Hybrid manual and automated welding systems and methods are described. A hand-held welding tool is manually positioned to engage a workpiece. A weld is started from an initial position based on a first manual operator event. A welding heat source is automatically or autonomously moved along the weld relative to the workpiece from the first position to a second position relative to the workpiece during welding.

An arc-tracking welding method according to the present invention is an arc-tracking welding method in a consumable-electrode-type welding apparatus provided with a weaving function for swinging a torch in the welding direction, wherein a welding current and a welding voltage to be supplied to a consumable electrode include high-frequency components. A change in resistance value resulting from a fluctuation in electrode height is detected from the welding current and the welding voltage during welding. Then, a shift of a weld line is detected from information about the detected resistance value and both end positions of a weaving amplitude.

A robotic electric arc welding system includes a welding torch, a welding robot configured to manipulate the welding torch during a welding operation, a robot controller operatively connected to the welding robot to control weaving movements of the welding torch along a weld seam and at a weave frequency and weave period, and a welding power supply operatively connected to the welding torch to control a welding waveform, and operatively connected to the robot controller for communication therewith. The welding power supply is configured to sample a plurality of weld parameters during a sampling period of the welding operation and form an analysis packet, and process the analysis packet to generate a weld quality score, wherein the welding power supply obtains the weave frequency or the weave period and automatically adjusts the sampling period for forming the analysis packet based on the weave frequency or the weave period.

A joint structure is formed by joining a first plate-shaped member made of steel and a second plate-shaped member made of steel that is overlapped on the first plate-shaped member and that is formed in a long shape. A surface of the first plate-shaped member and both edge portions of the second plate-shaped member along a longitudinal direction are joined by a weld metal.

To solve the problem about the difference in temperature increasing rate between an overlapped part and a one-sheet part so as to further improve the corrosion resistance of plating after hot stamping. An overlapped blank for hot stamping includes: a first steel sheet; and at least one second steel sheet connected to a surface of the first steel sheet via a welding point and smaller in area than the first steel sheet, wherein: the first steel sheet is a plated steel sheet having an aluminum-based plated layer on both faces of the first steel sheet, and the second steel sheet is a plated steel sheet having an aluminum-based plated layer on both faces of the second steel sheet; a coating weight of the aluminum-based plated layer on the first steel sheet is W1 (g/m.sup.2) in terms of an average coating weight on both the faces; a coating weight of the aluminum-based plated layer on a surface on a side not in contact with the first steel sheet in the second steel sheet is W2 (g/m.sup.2); and each of the W1 and the W2 is within a range of 20 g/m.sup.2 or more and 120 g/m.sup.2 or less, and satisfies relationships of Expression (1) and Expression (2).

A self-propelled welding carriage has a body supported by a wheeled suspension having a plurality of wheels including a carriage guide wheel having a tapered rim sized and shaped to roll in conforming contact with a carriage guiding seam of a workpiece, restricting lateral movement of the welding carriage for alignment with the carriage guiding seam. Welding equipment is mounted to the body, and has a welding torch for welding an unwelded seam of the workpiece. The welding torch is mounted to the body relative to the carriage guide wheel for disposition of a welding torch tip of the welding torch in alignment with the unwelded seam of the workpiece to weld the unwelded seam when the welding carriage moves with the carriage guide wheel rolling in the carriage guiding seam. The welding carriage has a motor coupled to drive the carriage guide wheel to propel the welding carriage.

A welding apparatus includes a welding torch mounted to a frame and electrically connectable in a source current path of a welding current source, and an electrically conductive return current roller rollably mounted to the frame a substantially fixed distance from the welding torch. The return current roller is electrically connectable in a return current path of the welding current source, and has a rim sized and shaped to roll in electrically conductive contact with an unwelded seam of a workpiece.

A weld with a stepped configuration is provided. The stepped configuration may be machined from a substrate to form a weld preparation which may accommodate a stepped weld. The weld with a stepped configuration and a controlled procedure exhibits improved service life and improved damage tolerance. A welded joint with a stepped configuration, a joined component with a stepped configuration, and method of welding a stepped configuration are also provided.

A weld with a stepped configuration is provided. The stepped configuration may be machined from a substrate to form a weld preparation which may accommodate a stepped weld. The weld with a stepped configuration and a controlled procedure exhibits improved service life and improved damage tolerance. A welded joint with a stepped configuration, a joined component with a stepped configuration, and method of welding a stepped configuration are also provided.

A welded steel part obtained by welding a first sheet with a second sheet, at least one with a coating of aluminum alloy. The welding uses a welding wire which, after melting and cooling, constitutes a weld bead connecting the first sheet to the second sheet and being part of said welded steel part. The respective peripheral edge of the first and second sheets are in a joggled edge type configuration in which the peripheral edge of the first sheet is arranged above, and on or near the upper face of an end portion of the peripheral edge of the second sheet which is extended by an inclined junction portion, at least one part of the upper face of the inclined junction portion delimits at least laterally with the edge of the peripheral edge of the first sheet a groove receiving the weld bead, the inclined joining portion extending by a welding portion in longitudinal continuity with the peripheral edge of the first sheet.