System, method and apparatus for stud welding

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for welding a group of welding studs to the surface of an inputted base material using a stud welding gun. According to a preferred embodiment, the method of the present invention may include the steps of: uploading CAD specifications for the base material; calculating targeted weld locations based on the CAD specifications; initiating a first set of side rollers and drive rollers to in-intake the base material; measuring the location of the base material along a first axis; controlling the first set of side rollers and drive rollers to position the base material at a first location along a first axis based on the measured location of the base material along the first axis; measuring the relative horizonal and vertical distances between the stud welding gun and each of the respective stud welding areas indicated in the inputted CAD data; controlling a first set of carriage servo motors to move the stud welding gun into a first target position along a second axis relative to the measured location of the base material; controlling a second set of vertical positioning assemblies to adjust the vertical distance of the welding gun along a third axis relative to the measured location of the base material; executing stud welds to secure studs to the base material; and initiating rotary sanding, peening or other supplemental processing to a stud weld area.