Automatic dressing of resistance spot welding electrodes - where milling cutter reshapes electrodes, which are then re-polished via rotating polishing disk

摘要

Electrodes are carried by a manipulator and, after an initial period of use (I), they are polished. After a second period of use (II), they are re-shaped and polished. The pref. dressing appts. consists of a combined unit provided with a polishing disk and a milling cutter, both of which are carried by a spring mounting, e.g. a metal-elastomer bush. Alternatively, the dressing appts. may consist of two separate units, one fitted with a polishing disk whereas the other is fitted with a milling cutter. Both the disk and the cutter are carried by spring mountings. Used e.g. on multi spot welding machines employed for welding metal sheet coated with Zn which contaminates the electrode surfaces, where the electrodes are periodically milled and polished.