Welding Automation in Action—Present and Future

The paper discusses the current and future prospects for achieving fully automated welding systems. The present status of such systems is illustrated by reference to an automated welding system designed for "the fabrication of cryogenic road tankers".

The inner vessel of a cryogenic tanker is fabricated from stainless steel sheet using the pulsed GTA welding process, therefore the welding speed is subsequently slow. This results in long weld runs particularly on the circumferential welds resulting in low productivity through operator boredom and high weld reject level due to operator fatigue. A welding system has been designed to overcome these problems by introducing a high level of automation into the process. The system includes :

1. Closed loop control of the guidance and height of the welding head.

2. Closed loop control of the weld penetration.

3. Complete sequencing of all manipulation and welding equipment through automated tacking and automated welding.It also includes checking and monitoring of all services of torch coolant shielding gas, backing gas, etc.

4. Welding equipment designed specifically to meet this requirement.

5. Joint preparations specified to meet automated welding standards.

The immense improvement achieved in both productivity and in weld consistency and quality resulting from the introduction of automated welding equipment is mentioned.

The paper finishes by discussing the future of automation in welding, the areas which require developing and the exploitation of this technology.