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New Generation Laser Sensor Increases Quality and Speed of Welding
A new laser sensor was launched at Schweissen & Schneiden by British manufacturer, Meta Vision Systems, for all types of mechanised and robotic welding. It is the first such sensor to incorporate high performance image processing in the sensor head itself, rather than needing a separate computer, and has many applications throughout manufacturing industry.
Installing the new Smart Laser Sensor (SLS) at least halves the cost of automating arc welding equipment and robot welders, compared with using conventional laser sensors. The cost can be a small fraction of the previous outlay if the welding equipment has an Ethernet or CANbus interface, allowing direct connection of the SLS.
Other functions of the SLS, in addition to seam tracking during welding, include inspection of the bevel on pipe ends before welding, and of the weld bead after it is laid. All three processes were demonstrated on the Meta stand at the show, with tracking position detection and measuring accuracy to within ± 0.1 mm.
The sensor was developed by Meta in collaboration with CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc. of Houston, USA, the world leader in pipeline welding. The company, a co-exhibitor on the Meta stand at the show, is the launch customer for the product and has worldwide exclusivity for its use in pipelines. The version of the SLS for pipeline welding and inspection is called "CiRCvision". Meta will be servicing demand for the sensor in all markets other than pipeline.
Background to SLS development
Off-the-shelf laser systems are capable of high-speed joint tracking, but have limitations regarding unit cost, robustness, ease of use and suitability for typical pipeline construction field conditions. These limitations made previous generation systems unsuitable for general use with the large CRC-Evans welder fleet.
The company's brief to Meta was to create a low-cost, self contained, intelligent, smart vision system with digital communication capabilities to be used in enhancing weld joining applications at 3m/min or better and also for inspection of pipelines. CRC-Evans identified that the overall pipe joining process could be dramatically improved if additional information about weld preparations and welds could be obtained before, during and after welding.
The result is the Meta SLS, which consists of a robust CMOS megapixel image sensor with very large scale integration devices, including a large FPGA (field-programmable gate array) and a powerful DSP (digital signal processor) inside the sensor head itself.
Weld joint tracking
The nature of narrow gap welding in pipelines makes it impossible to have precise alignment all around a given weld joint due to irregularities in joint fit-up as a result of variations in pipe diameter and ovality. This leads to local changes in joint geometry and position.
The SLS measures these changes in real time during welding. Tracking data is sent via a high-speed Ethernet or CANbus interface to the motion control system driving the external welding system. The resulting closed loop control ensures reliable, noise-free data transmission, ensuring that the welding electrodes are always where they should be.
The tracking algorithms vary with the type of weld pass. For example, during root welds, the laser vision system provides accurate tracking without the need to oscillate that is a requirement of through-arc tracking. This results in more accurate bead placement and better weld penetration. Experiments have shown that the high resolution of the SLS makes it possible to use laser tracking for all stages of the welding process, including capping.
Adaptive welding
Since the laser sensor works in 3D, effectively taking slices through the weld joint, it is able to compute accurately the weld volume in real time, allowing adaptive control over key welding parameters.
The combination of accurate seam tracking appropriate for the pass being welded, together with adaptive fill based on actual measured joint volumes, makes it possible to achieve consistent, high quality welds at higher speeds than would otherwise be possible.
Bevel and root bead inspection
One of the keys to efficient pipeline welding is for the line crew to be able to bevel pipe ends consistently, accurately and quickly despite variations in pipe end diameter and ovality.
As the SLS is basically an instrument for measuring 3D profiles, it can also be used to inspect bevel geometry. This identifies any problems while the bevelling machine is still in position, enabling rapid rectification. All features such as root face (land) thickness, bevel angle, offset and root angle can be measured and compared against a desired template.
Using SLS, the root weld - the most critical phase of pipe joining - may be similarly inspected after it has been laid. If a faulty root bead is welded over and the defect not discovered until later, the cost of repair becomes high, so potential savings are large.
Inspecting the shape of the root weld also gives an additional method of inspecting critical fatigue applications, such as risers, by measuring weld shape parameters such as mismatch and bead concavity.
On behalf of: Meta Vision Systems Ltd, Oakfield House, Oakfield Industrial Estate, Eynsham, Oxfordshire OX29 4TH.
Tel: +44 1865 887900. Fax: +44 1865 887901.
E-mail: sales@meta-mvs.com
Web: www.meta-mvs.com
Contacts:
Ellen Secknus. Tel: +44 1865 887900.
ellen.secknus@meta-mvs.co.uk
Bob Beattie, Managing Director. Tel: +44 7714 456522.
bob.beattie@meta-mvs.co.uk
Issued by: THE RIGHT IMAGE Ltd,
PO Box 42, Twickenham, TW1 1BQ.
Tel: +44 20 8891 0603.
E-mail: therightimage@aol.com
Contact: Chris Wright.
Contacts:
Marketing:
Bob Beattie Managing Director
INTL
Phone: 44-7714-456522
 E-mail this person
Public Relations:
THE RIGHT IMAGE Ltd.
Chris Wright
PO Box 42
Twickenham TW1 1BQ
USA
Phone: 44-20-8891-0603
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General Information:
Ellen Secknus
INTL
Phone: 44-1865-887900
E-mail this person
Company Information:
Name: Meta Vision Systems Inc.
Address: 8084 Transcanada Hwy
City: Montreal
State: QC
ZIP: H4S1M5
Country: Canada
Phone: 514-333-0140
FAX: 514-333-8636
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