Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

University of Michigan

Other

Wenkao Hou

Pei-chung Wang

Shixin Jack Hu

Roland J Menassa

Samuel Paul Marin

Hao Du

Yunxian Chu

A method is provided for monitoring and controlling the process consistency of an arc welding process. The weld voltage signal is monitored and analyzed to determine the occurrence of the detachment of a weld droplet. The weld droplet detachment is determined via statistical techniques as having occurred at a normal interval following a prior detachment indicating consistent weld process or as a sporadic detachment having occurred at an irregular interval with respect to the prior detachment and indicating inconsistent weld process. The weld process is adjusted by controlling the weld process variables to maximize the predominance of droplet detachment at normal intervals and minimize the occurrence of the sporadic detachments.

Method for controlling the consistency of an arc welding process by monitoring welding voltage to determine weld droplet detachment

The present invention provides a method of joining dissimilar materials, particularly a non-ferrous component to a ferrous component to form an assembly. In an overlapping configuration, the parts are held together under a clamping force while a self-piercing rivet is driven through the assembly by a welding electrode. The rivet pierces and passes through the non-ferrous component and then at least into contact with the ferrous component to thereby form a mechanical interlock. An electrical current is then applied to this mechanical retention to melt a portion of the rivet as well as a portion of the ferrous metal in the joining region. The flow of electrical current is then stopped after several welding cycles where the now melted material is allowed to solidify upon cooling, thereby forming a weld.

Method of joining dissimilar materials

The present invention generally relates to a useful online monitoring system and method of user thereof for monitoring a welding process to determine weld quality, weld process stability, and weld geometry for each weld formed during a welding process. More particularly, the online monitoring system has a computer having a graphical user interface (GUI); at least one welding machine; a communication interface for interfacing communication between the at least one welding machine and the computer; a data acquisition system for acquiring welding signal data, the data acquisition system having an associated memory means; a quality management database for managing and storing acquired welding signal data; and a statistical signal processing system in communication with the data acquisition system for processing welding signal data stored in the data acquisition system associated memory means, and in further communication with the communication interface for communicating processed welding signal data to the GUI.

Online monitoring system and method for a short-circuiting gas metal arc welding process

This invention provides a method of joining overlapping galvanized steel parts using two lasers for in tandem slot cutting and welding. A first laser beam impacts the steel parts at an energy level sufficient to cut a slot at least through the facing steel part to provide a path for vaporized zinc to escape from a welding interface. Immediately after the first laser beam passes, a second laser beam is directed along the slot at an energy level sufficient to melt ferrous material to fill the slot. After the second laser beams passes, the molten metal is cooled by the surrounding unheated metal to solidify and form a weld nugget.

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Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Wenkao Hou