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VirtualArc - a unique tool

Robotic MIG/MAG Off-line Weld Tuning
The VirtualArc is a software tool giving the
Robot Welding Engineer full control if the MI!MA
"rocess in o#$line environ%ent&
VirtualArc o#ers robot "rogra%%ers' o"erators and
welding engineers an e("ert s)ste% with dee" arc welding
"rocess *now$how' which gives the "ossibilit) to i%"rove
"rocess control' +nal welding ,ualit) and "roductivit)&
The s)ste% o#ers a user$friendl) software interface' which will %ini%i-e
"rocess i%"le%entation ti%e and costs of auto%ated arc welding&
Arc Welding Process Simulation technology
The technolog) behind the VirtualArc software is based on the
co%bination of arc "h)sics' self$consistent two$di%ensional wire$arc$
wor* "iece si%ulation tool' arc welding "ractical e("erience and
e("eri%ental %easure%ents&
The software consists of di#erent %odules that are strongl) inter$connected
in the whole "rocess s)ste%' including "ower source characteristics and
connecting cables&
Weld "ro+le and ,ualit) "redications are obtained using .a)esian /eural
/etwor* tool& Predictions fro% arc si%ulations' heat and %ass transfer to
the wor*$"iece' are used as in"ut to the neural networ* to "redict weld
,ualit) and "ro+le as well as defects&
The VirtualArc software
0or given welding con+guration' VirtualArc
will si%ultaneousl) reco%%end the o"ti%u%
welding s"eed and wire feed rate together with
a "rediction of the si-e and sha"e of the fusion -one&
This "redictive ca"abilit) allows the user to
e(tensivel) test di#erent co%binations of weld
"ara%eters and e,ui"%ent& The user can also
assess results b) loo*ing at the s)ste%1s
con+dence in %a(i%u% and %ini%u% tolerance
li%its overlaid on the "redicted weld "ro+le&
For your business and technology editors
For more information please contact:
ABB Automation Technologies
Robotics, Automotive & Manufacturing,
Arc Welding roducts
!ontact erson" #ic$ %$arin, %enior roduct Manager
Tel" &'( )*' *+),(
dic$-s$arin.se-abb-com
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VirtualArc features and benefts
$ 2aving ti%e 3 %one) in connection to robotic arc welding "rocess
i%"le%entation
$ E(cellent tool for o#$line "rocess su""ort and service
$ E#icient training tool for robot' o"erators' "rogra%%ers 3 "roduction!
welding engineers&
$ .etter o"ti%i-ed welding "roductivit)' resulting in lower "roduct cost for
the user
$ .etter o"ti%i-ed welding ,ualit)' resulting in lower "roduct cost for the
user
$ E#icient "roductivit) tool for co%"aring di#erent weld "rocedures' in cost!
%eter weld
$ Platfor% for retrieving 3 storing arc welding "rocess *now$how for future
"rocess develo"%ents&
A.. strongl) believes that the need of tools li*e VirtualArc will beco%e
%ore and %ore i%"ortant in the future as the nu%ber of welding engineers
and welders are decreasing and will decrease even %ore in the future'
s"eciall) a%ong )oung "eo"le& This trend within the arc welding is alread)
toda) one of the biggest obstacles for introduction of auto%atic welding and
will beco%e an even larger obstacle in the future&
VirtualArc software and technolog) introduction is seen b) A.. as one
i%"ortant ste" forward to hel" both e(isting and future arc welding robotic
custo%ers to auto%ate their "roduction in a e#icient wa)&
4urrentl)' the VirtualArc software tool will be introduced to the %ar*et as
a 5 +rst edition6 with two di#erent si-es of the sa%e "ower source with the
%ar*et na%e AR4ITE4 ll& The %aterial o"tion will be %ild and low tensile
steel' and the wire selection will be nor%al 2olid wire' of 2 2 t)"e' with the
following di%ensions 7&8' 1&7' 1&2' 1&9 %%&
The 5 +rst edition6 will also include the selection of two co%%on shielding
gas %i(tures&
0uture e("ansion of the s)ste% will be %ade in coo"eration with end users
and su""liers' based u"on their s"eci+c re,uire%ents for new a""lication
areas&
In +rst hand this will give the "otential to si%"lif) the use of arc welding
robotics in the %anufacturing industries&
For your business and technology editors
For more information please contact:
ABB Automation Technologies
Robotics, Automotive & Manufacturing,
Arc Welding roducts
!ontact erson" #ic$ %$arin, %enior roduct Manager
Tel" &'( )*' *+),(
dic$-s$arin.se-abb-com