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Title: Control of resistance plug welding using quantitative feedback theory

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/431135· OSTI ID:431135
 [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Sandia National Lab., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
  3. Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)

Resistance welding is used extensively throughout the manufacturing industry. Variations in weld quality often result in costly post-weld inspections. Applications of feed-back control to such processes have been limited by the lack of accurate models describing the nonlinear dynamics of this process. A new system based on electrode displacement feedback is developed that greatly improves quality control of the resistance plug welding process. The system is capable of producing repeatable welds of consistent displacement (and thus consistent quality), with wide variations in weld parameters. This paper describes the feedback design of a robust controller using Quantitative Feedback Theory for this highly complex process, and the experimental results of the applied system.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Financial Management and Controller, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
431135
Report Number(s):
SAND-94-0795; ON: DE97002486; TRN: 97:000974
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Dec 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English