Arc-Eye CSS

laser visionsystem

3D laser vision

Welding seam tracking with

Valk Welding
info@valkwelding.com
www.valkwelding.com

Makes it happen

Valk Welding

Seam tracking for weldin

Valk Welding develops and builds the Arc-Eye CSS (Circular

Scanning System) laser sensor for real-time seam tracking
applications. The Arc-Eye laser sensor system enables the
welding robot to accurately track the joint to be welded
during the welding process. This is achieved by scanning
position, orientation and geometry of the part and automatically correcting the movements of the welding robot where
necessary. The Arc-Eye laser sensor registers all measurement
deviations within the scanning range of the laser sensor. This
does away with the need to measure deviations beforehand
and correct them manually in the welding program. This substantially increases the return and quality of the robotised
welding process.

Benefits of seam tracking with

a laser visionsystem
delivers a precisely welded seam
manual program corrections no longer required
complex welding jigs no longer required
raises the process speed
raises the process precision
prevents unnecessary rejection

Deviating measurements
compared to programs?

Products that are a precise fit for the welding robot can
theoretically be welded one by one by the robot without any program corrections. However in practice the
welding seams may deviate from the program positions
owing to the material being warped by the one-sided
application of heat.
With steel structures in particular, deviations over large
lengths can sometimes run up to several centimetres.
Irregular weld-gaps and complex shapes often need to be
corrected in a robotised welding process.

How can this be prevented?

Various methods have been developed to ensure that
the welding robot precisely moves along the joint to be
welded. Pre-weld touch sensing by using the gas cup of
the welding torch, is the best known example. The use of
this method is however restricted to corner-joints and
T-joints. Touch sensing with the aid of the welding wire,
which Valk Welding has developed into the Quick Touch
System, does not have that restriction and is therefore
gaining in popularity. Both methods check the welding
seam before the start of the welding process.

Why a vision system?

The advantage of using a laser vision system, which

scans the seam to be welded during the process, is the
ability to track and thus follow any deviation in realtime. Deviations are immediately detected and adapted
during the process so that the welding robot precisely
moves along the actual position of the seam to be welded. While using a laser sensor there is no need to check
the route positions first by using the gas cup or welding
wire. This way cycle times are substantially reduced.

Arc Eye

Arc Eye

Arc Eye

Arc-Eye 3D laser visionsystem

ng with Arc Eye

Arc Eye

Integrated in Valk Welding

tool change
The Arc-Eye laser sensor is fully integrated in the Valk
Welding tool change system. This guarantees perfect
calibration of the laser sensor in relation to the Tool
Center Point (TCP). Valk Weldings software engineers
have made a special software interface with the
Panasonic welding robots for this purpose.
Valk Welding thus offers a seam tracking system for
welding applications based on laser vision that is completely integrated into one single system.

Benefits of the Valk

Welding Arc-Eye vision
system

fully integrated in Valk Welding torch switching

perfect calibration of the camera system in relation to
the TCP
resistant to heat and dirt during the welding process
usable as plug and play system on any Panasonic
welding robot
position, orientation and welding seam geometrics
measurement possible in just a single scan

Quality improvement

Valk Welding offers welding seam tracking with the

Arc-Eye laser sensor in its welding robot systems and
other mechanised systems. As well as time savings, the
Arc-Eye laser sensor systems make a substantial contribution to raising product quality, consistent replication,
effective deposition of welding additives and improved
heat distribution. The latter point results in less product
deformation and a neater welding seam.

Arc Eye

Applications

The Arc-Eye laser sensor is suitable for detecting and automatically tracking
virtually all welding seams that are found in practice. The Arc-Eye laser sensor corrects the set welding parameters and robot movements in realtime
during the production process. The Arc-Eye laser sensor makes it possible to
use the robot to weld work pieces with an irregular weld-gap of the welding
seam, non-constant measurement tolerances and complex shapes without
any manual corrections or search routines being needed in advance. This
creates options for the robotised or mechanised welding of complex work
pieces in single or small series.

Specifications of the
Arc-Eye laser sensor
The Netherlands
Valk Welding B.V.
Staalindustrieweg 15
Postbus 60
2950 AB Alblasserdam
info@valkwelding.com
www.valkwelding.com
Tel. +31 (0)78 69 170 11
Fax +31 (0)78 69 195 15
Belgium:
Valk Welding NV
Tel. +32 (0)3 685 14 77
Fax +32 (0)3 685 12 33
France:
Valk Welding France
Tel. +33 (0)3 20 10 00 39
Fax +33 (0)3 20 10 01 12
Denmark:
Valk Welding DK S/A
Tel. +45 44 68 31 81
Fax +45 44 68 31 87
Czech Republic:
Valk Welding CZ s.r.o.
Tel.: +420 556 730 954
Fax: +420 556 731 680

Steenkist Communicatie - ww.steencom.nl - 2013

sensor diameter
: 45 mm
sensor length
: 135 mm
weight
: 500 grams
operational temp* : +5C - +40C
ambient temp*
: -10C - +60C
cooling
: with dry, clean air from +10C - +30C
welding seam forms : commonest types
max speed
: depending on the welding process
scanning speed
4000 measures a second
detection
: linear CCD
Stand-off type
: short
/ medium
/ Long
resolution depth
: 25m
/ 60m
/ 125m
sideward resolution : 45m
/ 80m
/ 175m
visible field
: 12mm-18mm / 20mm-34mm / 38mm-76mm
visible depth
: 30mm-50mm / 50mm-100mm / 75mm-165mm
nominal distance
: 40mm
/ 75mm
/ 120mm
laser output
: 670 nm, 4.5 mW, class 3R
system output
: digital/analogue i/o, rs-232, Ethernet
* Arc Eye is equipped with a sensor which automatically shuts down the system
when the inside temperature is above 60 C.