An Introduction to Laser Welding Robot

How much do you know about welding robot?

Laser welding robot is a kind of industry robot that works on welding, and sometimes on cutting and spraying. In recent years, with the development of electronic technology, computer technology, CNC and robot technology, automatic welding robots has become more and more maturer since its application in the 1960s.

The applications of laser welding robot

Laser welding robot system has been more and more widely used in mobile phones, laptops and other electronic equipment on camera parts, LCD parts and micro motor, micro transformer and other parts welding, it can also be used in LCD TV, advanced digital cameras, aerospace and military manufacturing, advanced auto parts manufacturing and other fields.

Components

When we apply robots in welding, one single machine is significantly not enough. peripheral equipment is also needed. Regular arc welding robot switcher consists of 5 parts.

1. The robot.

It is usually a 6-axis articulated manipulator driven by a servo motor. It consists of drives, transmission mechanisms, robotic arms, joints, and internal sensors. Its task is to accurately ensure the end of the manipulator(welding head) to achieve required position, posture and movement trajectory.

2. Robot control cabinet.

It is the nerve center of the robot switcher, including computer hardware, software and some special circuits, responsible for processing all the information in the process of robot operation and control all its actions.

3. Welding power switch, including welding power supply, special welding gun, etc.

4. Welding sensor and switcher safety protection facilities.

5. Welding fixture.

Working principle

At the beginning, welding robots will be guided by users to operate tasks step-by-step, their automatic memory will enable them to remember the position, the posture, motion parameters, welding parameters, etc.for each action during this guiding process.And automatically generate a program that performs all operations continuously.After the teaching process, just give the robot a starting command, the robot will accurately follow the teaching action, step by step to complete all operations.

The semiconductor laser soldering robot system is equipped with a position correction system to ensure the accuracy of solder joint position and the optimization of process parameters. Its working principle is that after the shot of marking point on the workpiece by camera, the high performance portrait processing device and laser position sensor will correct the welding position and height. Users can set the output power, laser irradiation time, welding temperature curve and other process parameters by setting on the LCD touch screen.

The laser head is equipped with anti-smoke optical lens and protection system, users can just change front protection glass of the lens during maintenance. The compact and powerful laser generator in the system can be used to select the right laser beam for the point diameter. The maximum laser power is 30W and 50W (air cooling), and the laser power can be continuously adjusted to achieve the best welding effect.

The characteristics of laser welding robot

1. Non-contact, the minimum point diameter formed by the laser can be 0. 1mm, the minimum tin feeding device can be 0.2mm, and the welding of micro-spacing package (mount) components can be realized.

2. It is short-time local heating, so the thermal impact on the substrate and surrounding parts is small, the solder joint quality is good.

3. No soldering head consumption, no need to replace the heater, continuous operation with high efficiency.

4. Solder joint crack is not easy to occur when lead-free welding is carried out.

5. The surface temperature of the welding material shall be measured by a non-contact method, not by the method of the contact welding head directly.

What are the advantages of robot welding?

1. It could improve producing efficiency.

  Six axis welding robot has a short response time and fast action. The welding speed is 50 ~ 160cm/min which is much higher than that of manual welding (40 ~ 60cm/min). The robot will not stop during operation as long as water and power supply are guaranteed. High-quality six axis welding robot has a stable performance and there would be no problems malfunctions in ten years on the condition that it will be used and maintained properly.

2. It could improve product quality.

  During the welding process, robot will repeat the action accurately as long as users adjust and settle its welding parameters and movement locus. In the process of robot welding, the welding parameters of each weld seam are constant, and the welding quality is less affected by human factors, which reduces the requirements for workers' operation technology, and ensures the quality of products.

3. Shorten the product transformation cycle and the reduce corresponding equipment investment.

  It can realize welding automation of small batch products. The biggest difference between robots and special machines is that robots can adapt to the production of different-size parts.

The laser welding robot uses the semiconductor laser as the welding heat source, which makes it be more and more widely used in the welding of the camera parts of mobile phones, laptops and other electronic equipment. As the welding heat source of laser welding robot, semiconductor laser (LD) makes the application of miniaturized and high-performance laser welding robot system become reality.

Suggestions for different kinds of products

For the products of small batches, large in size and volume, a simple welding robot operation station or a robot operation station combining welding positioner and robot can be adopted according to the weld seam space distribution of the workpiece,which is suitable for flexible production of "multiple varieties and small batch".

When it comes to the products whose workpiece is of small volume , easy transportation, large batch , multiple modes, the welding process should be subdivided, and the production line combining robot and special welding machine will be adopted, and the modularized welding fixture and rapid mold change process are combined to achieve the purpose of low cost automation with less investment and high efficiency.