Robot automated EMPT sheet welding

摘要

Many industrial applications require sheet to sheet or sheet to tube joints. Theelectromagnetic pulse technology is capable to produce these kinds of joints. In literaturemany examples of sheet to sheet solid state welding between similar and dissimilarmetals are presented and analyzed in detail. However, the most of the presented weldingapplications, which are very focussed on the academic level, are simple specimens forexample for tensile test. These specimens are usually very small in their dimensions andtherewith capable to be welded with the help of stationary EMPT coils. In contrast to thisapproach the majority of typical industrial applications demand the ability of manufacturingseveral welds in different positions on the same assembly application comparable to thespot welding process of an automotive car body. Here several spot welds are realised in avariety of positions by a robot mounted spot welding gun. The use of a stationary coil is nooption here. A first step in manufacturing complex assemblies by EMPT was done byPSTproducts by welding a car- shaped space frame. Within this project substantialknowledge has been generated with respect to non stationary EMPT coils and theflexibility of the cables connecting the coil with the pulse generator. The results weretransferred into the next step, the development of an EMPT robotic welding head. Thisreport details requirements and possibilities of robot automated EMPT sheet welding withrespect to complex structures.