The application of commercial software (OLP) packages for robot simulation, and programming, use interactive computer graphics, provide powerful tools for creating welding paths off-line. By the use of such software, problems of robot reach, accessibility, collision and timing can be eliminated during the planning stage. This paper describes how such software can be integrated with a numerical model that predicts temperature-time histories in the solid material. The objective of this integration is to develop a tool for the engineer where robot trajectories and process parameters can be optimized on parts with complex geometry. Such a tool would decrease the number of weld trials, increase productivity and reduce costs. Assumptions and principles behind the modeling techniques are presented together with experimental evaluation of the correlation between modeled and measured temperatures.

This paper describes the application of infrared (IR) thermal imaging and temperature measurements in welding applications, both on single plane plates and on an aero engine turbine component with complex geometry. Temperature profiles were measured on the plates using thermocouples (T/C) in combination with an IR camera system, and the results were compared. The IR camera was used both in line scan mode (270 Hz scan frequency) and in full frame mode (1 Hz frame rate). Different methods of surface treatments have been tested to handle the problem of the surface emissivity variations due to oxidation during welding. Results from measurements using thermocouples and IR camera is presented in the paper as well as temperature measurements using the IR camera on an turbine exhaust case (TEC) engine component.

Simulation tools to search for optimal process parameters are of great interest to reduce the number of experiments and thereby reduce cost and production time. In this paper, robot simulation has been used in combination with finite element simulations to optimize robot speed in order to minimize distortion while keeping complete joint penetration. In an earlier work performed by the authors, a finite element model was developed to predict heat transfer and residual stresses of parts with complex shapes. An interface between a robot simulation model and a finite element analysis model was also constructed. In this paper, an iterative method for robot speed optimization has been developed using MATLAB. The algorithm is designed to maintain complete joint penetration while maximizing productivity by utilizing the fastest weld speed. The method makes it possible to optimize the heat input to the component and thereby minimize component deformation for parts with complex shapes. The system was evaluated on stainless steel plates with varying thicknesses. Robot weld paths were defined off line and automatically downloaded to the finite element software where the optimization was performed. Simulations and experimental validations are presented.

In this article a simulation system is presented that combines computer aided robotics software used to define the welding operation, with a finite element model that predicts temperature-time histories and residual stress distributions for welding applications. The objective is to develop a tool for engineering processes in which robot trajectories and welding process parameters can be optimized off-line on parts with complex geometries. The system was evaluated on a stainless steel gas turbine component. Temperature dependent properties and phase change were included in the analysis. The turbine component was welded using an in-house TIG welding cell. The assumptions and principles that underpin the modeling techniques are presented together with predicted temperature histories, residual stresses, and fixture forces. Predicted residual stresses were compared with neutron diffraction measurements.

Metal Deposition (MD) is a rapid prototyping technique to build parts by depositing metal in a required fashion. When a complex-shaped part is to be built, a simulation tool is needed to define robot trajectories. Three different simulation-based methods for robot trajectory generation are introduced and compared in this study. The methods are; reversed milling, adapted rapid prototyping and application programming in a computer aided robotics software. All methods were shown capable of creating robot paths for complex shapes, with the CAR software approach being the most flexible. Using this method, the geometry to be built is automatically sliced into layers and a robot path is automatically generated. The method was tentatively evaluated and appears to provide a powerful technique in the design and optimisation of robot paths for MD. Experiments showed that it is possible to manufacture fully dense parts using an Nd-Yag laser.