Easy-to-Use Seamtracking through weld-arc sensor signals for collaborative robot welding applications

Automation of arc-welding with industrial robots often faces the challenge that workpieces differ in tolerances and experience heat distortion during the welding process. Therefore, adaption of the programmed path during the welding process is necessary to achieve good welding results. Current industrial solutions for this so-called seamtracking that rely on signals from the welding arc, often require a high count of parameters to be preset and extensive knowledge of the welding technician in robot programming. The fast-evolving field of collaborative robot welding aims to enable the manual welder to use a cobot in welding with focus on intuitive hand-guiding and easy-to-use programming. In the following, we present a seamtracking solution fit for collaborative welding with minimal complexity for the end user and discuss challenges that arise from integrating such a solution in between an arc-welding power source and cobot controller.