How to Inspect Challenging Welding Processes

Investing in innovative quality assurance pays off, even in turbulent times, and plasmo Industrietechnik GmbH (Vienna, Austria) is full of optimism: Luis Diaz, the chief executive officer of plasmo USA LLC (Plymouth, MI), says, “In our daily business we’ve noticed that despite the highly volatile market, quality is a constant issue and is actually gaining in importance. And,” he continues, “companies are rising to the challenge. We can see that from the growing demand.”

His company offers quality assurance solutions capable of meeting the highest demands with regard to complex applications such as crack measurement, position control, process monitoring or weld seam measurement during the production process.

For example, plasmo offers the processobserver advanced that is used for process monitoring during welding, cutting and laser drilling. With the processobserver advanced it is possible for a shop to monitor welding processes using two independent channels. This means, for example, it is possible to undertake process monitoring and performance measurement simultaneously using one device.

The company also offers the profileobserver compact for measuring the geometry of weld and solder seams. With up to 10,000 images per second, the profileobserver compact automatically identifies, measures and documents geometries and surface defects during the production process itself. This camera-based inspection process quickly and reliably detects edge notches, spatter and more.

The profileobserver compact is also suitable for measuring joining gaps. The options for tracing seams include identifying seam cambering, seam width or seam positions. The surface geometry of a weld seam is shown in real time. The profileobserver compact presents all calculated seam parameters such as excessive weld metal, the incidence, angle and position of the seam, or surface pores as graphical images.

The high definition 10µm resolution in harsh industrial surroundings makes precise measurements possible despite considerable movement and long distances from the measurement piece. The profileobserver compact is therefore very flexible in its application and is easily integrated into existing production chains, for example. With dimensions of only 60 mm by 68 mm by 237 mm, the profileobserver compact certainly lives up to its name.

Up to 50 per cent smaller, the casing makes this the profileobserver for the steel industry (heavy industry). The unit’s compactness makes it ideal for applications with robots and a large amount of weight has been reduced on the accompanying arm and flange. The smaller construction of the profileobserver compact provides versatility and flexibility.

Plasmo is a global high-tech provider of automated quality inspection systems for the manufacturing industry. Established in 2003, it’s headquartered in Vienna and has a network of international distributors. The expertise ranges from plasmo laser power measurement, control of welding processes, monitoring of weld seams, geometric shapes and surfaces up to tailored solutions in the field of machine vision and analysis software.

A wide range of services with comprehensive engineering services rounds off the portfolio. A leading position in the market, the company occupies in the real-time quality control for assembly processes. The expert team assists its customers from the moment the control task is defined until implementation of the control system with its turnkey implemented, customized applications plasmo has a large clientele of top international companies established in different industries.

In the steel industry, manufacturers such as ThyssenKrupp, Salzgitter, Tokyu Steel and Posco trust in the high-quality systems of plasmo, as well as various automobile manufacturers like Audi, BMW, Daimler, GM, Opel, PSA, Suzuki, Volvo, VW and many more. In 2013 plasmo USA opened as the second branch (after Germany) in the U.S. in response to the expanding markets in North, Central and South America.

plasmo Industrietechnik GmbH, Dresdner Str. 81-85, 1200 Vienna/Austria, +43 (1) 236 2607-0, Fax: +43 (1) 236 2607-99, www.plasmo-us.com.