that are transforming welding automation. Complete control of the welding process from the point of view of tool position and of real-time minute adjustment of the welding parameters is achieved with the implementation of multifunction vision systems and other sensors. The result is that faster and more consistent welding can be performed and that, to do this, permanent supervision is not necessary. Machine vision, in particular, is gaining more and more importance in factory automation and, in so doing, it is setting higher quality and performance levels in welding automation. The ultimate result is a superior and more efficiently-built end product. New functions and applications are under development around the world. They range from the automatic robot programming of complex multipass welding to the final weld bead and workpiece dimensional inspection. The magic rule that says that vision systems must cost a fraction of the robot itself is in the process of being fully applied and it is more than probable that a significant fraction of arc welding robot shipments will include vision systems.
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