Page 21 - MetalForming September 2009

improvement in the design of the gas diffusers and lenses, which smooth out the shielding-gas flow and allow for greater tungsten stickout, can provide better access to tight joint configurations.
Lastly, production-monitoring soft- ware can aid in weld-data collection, and is designed to allow fabricators to ana- lyze and improve their welding opera- tions and processes. It also aids in meet- ing the requirements of ISO, Six Sigma, statistical process control (SPC), quality cost delivery (QCD) and overall equip- ment effectiveness (OEE) programs.
Is Robotic GTAW Right for Your Company?
There are a number of questions to ask when considering a move to robot- ic GTAW. They include:
• Is GTAW an integral part of the manufacturing process? Are you looking to improve productivity and imple- ment high levels of repeatable weld quality on mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, titanium or other
exotic alloys?
• Are you experiencing quality prob-
lems or competitive cost pressures from your customers? Do you have difficul- ty in hiring qualified GTA welders? Is your turnover of trained welders exces- sive? Are your labor costs increasing?
• Do you have stringent quality requirements that could be improved by automating your welding operations? Do you need improved process control for travel speed, heat input and gas cov- erage that an automated solution might provide?
Robotic GTAW already is used in a range of successful applications, including fus- ing of coil ends, joining cor- ner edges of thin materials, pipe welding of exotic mate- rials, and on instrument diaphragms and delicate expansion bellows.
• Are you working with a robotic GTAW integrator that is knowledgeable in the process and can provide
ongoing future support for the robot system, as your needs change?
The best way to determine if your company can benefit from robotic GTAW is to ask a welding-equipment supplier to review your part prints or apply a robot—in a test-laboratory envi- ronment—to your actual parts for a no- charge productivity-improvement analy- sis. Applications engineers will analyze your welding processes and procedures and propose improvements to provide the best return on investment and increase in productivity and quality. MF
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