New generation laser sensor help increase quality and speed of welding

Meta Vision’s Smart Laser Sensor

A new laser sensor has been launched by British manufacturer Meta Vision Systems for all types of mechanised and robotic welding. It is the first such unit 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) 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. Tracking position detection and measuring accuracy are to within ±0.1mm.

The sensor was developed by Meta in collaboration with CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc of Houston, USA, a leader in pipeline welding, which was the launch customer for the product and has worldwide exclusivity for its use in pipelines. Meta will be servicing demand for the sensor in all markets other than pipeline.

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. The SLS measures these changes in real time during welding. Tracking data is sent via a high-speed 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.

PUBLISHED: 05 Mar 10

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