Authors:
D. Ibáñez
1
;
E. García
2
;
J. Martos
1
and
J. Soret
1
Affiliations:
1
Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
;
2
Ford Valencia, 46440, Valencia, Spain
Keyword(s):
Resistance Spot Welding, Predictive Maintenance, Secondary Circuit, Welding Gun.
Abstract:
Currently, many resources are invested in high-production automotive factories to correct quality defects caused in the bodywork due to secondary circuit wear. In the same way, energy losses are generated due to the increase in resistance caused by secondary wear, thus reducing efficiency and increasing the final cost of the product. This happens because, at present, there is no method that allows the predictive detection of problems in the secondary and the arms of the welding gun. Consequently, a solution must be developed to carry out predictive maintenance applicable to the automotive industry to detect this defect. This research provides an answer by proposing a method to detect variations in the state of the secondary of the welding gun using existing data in the welding process, specifically, the evolution of the angle of degassing of the IGBTs of the welding control. To validate the relationship between the control shift angle and the increase in wear, an electronic simulatio
n software was used to simulate the behaviour of the real welding control.
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