Provided are a method and an apparatus for resistance spot welding in which preliminary current application is executed and then main welding is executed in accordance with master patterns of various parameters obtained during the preliminary current application. The main welding is executed under welding conditions of the master patterns, and whether a welding abnormality has occurred and whether the welding abnormality is likely to occur are determined. When the welding abnormality is likely to occur, the welding conditions for the main welding are corrected so as to prevent the welding abnormality. When the welding abnormality is unlikely to occur, the welding conditions for the main welding are corrected so as to match the master patterns.

The invention provides a switching electrode which has a small variation in resistance value even when a large amount of current is repeatedly cut off and can carry a stable amount of current even when it is continuously used. In the invention, the switching electrode is used in a switch which includes a first switching electrode tip (21) and a second switching electrode tip (22), brings the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) into surface contact with each other to carry a current, and separates the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) to cut off the current. At least one of contact surfaces of the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) is a flat surface having an uneven portion.

A joining apparatus for panel sheets and a joining method for panel sheets using the same are provided. The joining apparatus includes an element punching device which stores and supplies elements according to a specification of a panel sheet and inserts the element into a first panel sheet among different types of panel sheets. Additionally, a welding device resistively welds a part of the first panel sheet into which the element is inserted by the element punching device.

In order to further improve a method for joining a multilayer component (10) to another component (11) in a way that allows the multilayer component (10) to be mechanically and electrically joined to other elements, it is provided that an intermediate layer (14) of the multilayer component (10) be displaced in the region of the joining site (32), and that the two outer structural elements (12, 13) of the multilayer component be joined to one another by applying an electric voltage; and that the other component (11) be joined as a fastening element to the multilayer component (10) in the region of the joining site (32).

A combination component handling and connecting device connectable to a multi-axis robot for use in moving and connecting components and subassemblies includes a housing and an actuator fixedly connected to the housing. The actuator includes an actuating link movable from a first position to a second position. Connected to the actuating link is an end effector for concurrent movement with the actuating link. The component handling and connecting device includes a clamp having a first jaw and a second jaw. The second jaw is connected to the actuating link for selectively moving the second jaw toward the first jaw operative to engage a component.

A two-way welding gun includes a first welding tip or a second welding tip selected to be used depending on the shape of the flange of a vehicle body panel, which is an object for the spot welding, so that flanges of first vehicle body panels each including a shape matching the first welding tip are easily spot welded to each other using the first welding tip, and flanges of second vehicle body panels each including a shape different from the first welding tip but matching the second welding tip are easily spot welded to each other using the second welding tip.

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 welding device of a robot arm includes a welding machine having a first pressing member which includes a cylindrical first pressing part and a second pressing member which includes a second pressing part inserted into a hollow of the first pressing part. A transformer supplies a positive (+) current to the first pressing member and a negative () current to the second pressing member. The first and second pressing parts have the same co-axis.

A system and method to correct for height error during a robotic additive manufacturing process. One or both of an output current, output voltage, output power, output circuit impedance and a wire feed speed are sampled during an additive manufacturing process when creating a current layer. A plurality of instantaneous contact tip-to-work distances (CTWD's) are determined based on at least one or both of the output current, output voltage, output power, output circuit impedance and the wire feed speed. An average CTWD is determined based on the plurality of instantaneous CTWD's. A correction factor is generated, based on at least the average CTWD, which is used to compensate for any error in height of the current layer.

A method for manufacturing a heavy-current transformer with at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding with surfaces for contacting connects first inner surfaces of the at least one secondary winding with an I-beam of electrically conductive material of the heavy-current transformer with a first soldering material at a first, higher melting temperature, and subsequently at least one contact plate of electrically conductive material is soldered with exterior surfaces of the at least one secondary winding with a second soldering material at a second melting temperature that is lower as compared to the first melting temperature.