New electrode dresser from PW

Citation

(1998), "New electrode dresser from PW", Industrial Robot, Vol. 25 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1998.04925fad.010

New electrode dresser from PW

New electrode dresser from PW

Keywords Robots, Welding

Now available from Bicester-based Portable Welders is the AMDP range of automatic tip dressers for robot welding guns (see Plate 7). With the move within the automotive industry towards welding on modern zinc coated materials, now being used as standard in car bodies throughout the world, comes an associated problem; the deterioration of the electrodes and the resultant deterioration in weld quality.

To resolve this problem, users of robotic spot welding equipment can choose to use the heat stepping facilities available from modern welding controls. These are however, difficult to set up and manage. The alternative solution is to use automatic electrode dressing systems. However, in the past, these systems have required flexible mountings in order to operate successfully, a system which does not ensure accurate and rapid dressing of the electrodes back to the original form.

Plate 7 New electrode dresser from PW

The AMDP unit, however, is a rigid system which provides dressing quality similar to an automatic machine tool. Its rigid mounting features a patented cutter profile which provides a machine quality finish to the electrodes in only 0.2 seconds. One of the many automotive companies currently using the equipment is Vauxhall at Luton. Trials in the Luton plant show very substantial cost savings when compared with other processes.

Portable Welders believe that the AMDP range of automatic tip dressing tools is currently the most efficient and cost-effective way of prolonging the electrode tip life and maintaining the highest standard of weld quality.

For further information please contact Claire Sellars. Tel: 01926 889117.