Smart Enabling Robotics driving free FOrm Welding "SERFOW"

Additive manufacturing (AM) can refer to the process of joining materials to make objects from digital 3D model or design data, which is used to build-up a component - usually layer-upon-layer - and includes a range of techniques such as additive or freeform fabrication.

Innovative technology is required in order for AM to become a highly disruptive force within the global manufacturing industry enabling a shift from prototyping to mass production of parts and accessories. This project seeks to advance the technology used in AM by integrating robot manipulators with 3D vision systems to locate and pick up specific objects and hold them in place while a separate arm provides a fusion welding arc to join the components together by completing the weld.

This proof-of-concept project intends to develop an innovative, free-form fusion welding demonstrator that is capable of new product fabrication or assembly using digital information supplied from a range of sources such as computer-aided-design or real-time data supplied by advanced digital inspection. The production technologies will locate and grasp the required parts, hold them in place enabling them to be welded together through a layered welding approach.