This document contains information considered proprietary and confidential to Tecnar Automation Ltd
40101-00020-00– Rev 1.2
Revision date: 2017-07-31
Page 9 of 48
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INTRODUCTION
Rotoweld 3.0 is a fully automated pipe-on-positioner welding system that
performs full penetration root and filler passes in an open bevelled butt joint.
It is specifically designed for industrial pipe prefabrication, small pressure
vessel manufacturing or other similar applications. Rotoweld produces high
quality welds three to four times faster than manual SMAW.
Rotoweld is based on a patented1 method to measure and control in real
time the penetration of the root pass in open butt joints. Developed by the
National Research Council of Canada, the method uses machine vision and
adaptive feedback to insure full penetration of the root and therefore a defect
free weld. Like a welder's eyes and hands, the system digitizes the full image
of the weld pool as picked up by a solid-state camera, analyses its shape and
reacts in real time on welding parameters, constantly adapting to varying
conditions such as changes in gap, root face or temperature. The system
operating range more than covers the tolerances typical of the average pipe
prefabrication shop.
The present document is divided into three main sections. The first section
offers a general description of the complete Rotoweld work cell. Part two of
the document details all operational aspects of the system. Finally, part three
contains technical specifications and other useful information
1 Nadeau, F., Fafard, P., Patenaude, G., and Tremblay, J. "Method and Apparatus for
Controlling Root Pass Weld Penetration in Open Butt Joints". US Patent #4,733,051, Mar. 22,
1988.
