Robot Forearm Feeder Positioning for Welding Interference
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing arc welding robots face challenges in taking various welding postures due to the interference of the wire feeder with workpieces and surrounding components, leading to disturbances in wire feeding and increased operation time.
Innovation Solution
The robot is designed with a feeder positioned between the base end and tip end of the forearm, intersecting with the R axis, allowing separate routing of power and gas cables, which reduces interference and enables flexible welding postures by preventing bending and buckling of cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the wire feeder is positioned on the robot arm, then wire feeding function is integrated, but the feeder interferes with workpieces and surrounding components
Solution Approach 1:
The wire feeder is extracted from the robot arm and positioned on the floor or workbench separately. This extraction eliminates the interference problem while maintaining the integrated wire feeding function through separate but coordinated operation of the feeder and robot arm.
2Area of stationary object
If cables are routed together with wire feeding route, then space is saved, but power cable interferes with wire feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing is segmented into separate paths from the wire feeding route. Power cables and gas cables are routed independently through designated channels or conduits, preventing them from interfering with the wire feeding operation while maintaining organized space utilization.
3Speed
If feeder is positioned close to torch, then wire feeding responsiveness is improved, but interference with workpiece increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder is extracted from the robot arm and repositioned on the floor or workbench at an optimal distance from the workpiece. This positioning maintains wire feeding responsiveness through proper cable management while eliminating physical interference with the workpiece and surrounding components.
4Device complexity
If multiple cables are bundled together, then routing is simplified, but cable bending and buckling occur
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cables are segmented into separate routing paths rather than being bundled together. Power cables, gas cables, and control cables each have dedicated conduits or channels, preventing bending and buckling while maintaining organized and simplified overall routing structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot according to an embodiment includes a flange, a wrist arm, a forearm, a feeder, and a power cable. The flange configured so that a welding torch is attached thereto and configured to rotate about a T axis. The wrist arm configured to rotate about a B axis substantially perpendicular to the T axis and configured to support the flange. The forearm configured to support the wrist arm. The feeder attached to a position between a base end and a tip end of the forearm and configured to feed a welding wire. The power cable is a supply route of electricity to the welding torch and is provided separately from a feeding route of the welding wire.