• 한국레이저가공학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.19-24
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• 2009

Because of its fast and precise welding performance, laser welding is becoming a new excellent welding method. However, the precise focusing and robust seam tracking are required to apply laser welding to the practical fields. In order to laser weld a type of T joint like a circular pipe on a square pipe, which could be met in the three dimensional structure such as an aluminum space frame, a visual sensor system was developed for automation of focusing and seam tracking. The developed sensor system consists of a digital CCD camera, a structured laser, and a vision processor. It is moved and positioned by a 2-axis motorized stage, which is attached to a 6 axis robot manipulator with a laser welding head. After stripe-type structured laser illuminates a target surface, images are captured through the digital CCD camera. From the image, seam error and defocusing error are calculated using image processing algorithms which includes efficient techniques handling continuously changed image patterns. These errors are corrected by the stage off-line during welding or teaching. Laser welding of a circular pipe on a square pipe was successful with the vision tracking system by reducing the path positioning and de focusing errors due to the robot teaching or a geometrical variation of specimens and jig holding.

• 한국레이저가공학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.21-24
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• 2008

Hybrid laser welding technology is a good process to reduce a thermal distortion and increase the productivity. However, it requires a high investment and a massive modification of the fabrication line such as a gantry system, milling machine for the edge preparation, high power laser system and weld machine. Therefore the development of an economical laser welding system is a crucial point to apply this system in shipbuilding yard. In this study, a portable hybrid laser welding carriage was developed for I-butt joint without edge milling. It is expected that the carriage type system could reduce investment cost.

• International Journal of Korean Welding Society
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.45-51
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• 2002

In the multi-pass welding of pressure vessels or ships, the mechanical touch sensor system is generally used together with a manipulator to measure the gap and depth of the narrow gap to perform seam tracking. Unfortunately, such mechanical touch sensors may commit measuring errors caused by the deterioration of the measuring device. An automation system of narrow gap multi-pass welding using a laser vision system which can track the seam line of narrow gap and which can control welding power has been developed. The joint profile of the narrow gap, with 250mm depth and 28mm width, can be captured by laser vision camera. The image is then processed for defining tracking positions of the torch during welding. Then, the real-time correction of lateral and vertical position of the torch can be done by the laser vision system. The adaptive control of welding conditions like welding currents and welding speeds, can also be performed by the laser vision system, which cannot be done by conventional mechanical touch systems. The developed automation system will be adopted to reduce the idle time of welders, which happens frequently in conventional long welding processes, and to improve the reliability of the weld quality as well.

• International Journal of Korean Welding Society
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.45-50
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• 2003

Welding using lasers can be mass-produced in high speed. In the laser welding, performing real-time monitoring system of the welding quality is very important in enhancing the efficiency of welding. In this study, the plasma and molten metal which are generated during laser welding were measured using the UV sensor and IR sensors. The results of laser welding were classified into five categories such as optimal heat input, little low heat input, low heat input, partial joining due to gap mismatch, and nozzle deviation. Also, a system was formulated which uses the measured signals with a fuzzy pattern recognition method which is used to perform real-time evaluation of the welding quality and the defects which can occur in laser welding.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2007

Nowadays, the increasing global competition forces manufacturing enterprises to apply new technologies such as laser welding to manufacturing of their products. In case of automotive industries, they interest in assembly system for BIW (Body in White) carrying out laser welding. In this paper, the method of implementation for digital laser welding assembly system is proposed. Based on the requirements of assembly tasks obtained through product analysis, process modeling is executed by using the IDEF0 and UML model. For digital assembly system, the selected components are modeled by using 3D CAD tools. According to the system configuration strategy, lots of the alternative solutions for the assembly system of welding side panels are generated. Finally, the optimal laser welding system is chosen by the evaluation of the alternative solutions with TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method.

• 대한용접접합학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한용접접합학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the International Welding/Joining Conference-Korea
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• pp.606-611
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• 2002

Welding using lasers can be mass-produced in high speed. In the laser welding, performing real-time monitoring system of the welding quality is very important in enhancing the efficiency of welding. In this study, the plasma and molten metal which are generated during laser welding were measured using the UV sensor and IR sensors. The results of laser welding were classified into five categories such as optimal heat input, little low heat input, low heat input, partial joining due to gap mismatch, and nozzle deviation. Also, a system was formulated which uses the measured signals with a fuzzy pattern recognition method which is used to perform real-time evaluation of the welding quality and the defects which can occur in laser welding.

• 대한용접접합학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한용접접합학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the International Welding/Joining Conference-Korea
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• pp.706-713
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• 2002

In the multi-pass welding of pressure vessels or ships, the mechanical touch sensor system is generally used together with a manipulator to measure the gap and depth of the narrow gap to perform seam tracking. Unfortunately, such mechanical touch sensors may commit measuring errors caused by the eterioration of the measuring device. An automation system of narrow gap multi-pass welding using a laser vision system which can track the seam line of narrow gap and which can control welding power has been developed. The joint profile of the narrow gap, with 250mm depth and 28mm width, can be captured by laser vision camera. The image is then processed for defining tracking positions of the torch during welding. Then, the real-time correction of lateral and vertical position of the torch can be done by the laser vision system. The adaptive control of welding conditions like welding Currents and welding speeds, can also be performed by the laser vision system, which cannot be done by conventional mechanical touch systems. The developed automation system will be adopted to reduce the idle time of welders, which happens frequently in conventional long welding processes, and to improve the reliability of the weld quality as well.

• 대한용접접합학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한용접접합학회 2005년도 춘계학술발표대회 개요집
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• pp.103-105
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• 2005

Laser welding technology for automobile body is studied. laser system, robot and seam tracking system are used for 3D laser welding system The laser system is used 4kW Nd:YAG laser(HL4006D) of Trumpf and the robot system is used IRB6400R of ABB. The seam tracking system is SMRT-20LS of ServoRobot. The welding joints of steel plate are butt and lap joint. The 3-D welding for non-linear tailored blank is performed after experiments of bead on plate. Finally, the welding process for non-linear tailored blank is developed.

• 한국레이저가공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국레이저가공학회 2005년도 추계학술발표대회 논문집
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• pp.7-10
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• 2005

Nowadays, most automotives companies are making use of laser welding in car body assembly shop. But even though laser welding is better than resistance spot welding in many points, its application has been limited to special technology for manufacturing. The paper introduces in the field of remote welding system(RWS) to improve the process efficiency of laser welding. Positioning time of RWS between welding stitches are dramatically reduced to zero. It is a kind of solutions to generalize laser welding in mass production.

• 대한용접접합학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한용접접합학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the International Welding/Joining Conference-Korea
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• pp.181-186
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• 2002

Laser welding application for car body manufacturing has many advantages in the stiffness and the lightness of vehicle, the productivity of assembly line, and the degree of freedom in design. This presentation will express the innovation of car body manufacturing including parameter optimization, process modeling, and system integration. In this application the investment for systems was cut down dramatically by real time switching over the laser path between two welding stations. Points of technical discussion are as follows: optimization of parameters such as laser power, robot speed and trajectory, compact and useful design of jig & fixture to assure welding quality for 3 sheet-layer zinc-coated steel, system integration between 4kW Nd:YAG laser device and the other systems, on-line real time welding quality monitoring system, perfect safety standards for high power laser, minimization of consumption costs such as arc lamp, protective glass for optic, etc. Laser welding has found a place on Hyundai's production plant in conjunction with the startup of mass production of new sports car, and this production system is the result of a collaboration of its engineers. Outer side sheets are joined to inner side sheets by 122 stitch welds totally. And the length is about 2.4meter.