Vistaweld A200
VistaWeld A200 is a camera based automated non-contact line tracking system for machined or painted lines on components for welding or inspection. It is the proven solution for horizontal weld torch or inspection head positioning for all types of automated machines where no physical seam or bead profile is present. A200 is a complete turnkey system for easy integration with existing or new automated welding and inspection equipment.
How it works
The Meta A200 sensor views a machined or painted line applied to the work piece at a fixed distance from the joint or seam. Through the onboard camera the sensor is able to recover an accurate image of the line every 1/25th of a second. The sensor image and system software determines the exact position of the line. Horizontal position signals are sent to the motion control device which result in the electrode, tool or probe being where it should be for 100% of the operation.
Welding Industry Suitability
The system is designed to deliver consistent and reliable service and can be readily integrated with a wide range of automated welding equipment from most suppliers. The Meta A200 can be supplied as a completely integrated tracking and motion control solution with horizontal drive and slide or it can be configured as a tracking system only, signalling “move” left/right commands to an existing motor drive and slide.- A200 tracking system retrofits to your existing welding machine and slides
- A200 can be easily specified and cost effectively integrated into new installations
The main features of the system are:
- Relatively simple compact sensor with miniature progressive scan video camera.
- LED light source
- Control system based on an industrial PC
- Reliable high performance software package running under Windows NT
- High quality graphical user interface
- Single, horizontal axis position control
- Can signal to existing motion control device
- Capable of being integrated with other laser seam tracking systems.
Welding Applications
The A200 system can track for all conventionally used welding processes, including GMAW, GTAW Sub-arc, Plasma and Laser welding where a line is applied due to An absence of a joint profile. It is unaffected by h.f. emissions used in GTAW. The A200 is especially suited to the following—ERW pipe welding, tube mills and tight butt joints of all kinds. It can also be integrated with other tracking systems where the application requires the automated welding system to complete capping passes to a smooth surface finish. Here a line can be tracked on the work piece and the A200 signals horizontal information through the VistaWeld controller once the root and fill passes are finished the joint profile is almost removed. This set up provides for full automation of the entire narrow gap or multi-pass operation such as in pressure vessel manufacture.The system can also be very effectively applied in post weld applications such as ultrasonic and x-ray inspection, requiring precise component finding and accurate tracking of finished and machined weld beads.
Reliability
Each component is specially designed based on our extensive industry experience to operate reliably in the most demanding welding environment. Its simple electrical interface allows efficient communication to related equipment such as PLCs.Applications