Welding Automation

Abstract

This chapter focuses on automation of welding processes that are commonly used in industry for joining metals, thermoplastics, and composite materials. It includes a brief review of the most important welding techniques, welding equipment and power sources, sensors, manipulating devices, and controllers. Particular emphasis is given to monitoring and control strategies, seam-tracking methods, integration of welding equipment with robotic manipulators, computer-based control architectures, and offline programming of robotic welding systems. Application examples demonstrating state-of-the-art and recent advances in robot-based welding and AI-based techniques are also presented. Conclusions define next challenges and future trends in enhancing of welding technology and its automation potential, modeling and control of welding processes, development of welding equipment and dedicated robotic manipulators, automation of robot programming and process planning, human-machine interfaces, and integration of the automated robotic stations within the global production system.