TPT January 2007

P rogress in W elding T echnology, E quipment & C onsumables

productive time allows an increase in laser- on time from typically 30 per cent to over 80 per cent. In order to follow the robot movements, a flexible beam guide through fibre optics is required. The emitted laser light of the Rofin diode-pumped Disc Laser can be coupled with virtually no power loss into fibre optics of only 200 μ m core diameter. Compared with rod lasers, this new solid state laser generation is distinguished by its nearly doubled efficiency and its improved beam quality of 8mm x mrad. Because of this beam quality, SWS can increase the working distance to the workpiece by up to 400mm, reducing the danger of contamination of the optics. Rofin’s DL-R Diode Laser series is designed for laser hardening and surface treatment. The lasers have a wavelength of 940 to 980nm, and rectangular beam geometry made for the hardening process. Large hardening depths are possible without initial melting, and the geometry of the rectangular focus spot is adaptable to match the specific needs of the user’s application. Four laser variations from 900W to 3,600W are available. Rofin-Sinar Laser GmbH – Germany Fax : +49 40 733 63 160 Email : info@rofin-ham.de Website : www.rofin.com

The supreme welding power of light

Rofin-Sinar Laser, Germany, manufactures laser products for a wide range of applications, including welding and cutting. The company has recently launched the Remote Welding System (RWS), a high- speed welding system that is able to make multiple spot welds in an arbitrary pattern over a large working area. Using RWS, the laser beam is expanded by a telescope and focussed by an optic onto the workpiece. Using a focal length of up to 2m gives a working area of 2,900mm x 1,800mm x 1,000mm. With a positioning speed of > 400m/min between the welding points, known as ‘rapid fi (Below left) Rofin welding scanner, and (below right) Rofin disc laser

move’, non-productive time is reduced to a minimum. The Scanner Welding System (SWS) is suitable for use when quick welding for complex formed workpieces is required. The system’s mirrors offer quick positioning (<50ms) of the laser beam within the extended working area of about 200mm x 240mm x 80mm. All three scanner axes are coupled with those of the robot so that the combined system has nine accessible axes. Weld geometry can be freely programmed with the SWS, and adjusted specifically to the requirements of the component. The software has features that calculate the track inaccuracies of the robot, so the weld path is accurate to <0.1mm. The company claims that resulting reduction of non-

fi Rofin‘s diode laser DL-R

Welding system with modular production Arc Machines Inc, USA, have introduced the Model 2 modular production welding system, constructed from a series of specialised, custom-configured components. The Model 2 is generally used in production applications where orbital welding may be impractical.

The Model 2 ‘building block’ approach uses a series of standardised motion stages for functions such as AVC (Arc Voltage Control), torch oscillation (weaving), onboard wire feeder and travel. Up to eight motion axes of movement can be integrated into a welding system and controlled by the AMI model 415 power supply, including positioners, side beams, welding lathes, seamers and rotators. The Model 2 series can also be equipped with a wide variety of general purpose and specialised welding torches including hot wire and remote arc viewing systems.

› The Arc Machines Model 2 specialised welding components

Arc Machines Inc – USA Fax : +1 818 890 3724 Email : sue.gilbert@arcmachines.com • Website : www.arcmachines.com

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J ANUARY /F EBRUARY 2007