Collaborative robotic laser welding workstation

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of collaborative robot laser welding workstations, including platform main body, platform main body includes upper layer and lower layer, lower layer includes containing frame, laser generator is placed respectively in containing frame, collaborative robot control cabinet and wire feeder;Upper layer sets up collaborative robot, its end sets up 6 axle flange, 6 axle flange is connected with switching support, switching support is connected with handheld laser welder and laser weld seam tracker respectively;Artificial handheld operation can be replaced, in the welding operation of handheld welder, the welding of simple trajectory such as straight line, the planar curve with smaller curvature can be automatically realized, while the welding of aluminum plate, stainless steel is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a collaborative robot laser welding workstation. Background Technology

[0002] Laser welding is a highly efficient and precise welding method that uses a high-energy-density laser beam as a heat source. Handheld laser welding, as a cost-effective technology, is widely used in industries such as kitchen and bathroom fixtures and sheet metal processing.

[0003] Similarly, in the field of industrial automation, industrial robots are often used in conjunction with oscillating welding heads to process parts. While this approach is suitable for mass production, it often requires a large workspace.

[0004] This has led to a demand for automated or semi-automated laser welding manufacturing that combines industrial and manual processes. Currently, the industrial manufacturing sector faces a need to transition from arc welding to laser welding, coupled with a shortage of welders. This necessitates low-cost, highly flexible, easy-to-use, highly safe, and easy-to-debug automated solutions. While some solutions on the market involve specialized machines or industrial robots paired with welding heads, these are difficult to use and require highly skilled operators. In contrast, a collaborative robot solution combined with a handheld laser welding torch can automate the welding of straight lines, planar curves, and simple three-dimensional curves, significantly improving production efficiency. Furthermore, due to the inherent high safety features of collaborative robots, this solution also protects the safety of the personnel performing the welding. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to propose a collaborative robot laser welding workstation, which transforms manual operation of handheld welding guns into automated operation, thereby improving production efficiency and personnel safety.

[0006] To address the aforementioned issues, this utility model provides a collaborative robot laser welding workstation, comprising a platform body with an upper and a lower layer. The lower layer includes a receiving frame, within which a laser generator, a collaborative robot control cabinet, and a wire feeder are placed. The upper layer of the platform body houses the collaborative robot. The collaborative robot is characterized by a 6-axis flange at its end, with a transfer bracket connected to the flange. A laser welding gun and a laser weld seam tracker are connected to the transfer bracket, and the laser welding gun is a handheld laser welding gun.

[0007] Preferably, the lower part of the platform is equipped with four wheels with brakes.

[0008] Preferably, the upper and lower layers of the welding workstation include a plane for mounting a robot, and the plane for mounting the robot has multiple positioning through holes.

[0009] Preferably, the laser is cooled by compression, with air intake and exhaust through the perforated holes in the lower layer of the welding workstation, working in conjunction with an internal compressor. The upper layer of the welding workstation includes a protective cover, and the protective cover includes a safety door. When the laser is not outputting laser light, the safety door can be opened to teach the robot, and when the laser is outputting, the safety door is closed.

[0010] Preferably, the laser weld seam tracker can communicate with the robot in real time, identify the trajectory of the workpiece that is misplaced, fit the trajectory, and correct the trajectory in real time when the robot is moving.

[0011] Preferably, it can be locally controlled via a remote control, and the top includes indicator lights to display the operating status of the device.

[0012] Preferably, it includes a host system whose user interface can set and view the robot's I / O signals, laser control information, and wire feeder motor parameters. The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: a) It can replace manual handheld operation, automatically achieving welding of simple trajectories such as straight lines and planar curves with small curvature in handheld welding operations, while simultaneously achieving welding of aluminum plates and stainless steel. b) It achieves functional and structural integration of process equipment, integrating functional components such as robots, wire feeders, lasers, welding torches, control cabinets, and laser weld seam trackers into a single integrated machine. This not only enables real-time trajectory correction but also allows control of all equipment via a host system teach pendant. c) Compressed air cooling improves heat dissipation efficiency, and the collaborative robot platform for the laser can move on wheels, making it portable. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A structural diagram from another perspective; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the collaborative robot of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a control diagram of the present invention.

[0014] In the diagram: 1. Laser weld seam tracker; 2. Handheld laser welding gun; 3. Signal light; 4. Protective cover; 5. Observation window; 6. Collaborative robot; 7. Safety door; 8. Wire feeder; 9. Brake wheel; 10. Collaborative robot control cabinet; 11. Laser generator; 12. Remote control; 20. First rotating axis; 30. Second rotating axis; 40. Adapter bracket; 100. Plane for installing the robot. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0016] This utility model discloses a collaborative robot laser welding workstation (which may be simply referred to as a welding workstation), such as Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the platform includes a main body with wheels (preferably four wheels), divided into upper and lower layers. The lower layer of the platform includes a housing frame, within which three devices are placed: a laser generator (hereinafter referred to as the laser), a collaborative robot control cabinet, and a wire feeder. At least one collaborative robot is placed on the upper layer of the platform. The end effector of the collaborative robot includes a 6-axis flange, on which an adapter bracket is mounted. The bracket is connected to a laser welding gun 2 and a laser weld seam tracker 1. The laser welding gun 2 is a handheld laser welding gun.

[0017] Preferably, the platform is equipped with four wheels with brakes on its lower part (i.e., below the lower layer of the platform), which can be moved to any position. The brakes need to be locked during operation.

[0018] The laser unit utilizes an air-conditioning compressor for cooling, eliminating the need for an external water chiller. Airflow is controlled via perforations in the lower layer of the welding workstation, working in conjunction with an internal compressor to achieve cooling. The upper layer of the welding workstation includes a protective enclosure. When the laser is not emitting laser light, a safety door can be opened for robot teaching operations. When laser light is being emitted, the safety door must be closed to prevent laser reflection from entering the operator's eyes. The operator can monitor the welding process internally through an observation window on the safety door.

[0019] After debugging, the operator closes the safety door, can use a handheld remote control for local control, and can observe the equipment's operating status through the indicator lights on top.

[0020] The welding workstation includes a plane 100 between its upper and lower layers for mounting a robot. This plane 100 has multiple positioning through holes with a diameter of 16mm and a spacing of 50mm, allowing the operator to freely install tooling fixtures.

[0021] The collaborative robot features a 6-axis flange equipped with a welding torch. Operators can use the existing buttons on the flange to drag and teach the robot, determining the weld seam trajectory. A laser weld seam tracker communicates with the robot in real time. It can identify misaligned workpiece trajectories, fit a new trajectory, and correct deviations in real time as the robot moves. This approach enables highly user-friendly robot programming. Figure 4 The welding effect can be seen from this.

[0022] See Figure 3The collaborative robot includes a first rotating axis 20, a second rotating axis 30, and a transfer bracket 40. The transfer bracket 40 is used to mount a laser weld seam tracker 1 and a handheld laser welding gun 2.

[0023] Among them, see Figure 4 The robot's I / O signals, laser control information, wire feeder motor parameters, and other important functions of process equipment are integrated into the host system's teach pendant interface. This means the operator can manage the entire system through a single page.

[0024] The technical principles of this utility model have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. These descriptions are merely for explaining the principles of this utility model and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model in any way. Based on this explanation, those skilled in the art can readily conceive of other specific embodiments of this utility model without any inventive effort, and these embodiments will all fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A collaborative robot laser welding workstation, comprising a platform body, the platform body comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, the platform body lower layer comprising a containing frame, a laser generator, a collaborative robot control cabinet and a wire feeder are respectively placed in the containing frame; the platform body upper layer is provided with a collaborative robot, characterized in that: The collaborative robot has a 6-axis flange at its end effector, and an adapter bracket is connected to the 6-axis flange. The adapter bracket is connected to a laser welding gun and a laser weld seam tracker. The laser welding gun is a handheld laser welding gun.

2. The collaborative robotic laser welding workstation of claim 1, wherein: The laser generator uses compression cooling, with air intake and exhaust through perforations in the lower part of the welding workstation, working in conjunction with an internal compressor.

3. The collaborative robotic laser welding station of claim 1, wherein: The lower level of the platform is equipped with four wheels with brakes.

4. The collaborative robotic laser welding workstation of claim 1, wherein: The upper and lower layers of the welding workstation include a plane for mounting the robot, which has multiple positioning through holes.

5. The collaborative robotic laser welding workstation of claim 1, wherein: The upper part of the welding workstation includes a protective enclosure, which includes a safety door. When the laser is not outputting laser light, the safety door can be opened to teach the robot. When the laser is outputting laser light, the safety door is closed.

6. The collaborative robotic laser welding workstation of claim 1, wherein: The laser weld seam tracker can communicate with the robot in real time, identify the trajectory of a workpiece that is misplaced, fit the trajectory, and correct the trajectory in real time when the robot is moving.

7. The collaborative robotic laser welding workstation of claim 1, wherein: It can be locally controlled via remote control, and includes indicator lights on the top to display the device's operating status.

8. The collaborative robotic laser welding workstation of claim 1, wherein: This includes a host system whose user interface allows users to set and view the robot's I / O signals, laser control information, and wire feeder motor parameters.

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