Positions of both end edges of a weld bead in a bead width direction are measured over the entire circumference of a liner in a circumferential direction of the liner. Based on information on the position of the end edge, bead profile information being information on a shape of the end edge of the weld bead over the entire circumference of the liner in the circumferential direction is created. Based on this bead profile information, machining information of the liner per rotation of the liner being position information of a cutting tool in the bead width direction per phase in the circumferential direction of the liner is created so that a moving locus of the cutting tool relative to the liner along the circumferential direction of the liner approximates the shape of the end edge of the weld bead over the entire circumference of the liner in the circumferential direction.

The work program production system includes a photographing unit that photographs an image including an object to be welded, a coordinate system setting unit that sets a user coordinate system based on a marker included in the image photographed by the photographing unit, a point-group-data plotting unit that detects a specific position of the marker on the basis of the image, sets the detected specific position on point group data acquired by a distance measurement sensor that measures a distance to the object to be welded, and plots, in the user coordinate system, the point group data to which coordinates in the user coordinate system using the set specific position as an origin are given, and a program production unit that produces a welding program so as to allow a welding robot virtually placed in the user coordinate system to perform a welding operation on the basis of the point group data plotted in the user coordinate system, while avoiding interference with the point group data.

Provided is a welding program production system that can increase efficiency of a welding operation by a welding robot. The welding program production system includes a display control unit that causes a plurality of candidate welding lines detected on the basis of an image of a photographed object to be welded to be displayed in superimposed relation on the image, an input receiving unit that receives an input to select the welding lines from among the plurality of candidate welding lines and an input to specify a welding order and a welding direction for each of the selected welding lines, and a program production unit that produces a welding program on the basis of the specified welding order and welding direction.

A method, system and apparatus of determining search parameters for welding seam point calibration. The method includes determining, for a seam vertex point on a welding seam, three reference faces which are perpendicular to each other, based on geometry of an object to be weld in a virtual model; and determining a start point and a search point of a search motion for welding seam point calibration based on the three reference faces and predetermined criteria respectively for the start point and the search point. Three reference faces can be extracted automatically, and search parameters needed for the search instructions can be determined based thereon which enables automatic generation of search instructions and thus the time, manpower and cost for the welding seam point calibration can be reduced greatly.

Positions of both end edges of a weld bead in a bead width direction are measured over the entire circumference of a liner in a circumferential direction of the liner. Based on information on the position of the end edge, bead profile information being information on a shape of the end edge of the weld bead over the entire circumference of the liner in the circumferential direction is created. Based on this bead profile information, machining information of the liner per rotation of the liner being position information of a cutting tool in the bead width direction per phase in the circumferential direction of the liner is created so that a moving locus of the cutting tool relative to the liner along the circumferential direction of the liner approximates the shape of the end edge of the weld bead over the entire circumference of the liner in the circumferential direction.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and apparatus of scheduling welding operations. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes identifying seams on a welding object in a three-dimensional model for the welding object based on geometry of bodies contained in the welding object. The method also includes determining a welding sequence based on the seams, welding parameters and welding process requirements. The method further includes generating an operation procedure for a welding robot based on another three-dimensional model for the welding robot, the welding sequence, robot path parameters and the welding parameters to schedule the welding operations of the welding object. With embodiments of the present disclosure, the welding procedure could be generated in an automatic way and thus a robot can be used in welding huge and complex structures or structures manufactured in a small batch so that the automatic level can be increased remarkably and the production cost can be reduced accordingly.

An assistance system, that receives model data of an article from a client terminal and assists setting of a machining condition of the article, has: a specification unit configured to specify a first welding portion of the article from the model data according to a first condition among a plurality of priority conditions in manufacturing the article, and specify a second welding portion of the article from the model data according to a second condition different from the first condition among the plurality of priority conditions; a pattern generation unit configured to generate a first machining pattern image of the article in which the first welding portion is indicated and a second machining pattern image of the article in which the second welding portion is indicated; and a provision unit configured to provide a user with the first machining pattern image and the second machining pattern image.

A method, system and apparatus of determining search parameters for welding seam point calibration. The method includes determining, for a seam vertex point on a welding seam, three reference faces which are perpendicular to each other, based on geometry of an object to be weld in a virtual model; and determining a start point and a search point of a search motion for welding seam point calibration based on the three reference faces and predetermined criteria respectively for the start point and the search point. Three reference faces can be extracted automatically, and search parameters needed for the search instructions can be determined based thereon which enables automatic generation of search instructions and thus the time, manpower and cost for the welding seam point calibration can be reduced greatly.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and apparatus of scheduling welding operations. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes identifying seams on a welding object in a three-dimensional model for the welding object based on geometry of bodies contained in the welding object. The method also includes determining a welding sequence based on the seams, welding parameters and welding process requirements. The method further includes generating an operation procedure for a welding robot based on another three-dimensional model for the welding robot, the welding sequence, robot path parameters and the welding parameters to schedule the welding operations of the welding object. With embodiments of the present disclosure, the welding procedure could be generated in an automatic way and thus a robot can be used in welding huge and complex structures or structures manufactured in a small batch so that the automatic level can be increased remarkably and the production cost can be reduced accordingly.

Provided is a welding program production system that can increase efficiency of a welding operation by a welding robot. The welding program production system includes a display control unit that causes a plurality of candidate welding lines detected on the basis of an image of a photographed object to be welded to be displayed in superimposed relation on the image, an input receiving unit that receives an input to select the welding lines from among the plurality of candidate welding lines and an input to specify a welding order and a welding direction for each of the selected welding lines, and a program production unit that produces a welding program on the basis of the specified welding order and welding direction.