Resistance Welding Control for Predictive Spatter Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Resistance welding processes face challenges in predicting and preventing weld spatter, which can adversely affect welding quality and lead to contamination and production line inefficiencies due to manual adjustments and increased welding time.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing regression analysis to predict the probability and time of weld spatter by evaluating historical welding data, adapting welding parameters through a regression model, and employing a gradient method to automatically adjust parameters and prevent spatter occurrence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual adjustments are made to prevent weld spatter, then welding quality is improved, but productivity decreases due to increased welding time and production line inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding qualityVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors welding parameters and adjusts them in real-time to prevent spatter without requiring manual intervention. The control unit self-regulates the welding current and other parameters based on detected conditions, making the system self-sufficient in maintaining quality while preserving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors welding parameters such as welding current, voltage, and other relevant data, compares them against optimal ranges, and provides real-time feedback to adjust parameters automatically. This closed-loop control ensures high welding quality while maintaining efficient production speed without manual stops or adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-generated harmful factors

If welding parameters are manually adjusted to prevent spatter, then weld spatter occurrence is reduced, but device complexity increases due to manual intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweld spatter occurrenceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit automatically detects welding conditions and adjusts parameters without requiring external manual intervention. The system monitors itself and makes necessary adjustments to prevent spatter, reducing the complexity of manual operation while maintaining effective spatter control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with automated electronic control. Sensors and control algorithms substitute for human operators, automatically regulating welding parameters to prevent spatter without the complexity of manual intervention procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If regression analysis is used to predict weld spatter, then spatter prevention accuracy is improved, but loss of time occurs during data processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatter prediction accuracyVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs regression analysis on historical welding data in advance to establish predictive models for spatter occurrence. By pre-processing and storing analytical results, the system can quickly predict spatter risk during actual welding without time-consuming real-time calculations, thus maintaining high prediction accuracy while minimizing processing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies regression analysis selectively to critical welding parameters and conditions where spatter risk is highest, rather than analyzing all possible variables. This partial analysis approach maintains sufficient prediction accuracy while significantly reducing the time and computational resources required for data processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive 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

The method effectively reduces weld spatter occurrence, enhancing welding quality and efficiency by automatically adjusting parameters, thereby minimizing manual intervention and production delays.

Implementation Method 1

the welding electrodes are supplied with a welding current for the duration of a welding time, whereby resistance heating of the two workpieces to be welded between the welding electrodes takes place and the workpieces are heated until the required welding temperature is reached

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResistance heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3895834B1Method and control unit for resistance welding
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3895834B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3895834B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for resistance welding, wherein welding processes are carried out (202) in the course of which welding electrodes (111, 112) are pressed against a welding point (125) of workpieces (121, 122) and energized with a welding current according to predetermined welding parameters, wherein welding data describing the welding process are determined in the course of these welding processes (202), wherein an evaluation of the welding data is carried out by means of a regression model (203), wherein in the course of this evaluation a probability with which a weld spatter occurs in a subsequent welding process and furthermore a spatter time at which the weld spatter occurs in the subsequent welding process are determined (204), wherein, when the determined probability reaches a threshold value (205), an adjustment of at least one of the predetermined welding parameters is carried out (206).wherein, in the course of this adjustment, at least one relationship between the probability and/or the spattering time as the dependent variable on the one hand and at least one of the welding parameters as the independent variable on the other hand is determined using the regression model, wherein, based on the determined at least one relationship, at least one of the specified welding parameters is selected and adjusted.