Multi-Electrode Welding Synchronization for Stable Low-Heat Joining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multiple welding processes using multiple consumable electrodes face instability and high heat input, leading to suboptimal welding quality, particularly when attempting to implement the CMT mix welding process on multiple electrodes simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A synchronized multiple welding process is implemented, alternating between short-circuit and warm welding phases with defined synchronization events for each electrode, ensuring stable temporal relationships between short-circuit and pulse welding phases to minimize mutual influence and achieve lower heat input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple electrodes perform CMT mix welding process simultaneously, then welding performance increases, but process stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding performanceVSAvoidprocess stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by alternating between short-circuit welding phases and pulse welding phases in a synchronized manner across multiple electrodes. Each electrode follows a periodic cycle where short-circuit phases are coordinated to occur simultaneously, creating stable temporal patterns that prevent chaotic interactions between multiple welding processes while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by synchronizing the short-circuit welding phases before transitioning to pulse welding phases. The control units coordinate the timing of short-circuit events in advance, ensuring that all electrodes are in a controlled state before initiating the higher-energy pulse phases, which stabilizes the overall multi-electrode process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple electrodes perform welding simultaneously without synchronization, then welding speed increases, but heat input control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding speedVSAvoidheat input
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic action to alternate between low-heat short-circuit phases and higher-heat pulse phases in a synchronized manner. During short-circuit phases, all electrodes operate simultaneously at low heat input, then transition together to pulse phases where heat input is controlled and coordinated, maintaining temperature control while achieving high welding speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The control units perform preliminary coordination of the short-circuit welding phases before initiating pulse phases. By synchronizing the timing of short-circuit events across all electrodes in advance, the system ensures that heat input is controlled during the transition to higher-energy pulse welding, preventing uncontrolled temperature increases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple electrodes perform welding without temporal coordination, then manufacturing efficiency increases, but welding quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidwelding quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by synchronizing the welding cycles of multiple electrodes, where short-circuit phases occur simultaneously followed by coordinated pulse phases. This periodic coordination ensures that material transfer and molten pool formation occur in a controlled, repeating pattern across all electrodes, maintaining high manufacturing efficiency while ensuring consistent welding quality through stable temporal relationships

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The control units establish preliminary temporal coordination of welding phases before execution. By pre-synchronizing the timing of short-circuit and pulse phases across all electrodes, the system ensures that welding parameters are coordinated in advance, maintaining both high productivity and consistent welding quality through controlled temporal patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables stable and efficient multiple welding processes with reduced heat input, allowing for the successful execution of CMT mix welding on multiple electrodes without compromising welding quality.

Implementation Method 1

an electric welding voltage or a resulting electric welding current ignites an arc between the electrode and the base material. This arc melts the electrode and the area of the base material surrounding the electrode, creating a material-to-material bond

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric arc: Electric Arc

Implementation Method 2

an electric welding voltage or a resulting electric welding current ignites an arc

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

a consumable electrode made of a metallic electrode material is surrounded by a so-called shielding gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas shielding:

Implementation Method 4

the control units (9A, 9B) are designed to carry out a welding process with a short-circuit welding phase SPA1, SPB1 and a pulse welding phase SPA2, SPB2, which alternate periodically, and in that at least the control unit (9A) of a first welding device A is designed to send synchronization information (Y) about a defined first synchronization event SEA1 of the short-circuit welding phase SPA1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSynchronization:

Data Source

PatentEP4263105B1Multiple welding method
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 FRONIUS INT GMBH
  • EP4263105B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4263105B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4263105B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to specify a multiple welding method using at least two consumable electrodes (3A, 3B) which enables stable welding processes at the electrodes (3A, 3B) and also less heat input into the base material (6) compared with the multiple pulse welding method, the invention provides for carrying out at each of the at least two electrodes (3A, 3B) a welding process comprising a short-circuit welding phase (SPA1, SPB1) and a hot welding phase (SPA2, SPB2) with higher heat input into the base material (6) relative to the short-circuit welding phase (SPA1, SPB1), the short-circuit welding phase (SPA1, SPB1) and the hot welding phase (SPA2, SPB2) periodically alternating, and for the short-circuit welding phases (SPA1, SPB1) of the welding processes of the at least two electrodes (3A, 3B) to be temporally synchronized on the basis of at least one defined first synchronization event (SEA1, SEB1) per short-circuit welding phase (SPA1, SPB1).