A method of manufacturing a metallic part in a weldable material by solid freeform fabrication comprising generating three dimensional model of the part, slicing the three dimensional model into a set of parallel, sliced layers and then dividing each layer into a set of one-dimensional pieces and, with reference to layered weld-bead geometry data, forming a computer-generated, direction specific, layered model of the part. The method also comprises uploading the layered model into a welding control system and directing the welding control system to deposit a sequence of one-dimensional weld beads of the weldable material onto the supporting substrate in a pattern required to form a first layer of the layered model and depositing a second welded layer onto the previous deposited layer in a configuration the same as the second layer, and repeating each successive weld bead until the entire part is completed. The method further includes displacing the atmosphere within the immediate vicinity of the heat source with an inert gas atmosphere which produces a required flow rate, and in which that inert atmosphere contains a maximum oxygen concentration, wherein the inert gas is delivered by an apparatus through a matrix of individual gas diffusers; and engaging an induction heating and closed loop cooling apparatus synergic to a welding control system and pre-heating the substrate material including the deposited weld beads, relevant to the type of weldable material, wherein induction heating and cooling cycles are applied constantly or pulsed from the first layer to the final layer, where optimal heating and/or cooling cycles of the weldable material are relative to the final desired part shape and microstructure.

A lift device includes a lift apparatus configured to raise and lower a robotic attachment and a base assembly configured to support the lift apparatus. The base assembly includes a prime mover configured to rotate one or more wheels coupled to the base assembly. The lift device also includes a controller in communication with at least one of the lift apparatus and the robotic attachment. The robotic attachment includes robotic implement moveable independent of the lift apparatus, a stabilizer bar coupled to the robotic implement and configured to selectively provide a stabilizing force to the robotic attachment, and a locking mechanism configured to selectively hold the stabilizer in a locked position.

In some examples, an autonomous robotic welding system comprises a workspace including a part having a seam, a sensor configured to capture multiple images within the workspace, a robot configured to lay weld along the seam, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify the seam on the part in the workspace based on the multiple images, plan a path for the robot to follow when welding the seam, the path including multiple different configurations of the robot, and instruct the robot to weld the seam according to the planned path.

A robotic welding system comprises a supporting arm for attaching to a repositionable support structure, the supporting arm comprising a first mounting portion connectable to the repositionable support structure, and a second mounting portion rotatably coupled to the first mounting portion. A yaw rotary actuator rotates the second mounting portion about a yaw axis. A welding arm comprises a third mounting portion rotatably coupled to the second mounting portion of the supporting arm. A pitch rotary actuator rotates the third mounting portion about a pitch axis generally perpendicular to the yaw axis. A roll rotary actuator rotates a torch holder shaft about a roll axis generally perpendicular to the pitch axis. The shaft has a torch mounting portion for mounting a welding torch at an end thereof. A controller is operably coupled to the actuators to cause the welding torch to execute a welding pattern.

A sticking detection device for detecting the presence or absence of sticking of a welding wire disposed in an arc welding robot to a workpiece includes a first sticking detection unit and a second sticking detection unit. The first sticking detection unit detects the presence or absence of sticking based on a voltage value detected with respect to voltage being applied to the welding wire and the workpiece. The second sticking detection unit determines the presence or absence of sticking based on the voltage value and a result of the detection by the first sticking detection unit.

An arc welding robot system includes: a robot on which a welding torch is mounted; a robot control device; and a welding power supply that supplies power to the welding torch. The robot control device includes: a welding command unit that outputs a command to the welding power supply; a measuring unit that measures, a plurality of times for each welding location, an amount of time from when the welding command unit sends a welding start-up command to the welding power supply in accordance with a welding start command of an arc welding program until a notification signal indicating generation of an arc is returned from the welding power supply; a storage unit that stores a plurality of measured measurement values for each welding location; and a preceding time determination unit that determines, for each welding location, a preceding time for outputting the welding start-up command in advance of a timing at which the welding torch arrives at a welding start point corresponding to the welding start-up command, the determination being made on the basis of the values of the plurality of times of measurements for each welding location stored in the storage unit.

In some examples, an autonomous robotic welding system comprises a workspace including a part having a seam, a sensor configured to capture multiple images within the workspace, a robot configured to lay weld along the seam, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify the seam on the part in the workspace based on the multiple images, plan a path for the robot to follow when welding the seam, the path including multiple different configurations of the robot, and instruct the robot to weld the seam according to the planned path.

In some examples, an autonomous robotic welding system comprises a workspace including a part having a seam, a sensor configured to capture multiple images within the workspace, a robot configured to lay weld along the seam, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify the seam on the part in the workspace based on the multiple images, plan a path for the robot to follow when welding the seam, the path including multiple different configurations of the robot, and instruct the robot to weld the seam according to the planned path.

A method of aligning first and second pipes end-to-end in a position ready for welding. Each pipe has an end bevelled with a shape scanned and stored in memory of a control unit. At least one of the pipes has machine readable codes distributed around their circumference of the pipe. The method includes effecting relative movement of the ends of the first and second pipes towards each other, reading at least one of the codes with a reader, and ascertaining the relative movement required to align the pipes in accordance with a target orientation. The relative movement is ascertained with information provided by the read code and the shapes of the bevelled ends stored in the control unit memory. In other aspects, a closed loop control method and machine-learning may be used to align the pipes. A pipe-laying vessel including pipe handling equipment and the control unit is also provided.

A repair welding device includes an inspection result acquisition unit configured to acquire an appearance inspection result including information about a defective portion of a weld bead of a welded workpiece produced by a main welding that is executed by a welding robot, and a robot control unit configured to instruct the welding robot to execute a repair welding on a position of the defective portion using the appearance inspection result based on a relationship between the position of the defective portion and a predetermined width related to the weld bead.