Patent ID: 6506996
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A method of performing preventative maintenance on a spot welding gun, comprising:collecting a plurality of C-factors during a depreciation cycle of said spot welding gun; computing a plurality of C-factor averages (Ca) of said plurality of C-factors, at least one of said plurality of C-factor averages (Ca) computed for each of a plurality of predetermined time intervals within said depreciation cycle; establishing a lower limit for said plurality of C-factor averages (Ca); computing a plurality of rates of depreciation (Rd) of said plurality of C-factor averages (Ca); establishing a threshold value for said plurality of rates of depreciation (Rd); performing preventative maintenance on said spot welding gun if a comparison between at least one of said plurality of rates of depreciation (Rd) and said threshold value for said rates of depreciation (Rd) indicates an upcoming failure of said welding gun; and performing preventative maintenance on said spot welding gun if a comparison between at least one of said plurality of C-factor averages (Ca) and said lower limit for said plurality of C-factor averages (Ca) indicates said upcoming failure of said welding gun.