Patent ID: 8471182

Claim:
A robotic welding system for depositing hardfacing material on steel teeth attached to a rolling cutter of a hybrid-type earth boring drill bit, the robotic welding system comprising: a torch positioner having program controllable motion in a vertical plane; a preheating assembly; a plasma transfer arc torch secured to the torch positioner in a substantially vertical orientation and having a nozzle directed downward; a plasma gas supply to the torch having an electrically controllable flow valve; a shielding gas supply to the torch having an electrically controllable flow valve; a transport gas supply to the torch having an electrically controllable flow valve; a powder dosage system connected to the transport gas supply; a robot having a program controllable articulated arm; a jawed chuck attached to the articulated arm, the chuck securing a rock bit cutter; at least one sensor for determining the location of a surface of the cutter; a programmable control system electrically connected to the torch positioner, the torch, the robot, and the sensor; and an adapter being aligned to run substantially true with a programmable axis of the robot's movement; wherein the robot is programmed to position a surface of the cutter in a substantially horizontal plane below the torch prior to the application of hardfacing material to the cutter; and, wherein the positioner is programmed to oscillate the torch along a substantially horizontal axis.