Welding Seam Encoding for Readable Process Data Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing welding methods lack a straightforward way to ensure long-term availability and accessibility of information about the welding process, particularly in safety-relevant applications, where control parameters used during the welding seam production are often not documented or available during quality checks.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating information into the control parameters of the welding process, which is then stored in the welding seam itself through detectable external physical properties, allowing for permanent and readable storage of method data and other relevant information directly on the seam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If welding information is stored in separate documentation, then data loss is prevented, but accessibility and long-term availability during quality checks deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the welding information storage function directly into the welding seam itself by encoding parameters into the physical structure of the seam. This combines the structural function of the welding seam with the information storage function, eliminating the need for separate documentation and enabling direct access to welding parameters during quality checks through optical or tactile reading of the seam's physical characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If welding seam properties are used to store information, then information accessibility improves, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in existing welding seam parameters (such as geometry, texture, or physical properties) to encode information. By varying these parameters within the normal range of welding process control, the system embeds information without requiring extreme precision beyond standard welding capabilities, thus balancing information storage with manufacturing feasibility.
3Loss of information
If control parameters are varied to encode information, then information storage capability improves, but welding seam consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the welding seam into distinct sections or zones, each encoding specific information parameters. By dividing the seam into discrete segments with different physical characteristics, the system can store multiple pieces of information without compromising the overall uniformity and structural integrity of the welding seam, as each segment's variations are localized and controlled.
Data Source
AI summary
A welding method materially cohesively bonding at least two components using at least one additive material. A welding seam is produced with a seam course between a seam start and a seam end. The process is controlled using at least one control unit, at least one external physical welding seam property of the welding seam is influenced by a control parameter of the control unit, and information is included in the control parameter. The information, during the process is stored in the welding seam between a start point and an end point in the seam course using the at least one external physical welding seam property so that the information can be read, optically and/or haptically, from a sequence of the at least one detectable external physical welding seam property along the course of the seam in the region between the start point and the end point.