how to qualify new automated weld equip.

By vcebrad Date 06-25-2004 12:53

What is the industry standard or common practice for qualifying new automated weld equipment?

My company is preparing to purchase an expensive new weld cell to move from bolting to welding assemblies of automotive-type products. Is it common practice to require the vendor of a new weld cell to make a pre-production run of a certain number at their facility prior to shipping the equipment? How many should be welded - one shift's worth, one week's worth?

Anybody out there done this before?

By jon20013 (*****)

Date 06-25-2004 13:14

You might want to post this in the Automotive Industry link below. Good luck!

By weldeng13 (*)

Date 07-08-2004 22:01

It is common to have some limited production runs performed before the machine ships from the fabricator's location to yours. This a good idea for both parties for the following reasons: Does the machine work as specified in the contract documents? If it doesn't you know before it is shipped and paid for. It also allows the fabricator can make any necessary adjustments which is much easier at their location instead of at your facility. The production run should be large enough to get a good feeling on how to rate the machine in output; this will help to create a benchmark to compare it to when it is set up in your location. Without a benchmark you would never know if variables changed from one location to another.