Rofin-Sinar Laser launch innovative high speed remote welding system

Citation

(2000), "Rofin-Sinar Laser launch innovative high speed remote welding system", Industrial Robot, Vol. 27 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2000.04927eaf.004

Rofin-Sinar Laser launch innovative high speed remote welding system

Rofin-Sinar Laser launch innovative high speed remote welding system

Keywords Laser welding, Lasers, Welding

Rofin-Sinar, a producer of industrial lasers for materials processing, has launched a new high speed remote welding system which can do the work of between four to ten robotic spot welders in the same amount of time. The new system, based on a Rofin-Sinar diffusion cooled laser, achieves its tremendous work rate of up to 85 spot welds per minute by switching between weld sites at a speed of up to 400 metres per minute.

This is achieved by directing the laser beam to the weld site via a sophisticated Turbo Cooled® focus lens, mounted on a high speed linear drive, and a system of quick acting steerable mirrors. In conventional laser welding systems, the robot arm itself has to move from weld to weld, slowing down the cycle as it avoids obstacles. An additional limitation is that the robot head is often too large to access the best weld site. This problem is completely avoided by Rofin-Sinar's new high speed remote welding system.

It is not, however, limited to spot welding. On the contrary, because the weld geometry at each weld location can be programmed independently, it can produce spot, linear stitch, circle, open circle, cross or wave welds. It can also weld continuous and extended weld lengths. It uses the superb mode quality of the Rofin-Sinar DC laser to weld within a working volume of approximately 1m61m60.6m. The system is suitable for welding a wide range of materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminium and material combinations.

"The key advantages of our new system are that it is flexible, fast and efficient and easy to use," said Tim Holt, Rofin-Sinar's UK Sales Manager. "Because the tooling and welding functions are separated, the RWS can weld any number of parts or part geometries by simply changing part of the program. Through-put is increased and the quality of the resulting welds is high. Its overhead platform design results in a space-saving foot-print of just 12ft614ft. The system's control software runs with Visual Basic and is user friendly. We believe it will have widespread appeal across many industry sectors."

Rofin-Sinar Laser GmbH is a subsidiary of Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc., a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of industrial lasers for marking, cutting and welding. With headquarters in Michigan, USA and Hamburg, Germany, Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc. has production facilities in the USA, Germany and Japan as well as in the UK. The group has more than 6,000 laser units installed world-wide and serves more than 1,500 customers.

For further information, please contact: Tim Holt, Sales Manager UK, Rofin-Sinar UK Ltd, PO Box 27, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 0FB. Tel: +44(0) 1455 250570; Fax: +44(0) 1455 631373; E-mail: rofinsinaruk@compuserve.com; Web site: www.rofin.com