JPH09253851A - Method and device of automatic welding - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute stabilized welding by fixing a work on a work table rotating and inclining in a specific angle, using a welding torch linearly traveling along XYZ three axes, shutting off a work from outside air with enclosing a work table and welding in a welding chamber not obstructing motion of a welding torch while supplying atmosphere gas. SOLUTION: A work table 4 rotates 360 deg. around the vertical axis and is rotatable/inclinable around the horizontal axis. A welding torch 2 is linearly moved along XYZ three axes. A work 1 made of titanium alloy, zirconium alloy or tantalum alloy is fixed on the work table 4. A welding chamber is formed with a dome 7A and canopy 7B. The dome 7A has spherical upper outer surface and opening in the center. The canopy 7B exists above the dome 7A, its lower side surface is spherical and in contact with the dome 7A. The canopy 7B has the opening part in the center, allowing the welding torch 2 vertical motion. By operating the work 1 and torch 2 in relative motion, automatic welding is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing automatic welding on a predetermined portion of individual parts under a controlled atmosphere.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many golf club heads are made of titanium alloy. Several methods of manufacturing titanium alloy heads have been devised, but in adjusting the ball repulsion force and the position of the center of gravity as desired by subtly setting the wall thickness of each part, the bottom part and the top and side parts An optimal method is to separate the parts from each other, prepare the former by sheet metal working or casting, and prepare the latter by casting, and integrate them by welding.

This welding is usually performed by TIG welding in an inert gas atmosphere. In order to stabilize quality and improve productivity, it is desirable to automate welding, but until now, no appropriate technology has been established.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to weld a selected portion of individual parts under a controlled atmosphere, as represented by the manufacture of titanium alloy golf club heads. The object is to provide an automatic welding method and apparatus that can carry out welding in response to delicate curves and also keep the amount of filler metal to be constant to provide a welded product of stable quality. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method of automatic welding according to the present invention is capable of rotating 360 degrees about a vertical axis and tilting left and right within 90 degrees about a horizontal axis. Fix the work to be welded on,
Using a welding torch attached to a torch holder that can move linearly along the three axes of XYZ, a workpiece and a welding torch are automatically supplied with a welding wire according to a predetermined program. The automatic welding is performed at a desired position on the work piece while making relative movement of the work piece. The work piece is wrapped around and the work piece is almost isolated from the outer space, but the movement of the welding torch and the supply of the welding wire are not hindered. It is characterized in that the work and the tip of the welding torch are put in a welding chamber, and an atmosphere gas is supplied into the welding chamber to control the atmosphere in the chamber to carry out the above welding.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION One embodiment of an automatic welding apparatus of the present invention for carrying out the above method is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a work (1) a work table (4) having a fixture. ), A work table driving means (5), a welding torch (2), and a welding torch for rotating the work table by 360 ° about the vertical axis and tilting the work table by an angle of 45 ° left or right about the horizontal axis. Torch drive means (6) for linearly moving the workpiece along the three axes of XYZ, and a dome having a spherical outer upper surface and a central opening for covering the work table.
(7A), and a canopy (7A) having a spherical lower surface on the dome and allowing the vertical movement of the welding torch in the center (7A)
A welding chamber in combination with B), and a program means (not shown) for driving the work table driving device and the welding torch driving device according to a predetermined program to control the atmosphere in the welding chamber. The ambient gas supply means (not shown) and the wire supply means (not shown) are added.

Another aspect of the automatic welding apparatus of the present invention is one in which the welding chamber consisting of the dome and the canopy in the aspect of FIGS. 1 to 3 is replaced with a bellows, that is, as shown in FIGS. Work (1) Work table (4) with fixtures, this work table is rotated 360 ° around the vertical axis and 45 ° to the left and right around the horizontal axis
A work table driving means (5) for rotating and tilting within an angle, a welding torch (2), a welding torch driving means (6) for linearly moving the welding torch along the three axes of XYZ,
A bellows (8A) that is vertically expandable and retractable horizontally, and has a lower end opening closed by a work table and an upper end opening that prevents vertical movement and relative rotation of the welding torch. A welding chamber which is not present or is closed by a top plate (8B) fixed to the welding torch, and program means (not shown) for driving the work table drive device and the welding torch drive device according to a predetermined program. And a wire supply means (not shown) and an atmosphere gas supply means (not shown) for controlling the atmosphere in the welding chamber.

In either aspect, the worktable drive means (5) and welding torch drive means (6) should be programmed for their movement so that welding can be accomplished with minimal relative movement, but nevertheless. The welding torch (2) has to move around on the work piece. It is the mechanism shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the mechanism shown in FIG. 4 that makes it possible to control the atmosphere. In FIG. 2, the welding torch (2) is located to the left of the work (1), which is shown in FIG.
When moving to the right as shown in Fig. 7, the seal is maintained by the sliding of the spherical surface on the contact surface between the dome (7A) and the canopy (7B).

However, in this first mode, the welding torch moves up and down in the center of the canopy (7B), and the opening in the center of the canopy has a shape that allows it, so some gas leaks from the opening. In order to sufficiently control the atmosphere, it is advisable to supply the atmosphere gas so that the pressure inside the welding chamber becomes slightly positive and allow the gas to gradually leak from the gap. Taking TIG welding of a titanium alloy as an example, if the oxygen in the atmosphere is 1% or less, there is no problem in welding. It is usually easy to achieve an oxygen concentration below this range.

In the second aspect, when the relative movement between the work table and the welding torch is relatively small, the welding torch (2) and the top plate (8B) of the bellows (8A) can be fixed. However, when the relative movement is large, it is preferable that the top plate is not fixed and a combination that allows vertical movement and rotation of the welding torch is allowed.

When the welding torch and the bellows top plate are fixed to each other, the welding chamber is almost sealed, so that the supply amount of the atmospheric gas can be small. In some cases, it is necessary to provide a gas outlet to discharge gas little by little. It is needless to say that the gas pressure in the welding chamber can be made appropriate and the flow rate of the atmospheric gas can be adjusted by adjusting the discharge amount.

Besides, various additions and modifications can be made to the present invention. For example, there is provided a means for automatically taking out a welded work piece from the table and automatically placing an unwelded work piece on the table. In addition, a jig having an appropriate shape and one or more air cylinders may be used to fix the work to the work fixture.

[0013]

According to the present invention, automatic welding performed under a controlled atmosphere can be realized, and a welded product of stable quality can be provided. Since this welding can be performed with high productivity, it can also contribute to cost reduction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a first embodiment of an automatic welding apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the welding chamber portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, showing a case where the welding torch is located on the left side of the drawing with respect to the work.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where the welding torch has moved to the right in the figure with respect to the work in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing a second embodiment of the automatic welding apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Work 2 Welding torch 3 Welding wire 4 Work table 5 Work table driving means 6 Welding torch driving means 7A Dome 7B Canopy 8A Bellows 8B Top plate

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A workpiece to be welded is fixed on a workpiece table that can be rotated 360 ° about a vertical axis and can be tilted left and right within 90 ° about the horizontal axis. Using a welding torch attached to a torch holder that can move linearly along the three axes of XYZ, a workpiece and a welding torch are automatically supplied with a welding wire according to a predetermined program. The automatic welding is performed at a desired position on the work piece while making relative movement of the work piece. The work piece is wrapped around and the work piece is almost isolated from the outer space, but the movement of the welding torch and the supply of the welding wire are not hindered. The work and the tip of the welding torch are put in the welding chamber, and the above-mentioned welding is carried out while controlling the atmosphere in the chamber by supplying atmospheric gas into this welding chamber. The method of automatic welding to be. 2. The automatic welding method according to claim 1, wherein the work to be welded is a titanium alloy, zirconium alloy or tantalum alloy, and TIG welding is performed in an Ar gas atmosphere. 3. A work table provided with a work fixture, a work table driving means for rotating the work table 360 ° about a vertical axis, and tilting the work table 90 degrees to the left and right about a horizontal axis. Welding torch, this welding torch X-
Welding torch drive means for linearly moving along the three axes of YZ, dome covering the work table, dome having an upper outer surface having a spherical surface and having an opening at the center, and a dome existing on the dome and having a lower surface having a spherical surface. In the welding chamber, the welding chamber is combined with a canopy having an opening that allows the welding torch to move up and down in the center, and a program means for driving the work table drive unit and the welding torch drive unit according to a predetermined program. Apparatus for automatic welding, which is configured by adding an atmosphere gas supply means for controlling the atmosphere of, and a wire supply means. 4. A work table having a work fixture, work table driving means for rotating the work table 360 ° about a vertical axis, and rotating and tilting the work table 90 degrees to the left and right about a horizontal axis. Welding torch, this welding torch X-
A welding torch drive means for linearly moving along the three axes of YZ, a bellows that is extendable and contractible in the vertical direction and can be tilted in the horizontal direction, and the opening at the lower end is closed by a work table. , The welding chamber in which the opening at the upper end does not interfere with the vertical movement and relative rotation of the welding torch or is closed by a top plate fixed to the welding torch, and the work table driving device and the welding torch driving device are predetermined. An automatic welding apparatus comprising program means for driving according to a program, and an atmosphere gas supply means for controlling the atmosphere in the welding chamber and a wire supply means.