Keywords
Citation
(2001), "PSQ by Bosch Rexroth ensures quality during spot welding: ultrasonic system reduces test costs in body assembly", Assembly Automation, Vol. 21 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2001.03321daf.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
PSQ by Bosch Rexroth ensures quality during spot welding: ultrasonic system reduces test costs in body assembly
PSQ by Bosch Rexroth ensures quality during spot welding: ultrasonic system reduces test costs in body assemblyKeywords: Spot welding, Ultrasonic, Assembly, Quality assurance
With the PSQ ultrasonic quality assurance system, the Electric Drives and Controls Division of Bosch Rexroth AG has made a significant contribution to assure the quality of spot welds. Compared to the random, destructive tests of spot welds with hammer and chisel, which are still common in body assembly, the user saves costs with increased reliability. The PSQ quality assurance system is an optional component the PS 6000 resistance welding controls (see Plate 6).
Plate 6
Guaranteed spot welding quality through process-integrated current control with
ultrasonic measurement in the PSI 6000 resistance welding control system
The process integrated ultrasonic measurement allows the quality of the spot welds to be monitored during the actual welding process. With ultrasonic pulsation, the size of the weld nugget can be determined. Depending on the divergences from the given nominal value, the necessary changes of welding current required to achieve a good welding spot are calculated and adjusted automatically by the control. The control equipped with PSQ compensates various interfering variables, thus guaranteeing a constant spot weld quality which can be reproduced any time.
The PSQ quality assurance system consists of five components. These include the USR ultrasonic control board to be integrated into the PS 6000 and the USP ultrasonic signal processor to be mounted on a welding gun or machine. A further component is the USE sensor system, which is made up of an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver. To comprehend and interpret the results of measurement, as well as for drawing up statistics, Bosch Rexroth offers the USW software package.
In addition, a notebook including standard software for operating and programming the control board is included in the scope of delivery.
The PS 6000 resistance welding control with the PSQ quality assurance system is particularly intended for applications in the automotive industry. Here, spot welding with ultrasonic measurement is mainly used in the field of automated body assembly and production of parts.