MetaView

This patented guidance system allows the operator to control the welding head remotely utilising a hand held joystick pendant and high-resolution video monitor.

The main components of the MetaView system are the compact M300 sensor head, a control unit and a robust high-resolution video monitor.

The MetaView is especially suited to assist submerged arc welding in “limited access” situations where the exact wire position and stick out is extremely difficult to determine by direct observation.

Features of Metaview

• Laser cross for precise weld placement in both cross-seam position and height.
• Remote control of weld head position
  
• Compact and fully hardened sensor head with integral air cooling
  
• Double protection front windows with air blow off
  
• Easy system set up and simple operation
  
• Universal insulating mounting bracket
  

Benefits

• Greatly reduced weld set up times
• Improved weld quality due to superior electrode position control
• Operator can work in comfort and safety—increasing productivity and weld quality and decreasing danger of accidents.
  
• Solves the problem of not being able to see the correct weld position because of the flux.
  
• Ideal for High Duty Cycle applications.
  
• Faster set-up and accurate positional control for all sub merged arc welding applications.

MetaView is the only viewer on the market which allows the operator to see at a glance if the electrode is in the correct position in the horizontal and vertical dimensions.

System Description

The M300 Sensor Head is a ruggedised enclosure housing a laser cross generator and a miniature video camera. The laser cross generator projects a cross of red laser light onto the weld joint a short distance ahead of the welding torch. The cross and the joint are viewed by the video camera. Because the laser is offset from the camera, the position of the cross in the video image depends on the height of the sensor (and hence the height of the welding torch) as well as the lateral position of the weld seam. The video signal is sent back along a coaxial cable to the control unit.

• Dimensions 160 x 77.5 x 50.5 mm / Weight 1kg
  
• Laser crosshair generator, 5mW, 635nm
  
• High resolution monochrome video camera
  
• Power regulation PCB
  
• Detachable front shield
  
• Air cooling/Blow off

The Control Unit is a small electrical enclosure, which contains the electrical
components necessary for system operation and on which are mounted the
operator controls. The enclosure contains the power supply unit for the video
camera and laser.

The operator controls consist of:

• Laser enabled switch and warning lamp —used to switch on the laser controls
  
• Laser brightness control—which is used to adjust the brightness of the laser cross
  
• Monitor crosshair controls—which are used to adjust the position of the monitor crosshair and to lock the cross hair in place

The Video Monitor is a high quality shielded monochrome monitor with front panel controls for contrast and brightness allowing the operator to obtain the clearest possible image.

Flexible neck lamp

The system is supplied with a 24V Tungsten hydrogen lamp with a flexible neck. This provides illumination of the welding area even when doing inside welds.