Method and apparatus for building up a workpiece by deposit welding
US6274839A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 14, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/49019
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of forming an article comprising in combination the steps of: constructing in a computer (6) memory a first datafile 60) which is a definition of a three dimensional volume model of an article; PA1 executing a computer program (42), which reads the first datafile (60) and performs an algorithm which deconstructs the three dimensional volume model to produce a second datafile (62) comprising a string of sequential relative spatial co-ordinates describing a tool path (90,91) through the three dimensional volume model of the article; PA1 operating a multi-axis welding robot (2) to position the welding head (16) relative to the worktable (12) such that the relative movement follows the path (90,91) defined by the second datafile (62). The operation of the welding head (16) also being controlled to deposit a weld bead as it follows at least a part of the path to build up a solid representation of the three dimensional volume model of the article. The three dimensional volume model of the article being deconstructed by directing a computer representation of a tool within the algorithm to remove a succession of incremental volume portions from the three dimensional volume model o…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.