Objective Industry requests for quality improvement, costs reduction and more strict scheduling results in an increasing demand for automation. This project, based on the combination of an innovative Laser Beam welding process, with the capabilities of Heavy Robotics, was structured to satisfy these needs, taking into account several requirements, from the configuration/design of welded components to friendly system management, with the opportunity of efficient interface with operators, as well as fully automated processing and monitoring. The proposed welding technique has a very large field of applications in welding heavy section components (10-25 mm in thickness) in the energy, electromechanical, petrochemical, construction, transportation and shipbuilding industries.The main goal of the project was dissemination of the technology by means of an effective demonstration of system integrability in a production environment, based on the following:- feasibility of the laser welding process, remotely carried out, on heavy section components- exploitation of advantages related to the laser welding technique, applying new design criteria- development of procedures for the integration of subsystems at HW and SW level- demonstration of system industrial functionality and user friendly automation standards.The expected advantages were linked to positive effects on costs and design including- optimisation of subcomponents thickness, with adequate design criteria and simplified standards- reduction of component distortions as well as of post-welding operations- higher process reliability due to the use of sensor based robotics tools.- increased diffusion of laser welded solutions. Fields of science social sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomationengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringnaval engineeringsea vesselsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics Keywords Energy Hardware Large Companies Manufacturing Industry Research and Technology Organisations Transfer/Validation Programme(s) FP4-INNOVATION - Specific programme for the dissemination and exploitation of the results of activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 1.2 - UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH CENTRE TO INDUSTRY Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Istituto per le Ricerche di Tecnologia Meccanica e per l'Automazione SpA EU contribution No data Address Regione Lime 10080 Vico Canavese Torino Italy See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all EUROPEAN COMMISSION-JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Belgium EU contribution No data Address RUE DE LA LOI 200 See on map Total cost No data Framatome S.A. France EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data GILBERT AUSIAS ETUDES ET REALISATIONS S.A.R.L. France EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data
