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 system and method for automatically joining a cut blank has a mandrel and clamps to conform the cut blank to the mandrel. The clamps include band clamps and pad clamps that pivot about axes that are obliquely angled with respect to the centerline of the mandrel. The clamp axes on one side of the centerline are a mirror image to the clamp axes on the other side. The cut blank has a line of symmetry and is clamped to the centerline of the mandrel with a locator bar. The clamps are then moved to a clamped position. In the clamped position, one edge of the cut blank meets another edge, and a robotic welder joins the edges.

A system and method for automatically joining a cut blank has a mandrel and clamps to conform the cut blank to the mandrel. The clamps include band clamps and pad clamps that pivot about axes that are obliquely angled with respect to the centerline of the mandrel. The clamp axes on one side of the centerline are a mirror image to the clamp axes on the other side. The cut blank has a line of symmetry and is clamped to the centerline of the mandrel with a locator bar. The clamps are then moved to a clamped position. In the clamped position, one edge of the cut blank meets another edge, and a robotic welder joins the edges.

A system for manufacturing a drive shaft assembly comprises a welding apparatus configured to weld a tube to an end fitting to form the drive shaft assembly having an annular weld. A transport apparatus is configured to transport the drive shaft assembly away from the welding apparatus. A knurling apparatus receives the drive shaft assembly from the transport apparatus. The knurling apparatus is configured to knurl the weld of the drive shaft assembly. The knurling apparatus includes a pair of knurling plates having textured surfaces in facing relationship. One of the knurling plates is configured to move relative to the other of the knurling plates to roll the drive shaft assembly between the textured surfaces, thereby knurling the weld to improve an appearance and texture of the outer surface of the drive shaft assembly.

The invention provides a method for coaxially welding together two tubes. Axial ends of the tube walls of the respective tubes are machined in such a way that they have a stepped shape over at least a first part of the tube wall thicknesses. The stepped hapes complement each other. The method comprises the subsequent steps of A positioning the first tube and the second tube coaxially with respect to each other, wherein the machined axial ends contact each other at least over the first part of the first tube wall thickness and the first part of the second tube wall thickness and wherein the first stepped shape of the machined axial end of the first tube wall and the second stepped shape of the machined axial end of the second tube wall fit into each other, and wherein a seam is present between the first parts of the first tube and the second tube thicknesses, B fixating the first tube and the second tube at discrete positions over the circumference of the seam via attachment welds, C welding the first tube and the second tube to each other over the entire circumference of the first tube and the second tube, wherein the circumferential weld extends over the entire thickness of the first tube all and over the entire thickness of the second tube wall.

A method of automatically inspecting a weld bead deposited in a plurality of passes in a chamfer formed between two parts by performing the following steps: positioning at least one emission electromagnetic acoustic sensor on one side of the chamfer and at least one reception electromagnetic acoustic sensor on an opposite side of the chamfer, the ultrasound wave emission sensor being configured to emit Rayleigh surface waves; while depositing a pass, automatically moving the sensors to follow the movement of welding electrodes along the chamfer; activating the sensors while they are moving to enable the emission sensor to generate and emit Rayleigh waves towards the pass of the weld bead that is being deposited, the reception sensor receiving the ultrasound signals transmitted and/or reflected in said pass; and reiterating the operation for the entire pass of the weld bead.

A portable advanced process module system includes, for example, a welding power source, an portable advanced process module, and a wire feeder. The portable advanced process module and the wire feeder are separately enclosed in suitcase style enclosures with disconnectable power and communication means between the portable advanced process module and the wire feeder. The processing unit includes power electronics to enable advanced weld processes that can be delivered to the wire feeder and a welding work piece. The portable advanced process module is powered by a DC bus that can be supplied by a welding power source. Connecting the portable advanced process module between the welding power source and the wire feeder enables advanced welding processes to be accomplished at great distances from the main welding power source. Separating the power electronics into the portable advanced process module and maintaining a standard suitcase wire feeder form factor keeps the welding equipment used in the working area envelope small, light, and portable.

A transmission shaft of a countershaft-type manual transmission is constructed from a plurality of hollow shaft portions which are butt press welded to one another, at least two of which hollow shaft portions are provided in each instance with at least one helical toothing of a fixed wheel of a spur gear stage. The hollow shaft portions provided with a helical toothing are connected to the respective adjacent hollow shaft portion in each instance so as to be rotated by a correction angle (Δα) around their center axis in proportion to a deviation (Δx) from their axial target position, wherein the ratio between the correction angle (Δα) and the axial deviation (Δx) corresponds to the pitch (s) of the helical toothing (Δα/Δx=s).

A transmission shaft of a countershaft-type manual transmission is constructed from a plurality of hollow shaft portions which are butt press welded to one another, at least two of which hollow shaft portions are provided in each instance with at least one helical toothing of a fixed wheel of a spur gear stage. The hollow shaft portions provided with a helical toothing are connected to the respective adjacent hollow shaft portion in each instance so as to be rotated by a correction angle (Δα) around their center axis in proportion to a deviation (Δx) from their axial target position, wherein the ratio between the correction angle (Δα) and the axial deviation (Δx) corresponds to the pitch (s) of the helical toothing (Δα/Δx=s).

The invention provides a pneumatic conveying system having a series of supply lines with at least portions of the lines being wear resistant to extend the useful lifespan of an agricultural product delivery applicator. The wear resistant supply line(s) may be made from a hard material and have a curve(s) defined by angled or mitered segments that are welded or otherwise joined to collectively provide the curve(s) The wear resistant supply lines may be at least partially reinforced by way of, for example, welded or other build up wear resistant material(s) at high wear zones of the supply lines.