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Title: A study on the influence of reflected arc light on vision sensors for welding automation

Journal Article · · Welding Journal
OSTI ID:419658
 [1];  [2]
  1. Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN (United States)
  2. Korea Advanced Inst. of Science and Technology, Taejon (Korea, Republic of). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Vision sensors using optical triangulation have been widely sued for automatic welding systems in various ways. Their reliability is, however, seriously influenced by the arc light reflected from the base metal surface. In this study, the reliability of vision sensors was analyzed for the variation of the arc noise by considering the reflectance of the base metal surface. The property of the surface reflection of the base metal was modeled using the bidirectional reflectance-distribution function (BRDF), and then the intensity variation of the reflected arc was formulated for various configurations of the torch, base metal and sensor. The experimental data of the arc light reflection were obtained for two materials, mild steel and stainless steel, each having different surface reflection characteristics. It was found that the results calculated from the proposed model were in good agreement with the experimental data.

OSTI ID:
419658
Journal Information:
Welding Journal, Vol. 75, Issue 12; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English