TOPTIG: robotic TIG welding with integrated wire feeder

Abstract

ALW has developed a new tungsten inert gas (TIG) robotic welding process which combines the quality of the TIG process with the productivity of the MIG process. The keystone is the particular configuration of the torch: the weld wire is fed directly into the arc zone, where the temperatures are higher resulting in ‘continuous liquid-flow’ transfer. This configuration also offers the advantage of reduced overall dimensions and greater accessibility of the torch for robotic welding of complex geometries. There is no longer any need to position and direct the weld wire with respect to the torch and the joint to be welded. Hence, the sixth axis of the robot is free.

The applications to date relate to the welding of stainless steel containers, butt and lap welding, carbon steel mechanical parts with intermittent beads in the thin or medium thickness range. Applications on thin, galvanised sheeting, using CuSi₃ wire with no spatter, have been successfully tested in the weld-brazing field, in partnership with the automobile industry. Other applications may include the welding of stainless steels and light alloys for the food and furniture sectors, among others.

Keywords:

• GTA welding
• metal transfer
• process parameters
• robots
• speed
• stainless steels
• torches
• wire feed