Welding parameters

Welding parameters are defined for a Welding operation on the task side of Robotmaster.

Applying weld parameters

As you edit welding parameters on the left, hover with the mouse cursor over the workpiece in the viewport to see a preview of the weld path.

Once you click in the viewport to apply the weld path, welding parameters can’t be changed for that path. If you need to change parameters, delete the path from the list and start over.

Welding parameters

Selection filter

This option affects how workpiece geometry is automatically selected when creating a weld path.

• All
  Selects both edges and curves.

• Edges only
  Selects edges of entities on solids.

• Curves only
  Selects curves on wireframes that are at the edge.

Tool orientation

This affects the welding tool orientation relative to the selected edge or curve on the workpiece when applying a weld path. You can change between these options as you apply weld paths to get the desired result.

• Rolling ball
  With this algorithm, a ball (in green) is used along the edge or curve to create vectors for the weld path. The ball will bump up against other workpiece surfaces. This is a good general purpose option for several different types of weld joints.

  

  Use the Ball radius setting to control the size of the ball, to help it fit into tight spaces to get the proper tool orientation.

  

• Body contact
  From the selected edge, this technique detects adjacent bodies and then creates a bisecting angle between the surfaces of the bodies.

  

• Bisector
  Path vectors will bisect the current face and next face on a single body.

  

• Perpendicular
  Path vectors will be perpendicular to the edge surface on a single body.

  

• Tangential
  Path vectors will be tangent to the edge surface on a single body.

  

Chain tangent edges

When enabled, the selected edge and all tangent edges will be included in the path.

When cleared, only the selected edge will be included in the path.

Flip vectors

Rotate path vectors by 180°.

Contact distance

The maximum distance (mm) used to detect other bodies in the surrounding space. This is used with the Body contact, Bisector, Perpendicular, and Tangential tool orientation options.

Contact angle

The maximum angle (°) between the surfaces that should be in contact. This is used with the Body contact, Bisector, Perpendicular, and Tangential tool orientation options.

Ball radius

Used with the Rolling ball option for tool orientation, this defines size of the ball.

Obstacle detection distance

When enabled, this looks for obstacles that are tangent to the weld path. If an obstacle is detected, the weld path will be trimmed so that it doesn’t go past the obstacle.

Auto join

When enabled, this will automatically join adjacent weld paths into a single path.

Join only if same vectors

Auto join will only join adjacent paths when the end and start vectors of the paths are the same.

Join condition distance

When auto joining two paths, this defines the distance over which to gradually transition from one vector to another.

Corner stop

Stop the weld path at the specified distance before reaching a corner.

This option may be useful in tight spaces to prevent the weld tool from colliding with the workpiece.

Corner stop distance

This defines the distance away from a corner to stop the weld path.

Extend / shorten

This technique creates a base path and then extends or shortens it by the specified distance.

Entering negative Start offset and End offset values will shorten the path by that distance.

Extension mode

• Mixed
  Combination of Line and Follow path.

• Line
  The extension will follow a straight line from the nearest entity at the start or end.

  

• Follow path
  The extension will be applied along the existing path for the offset distance.

  

At start / at end

Select the At start and At end options to extend or shorten a path, then enter Start offset and End offset distances (mm).

Push/pull

This option can be used to tilt the torch along the path at an angle, for push or pull welding.

Push orientation

Push will tilt the tool vector back on the path, the weld puddle will lead ahead of the torch.

Pull orientation

Pull will tilt the tool vector forward on the path, leaving the weld puddle lagging behind the torch.

Angle

This defines the push or pull angle (°).

Start / end conditions

This option is similar in effect to push / pull, except that the torch tilt angle transitions gradually from the specified angle to the angle of the path vector.

Transition distance

The distance over which to transition from the specified angle to the angle of the path vector.

Transition angle

Specify a tilt angle.

At start

Apply the Transition angle at the start of the path.

At end

Apply the Transition angle at the end of the path.

Corner retract

Add a retract by the specified distance along the tool direction during the transition.

Tacking / intermittent

This option is used for tack or spot welding.

Weld tack length

Length of the tack weld (mm).

Tacking mode

• Distance
  The Weld tack length and Distance between tacks values are used to place welds on the path.

• Fixed number
  The Weld tack length and Number of tacks values are used to place welds on the path. Welds will be spaced evenly across the entire path.

Distance between tacks

When Tacking mode is set to Distance, this controls the spacing (mm) between tack welds.

Number of tacks

When Tacking mode is set to Fixed number, use this option to specify the number of tack welds to try to place. As long as there is sufficient space, this number of tack welds will be placed on the path. Spacing between the welds will be automatically adjusted.

Auto adjust

When Tacking mode is set to Distance, this option automatically adjusts the distance so welds are spaced evenly across the entire path.

Use tack center reference

When Tacking mode is set to Distance, this option is active.

Align at start

Place first tack weld at the start of the path.

Align at end

Place the last tack weld at the end of the path.

MultiPass

This option can be used to apply multi-pass welding in a weld path. A series of weld passes will be applied on the path, according to the multipass options.

Use Z up order

When enabled, this sequence of passes relative to the walls will follow the Z up direction, starting with the root pass. On a T joint weld, this affects which wall pass to make first.

Keep same direction

When cleared, individual passes in a multi-pass weld path will alternate in direction. For example, if the first pass is done right to left, the next pass will be done left to right.

When enabled, all individual passes in a multi-pass weld path will be processed in the same direction.

Number of layers

Specify the number of weld layers. This number will directly affect the number of weld passes that are made.

Pass offset

Linear distance (mm) along walls between individual weld passes.