Hierarchical architecture for automated electrom beam (EB) welding systems: Exception handling and robust controllers

Technical Report · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6162227· OSTI ID:6162227

Greer, J. T.

The wide interest in electron beam (EB) manufacturing applications has intensified because of interest in high-productivity and high-quality manufacturing. Applications for EB welding in space, defense projects, Strategic Defense Initiative space stations, and the construction of NASA's space modulus have also intensified the interest for automated EB welding systems. A control system that will provide ''robust'' automation and exception handling requires extensive knowledge of the process. For complex, multivariable, nonlinear, nonstationary processes, various techniques are usually required to capture the knowledge necessary to handle process exceptions. This report develops a methodology and hierarchical control structure and applies to the the EB welding control problem. The EB gun controller is specifically used to illustrate the methodology and the mapping into the proposed hierarchical control and analysis structure. Special attention is given to the process evaluator element of the hierarchical analysis structure, which utilizes a combination of qualitative, procedural, and mathematical models to evaluate and to handle process exceptions. The EB gun, filament controller, and emission controller are modeled and integrated so that the system/subsystem issues can be evaluated. 15 refs., 25 figs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OS21400
• OSTI ID: 6162227
• Report Number(s): Y-2405; ON: DE89012876
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ELECTRON BEAM WELDING
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
AUTOMATION
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
CONTROL SYSTEMS
FABRICATION
JOINING
TESTING
WELDING
420200* - Engineering- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
990220 - Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs- (1987-1989)