A welding assembly including a current generator, a first electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the first electrode including a first engagement surface, a second electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the second electrode including a second engagement surface, a width-determining fixture positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode to define a welding volume having a width, and an electrically nonconductive material positioned to electrically insulate at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode from an electrical conductor outside the width.

The present invention relates to inserts for hard facing substrates, and a method for hard facing substrates. An insert according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a body of ultra-hard material having a welding node located on a first surface thereof and at least one wire electrically connecting the first surface to a second, opposite, surface. In use, the inserts may be temporarily connected to a substrate by applying a resistance welding electrode to the welding node, thereby causing the wires on the second surface to melt and weld the insert to the substrate. A subsequent brazing step may firmly attach the inserts to the substrate.

A fixture and method for resistance welding of at least one pad to at least one surface of an article is disclosed. The method includes mounting the article in the fixture, placing the at least one pad on the at least one surface of the article, positioning a first electrode of a resistance welding apparatus to the at least one pad and a second electrode of the resistance welding apparatus to the article, and applying pressure and electric current across the at least one pad and the at least one surface. The fixture includes a first, second and third support element, which, respectively, include a first, second and third contact surface being adapted and disposed to support a first, second and third portion of the article. The first, second and third contact surfaces are each inelastic and electrically insulating. The fixture is arranged and disposed to non-rotatably cradle the article.

A welding assembly may include a current generator, a first electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the first electrode including a first engagement surface, a second electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the second electrode including a second engagement surface and a width-determining fixture positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode to define a welding volume.

A welding apparatus includes: a welding machine having a lower arm member, an upper arm member, and electrodes configured to advance and retreat; a robot device to which the welding machine is mounted; a support member including a vertical member substantially in a vertical direction, and a horizontal member substantially in a horizontal direction. The vertical member is mounted on one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member at a position away from the electrode of the one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member; and a parts-feeding device mounted to the horizontal member and configured to feed parts to the electrode.

A nut feeding apparatus for feeding a weld nut to an upper electrode of a resistance welding machine, whose size and production cost are reduced, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a piston rod, a tension rod, a tube, a link mechanism and a nut chuck. When the piston rod is in a most retracting state, an upper surface of the nut chuck becomes substantially flush with a lower portion of an opening of the tube. While the tension rod is at a stop in a most advancing state and when the piston rod further advances, the link mechanism rotates around a rotation axis at a tip of the tension rod, and thereby, the weld nut held by the nut chuck moves to a feeding position of the weld nut in the upper electrode.

A guide mechanism (10) is provided with: a guide member (72) having a first groove (81); a slide member (74) having a second groove (82); and rolling bodies (76) arranged in a guide groove (98) comprising the first groove (81) and the second groove (82). A stopper (100) for preventing the rolling bodies (76) from moving out of the guide groove (98) is affixed to the second groove (82) by welding. A method for manufacturing the guide mechanism (10) includes a welding step in which the second groove (82) and the stopper (100) are welded by resistance welding while the stopper (100) is pressed against the second groove (82).

A welded joint formed by performing projection welding on a high-strength coated steel sheet and a nut, includes a content of solid solution Mn in a first region in a surface layer of the steel sheet on an outermost periphery of a weld is 40% or less of a content of solid solution Mn in a second region in a central region in a thickness direction of the steel sheet on the outermost periphery of the weld, and a content of solid solution Mn in a third region in the surface layer of the steel sheet on an innermost periphery of the weld is 40% or less of a content of solid solution Mn in a fourth region in the central region in the thickness direction of the steel sheet on the innermost periphery of the weld.

A welding system for welding small precious metal firing tips to spark plug electrodes, such as ground and/or center electrodes. According to one embodiment, the welding system includes a firing tip storage assembly and a firing tip welding assembly, where the firing tip storage assembly uses pressurized gas introduced at the bottom of a part container to float or lift the firing tips so that the firing tip welding assembly can more easily acquire them with a vacuum-driven nozzle that also doubles as a welding electrode. The firing tip welding assembly is mounted to a robotic apparatus that can index or move the firing tip welding assembly between the firing tip storage assembly, a welding station and/or any other suitable positions.

A nut feeding apparatus for feeding a weld nut to an upper electrode of a resistance welding machine, whose size and production cost are reduced, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a piston rod, a tension rod, a tube, a link mechanism and a nut chuck. When the piston rod is in a most retracting state, an upper surface of the nut chuck becomes substantially flush with a lower portion of an opening of the tube. While the tension rod is at a stop in a most advancing state and when the piston rod further advances, the link mechanism rotates around a rotation axis at a tip of the tension rod, and thereby, the weld nut held by the nut chuck moves to a feeding position of the weld nut in the upper electrode.