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EP-4741958-A1 - METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WELDING DEVICE AND CONTROL DEVICES THEREFOR

EP4741958A1EP 4741958 A1EP4741958 A1EP 4741958A1EP-4741958-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (210, 510, 610) for the superior control of a welding machine (120a-b), in which a control instruction (300) is sent to a welding machine control unit (130) of a welding machine (120a-b), wherein the control instruction (300) comprises one or more control commands which are intended to be executed after receiving an execution command, and in which, after sending the control instruction (300), the execution command is sent to the welding machine control unit (130) of the welding machine (120a-b). The invention further relates to a method (230, 530, 630) for controlling a welding machine (120a-b), in which a control instruction (300) is received, wherein the control instruction (300) comprises one or more control commands which are intended to be executed after receiving an execution command, in which, after receiving the control instruction (300), the execution command is received and in which, in response to receiving the execution command, the execution of the control instruction (300) is effected. The invention further relates to a master control unit (110), a welding machine control unit (130), and a system (100).

Inventors

  • Bajohr, Nils

Assignees

  • EWM GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (13)

  1. Method (210, 510, 610) for the superior control of a welding machine (120a-b), in particular implemented with a master control unit (110) for the superior control of one or more welding machines (120a-b), - in which a control instruction (300) is sent to a welding machine control unit (130) of a welding machine (120a-b), wherein the control instruction (300) comprises one or more control commands which are intended to be executed upon receipt of an execution command, and - in which, after sending the control instruction (300), the execution command is sent to the welding machine control unit (130) of the welding machine (120a-b).
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that actual values of a welding process are obtained and the control instruction (300) is generated depending on the obtained actual values and/or the execution command is sent depending on the obtained actual values.
  3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that , after sending the control instruction (300), an acknowledgment of receipt of the control instruction (300) is received and the sending of the execution command depends on the receipt of the acknowledgment.
  4. Method (230, 530, 630) for controlling a welding machine (120a-b), in particular implemented with a welding machine control device (130) of a welding machine (120a-b), - where a control instruction (300) is received, wherein the control instruction (300) comprises one or more control commands intended to be executed upon receipt of an execution command, - where, after receiving the control instruction (300), the execution order is received and - in which, in response to receiving the execution command, the execution of the control instruction (300) is effected.
  5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that one or more recorded actual values are sent, in particular to the master control unit (110).
  6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that , after receiving the control instruction (300), an acknowledgment of receipt of the control instruction (300) is sent, in particular to the master control unit (110).
  7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control instruction (300) includes one or more control commands for the time-dependent change of at least one welding parameter.
  8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it can be deduced from the control instruction (300), in particular via a knower included in the control instruction (300), that the one or more control commands of the control instruction (300) are intended to be executed after receipt of an execution command.
  9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control instruction (300) is transmitted via a first communication link (142), in particular serial communication link, is sent or received and the execution command is sent or received via a separate further communication link (144).
  10. Method (200, 500, 600) for the superior control of a welding machine (120a-b), implemented with a master control unit (110) for the superior control of one or more welding machines (120a-b) and a welding machine control unit (130) of a welding machine (120a-b), - wherein the master control unit (110) sends a control instruction (300) to the welding machine control unit (130), the control instruction (300) comprising one or more control commands intended to be executed upon receipt of an execution command, - where the welding machine control unit (130) receives the control instruction (300), - where the master control unit (110), after sending the control instruction (300), sends the execution command to the welding machine control unit (130) and - in which the welding machine control unit (130) receives the execution command and, in response, executes the control instruction (300).
  11. Master control unit (110) for the superior control of one or more welding machines (120a-b), comprising respective means for carrying out a method (210, 510, 610) according to one of claims 1 to 3 and 7 to 10.
  12. Welding machine control unit (130) of a welding machine (120a-b), comprising respective means for carrying out a method (230, 530, 630) according to one of claims 4 to 10.
  13. System (100) - with a master control unit (110) according to claim 11 and - with one or more welding machines (120a-b), wherein at least one of the one or more welding machines (120a-b) has a welding machine control device (130) according to claim 12.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for the higher-level control of a welding machine and for controlling a welding machine. The present invention further relates to a master control unit for the higher-level control of one or more welding machines and a welding machine control unit for controlling a welding machine. The present invention further relates to a system comprising such a master control unit and a welding machine with such a welding machine control unit. In current technology, higher-level control systems, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), are used to control welding equipment, like welding machines or robots. These higher-level control systems specify, for example, setpoints for welding parameters. There is a need to enable more complex control of welding equipment using the higher-level control system, where setpoints are changed cyclically. Currently, this is typically achieved by cyclically transmitting setpoints from the higher-level control system to the welding equipment via a digital communication link, such as a fieldbus. However, the digital systems used for this communication between the higher-level control system and the welding machine require runtime and processing times. This can lead to, for example, a "stair-step" effect in the values of the relevant welding parameter when setpoints are changed rapidly, due to delays in transmitting the setpoints. Furthermore, when several setpoints are changed simultaneously, significant time lags can occur in the adjustment of the individual setpoints. This can lead to undesirable effects in the controlled welding processes. Furthermore, if changes are made to the software of a PLC used for the higher-level control, which, for example, lead to increases in the runtimes for the signal output of setpoints by increasing the size of the program code, the digital delay effects can change in an unpredictable way. These effects lead to problems in the quality of welding processes. Against this background, the present invention aims to propose methods for controlling a welding machine, as well as corresponding control devices and a system, which at least partially reduce or eliminate the problems of the prior art described above. The aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention by a method for the superior control of a welding machine, in particular implemented with a master control unit for the superior control of one or more welding machines, in which a control instruction is sent to a welding machine control unit of a welding machine, wherein the control instruction comprises one or more control commands which are intended to be executed after receiving an execution command, and in which, after sending the control instruction, the execution command is sent to the welding machine control unit of the welding machine. In this way, control instructions, including complex instructions with multiple control commands, can be pre-transmitted to a welding machine's control unit. Since the control instruction is not intended for immediate execution, delays in its transmission are negligible. To trigger the execution of the control instruction, it is then sufficient to transmit an execution command to the welding machine's control unit. Because the control commands have already been pre-transmitted with the control instruction, the... The execution instruction is a very simple instruction whose processing and/or transmission results in lower and/or more predictable latency than the transmission of the control instruction. In this way, the execution of a potentially complex control instruction can be effected with lower and/or more predictable latency. The method serves for the higher-level control of a welding machine. The welding machine can be, in particular, an arc welding machine with a consumable electrode, especially for metal inert gas (MIG) welding, or with a non-consumable electrode, especially for tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. The welding machine can be designed, in particular, as part of an automated welding system, for example, a welding robot or a welding machine. The welding system can, in particular, include the welding machine and a movement device, such as a robot arm, for moving a welding torch of the welding machine. The method is preferably carried out with a master control unit for the overall control of one or more welding machines. The master control unit can, for example, be a programmable logic controller (PLC). Alternatively, the master control unit can also be a computer running control software for welding machines. In this method, a control instruction is sent to a welding machine control unit. The control instruction can be sent via a wired or wireless communication link. Preferably, the control instruction is sent via a serial communication link. Such a serial communication link allows for the simple transmission of complex control instructions. The control instruction comprises one or mor