Patent ID: 6362456
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A method for controlling the quality of a weld during a weld process, the weld process including an automated welding apparatus for applying a weld bead along a weld seam to join a first work piece to a second work piece, the method comprising the steps of:measuring weld seam characteristics to obtain a first set of data; determining a weld seam profile based on the first set of data; predicting a desired weld bead profile based on the weld seam profile; determining optimal welding parameters for the weld process to achieve the desired weld bead profile; applying the weld bead along the weld seam; measuring weld bead characteristics to obtain a second set of data for defining an actual weld bead profile; comparing the desired weld bead profile to the actual weld bead profile; and modifying the weld process if there is a difference between the actual weld bead profile and the desired weld bead profile.