Product category:
Automatic and robotic welding systems
News Release from: ICS Robotics and Automation | Subject: Tawers Robot Welding System
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 February 2008
One unit controls robot and welding
Embedded arc control technology used in robotic welding eliminates the need for three separate control systems and combines control of the robot, welder and servo wire feeder into a single unit.
ICS Robotics and Automation recommends the Panasonic Tawers Robot Welding System because it delivers 'best-in-class' performance for most welding applications ICS bases its opnion on nearly twenty years of building robotic manufacturing facilities, predominantly for the Automotive Tier1 sector, and having integrated most of today's popular robot welding robots
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 29 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Panasonic Factory Automation's latest offering, the Tawers Robot Welding System, has fully integrated digital power source for MIG, pulsed-arc and DC TIG applications.
One single common digital inverter power source, fully synchronised with the robot controller, operate all these welding processes, said ICS.
Embedded arc control (EAC) technology in the Tawers Robot Welding System eliminates the need for three separate control systems and fuses control of the robot, welder and servo wire feeder into a single physical unit.
Further reading
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ABB has developed ARCITEC II, a new generation of IGBT inverter power sources designed specifically for the robotic MIG/MAG welding of all materials used in metal fabrication.
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A new modular, flexible robotic arc welding system is designed to accommodate larger workpieces, which can be welded in a fixed position.
Welding processes tuned 'off-line'
A powerful software tool that gives robot welding engineers full 'off-line' control of the MIG/MAG process provides efficient 'off-line' welding process tuning to predict a wide range of results.
This new controls breakthrough, said ICS to manufacturingtalk.com, is contained entirely internal to the robot controller and is monitored by the Tawers 64-bit main CPU.
EAC technology controls not only the robot motion path and sequence commands, but simultaneously synchronises the welding power supply waveform control and servo wire feeder response accordingly, to adjust and correct for dynamic changes in the welding process.
Tawers with EAC technology goes beyond conventional digital communication systems, delivering the first generation of fully software-controlled robotic welding systems.
This robust, reactive EAC Technology enables the Panasonic Tawers Robot Welding System to deliver the following features.
* New short-circuit welding process - SP-MAG that deposits weld with low heat input but with virtually no arc spatter, thus significantly reducing post-weld cleanup costs and part distortion.
* Switchable MIG Welding Modes (in process) - SPMAG and Pulse, HD Pulse, thus giving total flexibility to achieve the best results in a production cycle.
* Lift at arc-start/end robot motion - minimising arc ignition spatter and reducing welding cycle times.
* Automated wire extension control - maintains a constant wire stick-out during welding, resulting in consistent penetration and weld quality regardless of taught path variations.
* Data monitoring in two levels - increases ability to quality manage the welding process.
The change to high sampling rate data monitoring allows data logging of the welding process and a high resolution oscilloscope function on board.
The Tawers Robot Welding System offers a choice of five manipulator types to suit most applications with maximum reaches from 1000mm to 1900mm.
The manipulators are also equipped with large motors and drives to deliver exceptionally high maximum speeds and acceleration to drive down cycle times.
These advances combined with innovative robot welder communication, industry leading welding technologies and effective software and hardware improvements create powerful new solutions for arc welding challenges, said ICS.
* Cutting fabrication costs - most manufacturers of batch-welded parts face a relentless pressure from their customers to reduce or 'cap' the price of their products.
Going forward, the cost of materials, labour and overheads will continue to rise, so savings need to be made through efficiencies and productivity improvements.
It is likely that most CEOs, and MDs, when considering their productivity, realise that they need to do the following.
* Make parts quicker to increase capacity or reduce shift-levels.
* Reduce direct labour input and Work-In-Progress levels.
* Lower scrap rates and re-work fewer parts.
* Spend less time cleaning up welded parts.
Naturally, a holistic approach is required, said ICS to manufacturingtalk.com, when identifying ways of reducing costs of production.
One guaranteed way of making a difference - whether manual welding products or increasing a population of welding robots - is to implement Panasonic's Tawers Robotic Welding Technology.
* About ICS - ICS Robotics and Automation has worked in partnership with Panasonic Industrial for the past 17 years and is proud of their association with such an innovative product.
If you would like further information on the Tawers Robot Welding System or would like to discuss a particular application then please contact ICS Robotics and Automation where a member of the technical team will be happy to discuss which product is best suited to your application.
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