Digest #9: Latest Welding Industry News
Robots speed up welding at Rosatom plant
Robotic welding of spacers for NPP pumping equipment was introduced at the Central Machine-Building Design Bureau in Sosnovy Bor. The height of the product is 2 m, the diameter is 2.5 m, and the weight is 5 tons. If previously it took more than 100 hours of manual work to weld one part, the robot can do it in 56, maintaining high weld quality.
The technology has reduced the workload of the shop and allowed experienced welders to perform more complex tasks. TsKBM plans to use robots for welding working wheels as well. In total, 30 projects for the implementation of robotics have been selected for the Rosatom division — they should save up to 500 thousand standard hours.
* Source : MASHNEWS.
SPbGMTU creates digital shipyards and robotic welding units
The Saint Petersburg State Marine Technical University develops digital and robotic technologies for shipbuilding. In particular, electric arc 3D printers, welding robots and laser-arc installations are being created.
An integrated digital shipyard system is already in operation at the Onega Shipyard. Direct arc growth units allow manufacturing parts up to 80 tons and are used in nuclear power, aircraft and mechanical engineering. The university has also developed a robotic unit for welding large beams and foundations, which increases productivity by 6 times.
* Source : 3Dtoday.
Welding shop in Kaluga is ready to produce TENET cars
The Kaluga plant "AGR Holding" has completed the preparation of the welding shop for the production of TENET cars. The production is organized according to the full cycle - from welding to final assembly. Automated complexes ensure high geometric accuracy, and the automation level reaches 90%.
Over 200 bodies were welded in three months, each of which was checked for 2,100 parameters. Since June, the plant has started producing pre-production cars, and is now moving on to serial production.
* Source : AUTOSTAT.
New technology for welding polyethylene shells implemented at TMK NGS
The Truboplast site at TMK Neftegazservis has mastered the technology of welding polyethylene pipe casings. It increases wear resistance and service life of pipes, which reduces maintenance costs.
Workers have been trained to use portable devices that employ the heating and melting method. Pipes with such a shell are used in heating networks, oil and gas and municipal infrastructure. The first orders using the new technology have already been completed.
* Source : AK&M.
AI and ML improve laser welding: solution from Borlas
At the MORINTECH-PRAKTIK conference, Borlas Group presented a solution for laser welding using AI and machine learning models. It allows real-time control of welded surfaces, beam parameters, and weld quality assessment.
The technology is already used in railcar manufacturing and at gas and oil production facilities. Negotiations are underway to launch a robotic welding section at one of the Russian plants. The solution increases productivity and reduces production costs in shipbuilding and mechanical engineering.
* Source : SPBIT.RU.
Induction butt welding of pipes from OOO "SKT-SERVIS"
Currently, SKT-SERVIS LLC is developing a technology for induction butt welding of pipes and manufacturing a prototype of a plant for welding pipes, pipes with small diameter induction butt welding from 57 to 114 mm with a wall thickness of 3–10 mm, including with an external anti-corrosion protective coating.
In this welding method, the pipe ends are heated to temperatures of about 1000 °C using contactless induction heat supply in a ring high-frequency inductor, with subsequent counter-controlled upsetting of the pipe ends. Thus, the joint is formed at temperatures below the melting point of steel, which eliminates the appearance of hardening structures in the weld zone.
An important distinctive feature of the welding method is the actual absence of internal reinforcement of the seam (burr), due to which the service properties of the flow section of the pipes are preserved. The welding process is characterized by a high degree of automation. Fire safety in the working area is ensured due to the absence of sparking during welding.
* Source : SKT Service.