automatic / robotic qualification

By prad Date 05-03-2005 19:10

does anyone have any experience succesfully qualifying operators and equipment to D1.1 for fully automatic GMAW welding?
we are setting up a robotic line to weld 1/4" horizontal position fillets on A36 steel. How is qualification established since the machine will not be capable of welding traditional test plates? the machine is presently programmed & configured to process our finished parts only. The definitions of "automatic welding" and "welding operator" found in annex B of D1.1 definately appear to recognize robotic operation but the qualification section of the code does not specifically address how qualifcation should be established on fully automated equipment.

By swnorris (****)

Date 05-03-2005 19:26

http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?id=6885#31734

By ctacker (****)

Date 06-26-2008 18:27

Link does not work!

By swnorris (****)

Date 06-26-2008 18:34

The link is over three years old. Maybe that's why?

By ctacker (****)

Date 06-27-2008 17:03

maybe AWS needs more harddrive space, so we dont have to ask the same questions every three years! :)

By - Date 05-03-2005 19:31

This sort of scenario is discussed in the Commentary to the code, at paragraphs C4.1.2 (first paragraph), C4.18 (second paragraph), and C5.5. Simply stated, your welders will need a semi-automatic (hand held) qualification and you will need to provide training on the robotic equipment, materials, WPSs, etc that they will be using. Keep records of this training in order to satisfy your clients, should they ask.

This should be no big deal, as I'm sure you had envisioned providing some thorough training before letting your guys begin welding with your new (and I'm sure expensive) robots.

Mankenberg