Guide device for use in the processing, in particular welding, of curved surfaces, in particular pipe surfaces, comprising a flexible elongate body provided with a guide for processing means; tensioning means for tensioning the flexible body around the curved surface; wherein the flexible body is provided along its length with indicators arranged according to a determined pattern, this pattern being such that a determined position along the flexible body can be inferred on the basis of the detection of the indicators.

A welding method and system (4) using a robotic arm (10), a welding robot (18) and a welding table (2) placed at an angle from horizontal to hold two C-channels (6 and 8) facing each other to maintain position and be welded together. C-channels (6 and 8) face each other to form a closed channel at increased welding speed with less materials having resulting benefits including constant welding, less distortion, and less welding material. Welding begins with restraining C-channels (6 and 8) in conjunction with the angled welding table (2). A robotic arm (10) handles C-channels (6 and 8) to move, place and restrain them relative to each other and the welding table (2). A pressing tool (12) may be a set of pressure-exerting tools (26). A welding robot (18) with a seam finding system (24) preferably welds the restrained C-channels (6 and 8) from top to bottom.

A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. The liquid portion couples to at least some of the second powder and subsequently solidifies to provide a composite component.

The present invention provides a work piece processing system for operating on a work piece or at least one component of a work piece. The processing system includes a base system for transporting the at least one work piece component, at least one processing head for operating on the work piece component, and means for controlling, the means for controlling the processing system. In a first embodiment, the processing system further includes a support structure, the support structure including at least one frame member having a track. Here, the at least one processing head travels along the track. In a second embodiment, the processing system further includes a multi-linkage robotic arm, the robotic arm including a plurality of rotary joints and a plurality of arm segments interconnecting the rotary joints. Here, the at least one processing head is operably mounted to a free end of one of the plurality of arm segments.

Scarfing machine (1) for scarfing hot and cold work pieces (2), such as slabs, blooms and billets made from steel in and downstream of continuous casting plants with a roller table (3) arranged in the direction of transport of the work piece, on which the work piece (2) to be scarfed can be moved back and forth. The scarfing machine (1) is set up in a gap (4) formed in the roller table (3) which has a U-shaped beam (7) with a scarfing unit (10) in the form of a rack of manifolds arranged crosswise to the roller table (3). The height of the burner beam (7) can be adjusted and it can be pivoted approximately 180° on a horizontal axis (8) around the top, bottom and cut sides of the work piece (2) by means of a swivelling drive (6) while the work piece is moved back and forth.

Scarfing machine (1) for scarfing hot and cold work pieces (2), such as slabs, blooms and billets made from steel in and downstream of continuous casting plants with a roller table (3) arranged in the direction of transport of the work piece, on which the work piece (2) to be scarfed can be moved back and forth. The scarfing machine (1) is set up in a gap (4) formed in the roller table (3) which has a U-shaped beam (7) with a scarfing unit (10) in the form of a rack of manifolds arranged crosswise to the roller table (3). The height of the burner beam (7) can be adjusted and it can be pivoted approximately 180° on a horizontal axis (8) around the top, bottom and cut sides of the work piece (2) by means of a swivelling drive (6) while the work piece is moved back and forth.

A laser cladding mobile platform comprises a platform arranged with a laser, a powder feeder, a processing platform, an electric generator, a power distribution cabinet and a PLC control system. The laser cladding mobile platform also comprises a self-propelled mechanical arm which comprises a multivariant mechanical arm and a crawler trolley, the multivariant mechanical arm is mounted on the crawler trolley; the multivariant mechanical arm is equipped with a laser cladding head at its end, the laser inputs laser light into the laser cladding head through optical fibers, the powder feeder is connected to the laser cladding head through a powder feeding tube, the electric generator supplies power for all the devices via the power distribution cabinet, the PLC control system controls the operation of each device.

A modular two-part welding and processing platform is described. A cart section is capable of rotating around objects such as pipes and cylinders, or of linear travel along plates or the like. This cart section reversibly couples to a processing section supplied for instance with welding apparatus, painting apparatus, cleaning means, analysis means or the like. By means of this two-part device, work pieces can be cleaned, welded, and inspected quickly and accurately. Special marks may be provided on the work piece which in conjunction with sensors and motoring means on the cart, allow for precise positioning of the process head with respect to the work.

A method of joining a first pipe section to a second pipe section includes positioning the two pipe sections in an end-to-end configuration to define therebetween a joint to be welded, measuring the degree of alignment of the pipe sections when they are in the end-to-end configuration in a position ready for welding, ascertaining the relative movement required of the pipe sections in order to improve their alignment, effecting the relative movement so ascertained, and welding together the two pipe sections. The method may include the use of geometric data of the end of the pipes in order to ascertain the relative movement required of the pipe sections. A control unit may be used to calculate, using such data, a target orientation that lines up the pipe sections. The measuring step may be performed using, for example, a laser or a camera and backlight.

There is described a modular welding device having a welding torch assembly defining a welding axis and having a welding torch rotatable about the welding axis. The welding device further includes a drive assembly releasably attachable to the welding torch assembly and operable to linearly translate the welding torch assembly along an axis of translation. When the drive assembly is attached to the welding torch assembly in a first orientation relative to the welding torch assembly, the drive assembly is detachable from the welding torch assembly and re-attachable to the welding torch assembly so as to be disposed in a second orientation relative to the welding torch assembly.