JPH0323070A - Welding equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately judge the completion of service life of an electrode by counting the generating time of an arc and judging the remaining service life of the electrode from this integrated value. CONSTITUTION:A value of a timer 26 is inputted and compared with a previous value of the timer 26. Namely, the change of the least significant dot of the timer 26 is seen and when there is the change, counting of on-time of a power source is started and one is added to a value of a RAM27 at a time. This counting operation is continued till the power source is turned off. The status of arc-on is then inputted and it is decided whether or not the arc is made on. Namely, it is judged whether an arc detection signal is detected from an arc detection part 28 and when the arc is on, in the same way, a value of a timer 29 is inputted and compared with a previous value of the timer 29. Consequently, the change of the least significant dot of the timer 29 is seen and when there is the change, counting of on-time of the arc is started and one is added to a value of a RAM30 at a time. This counting operation is continued till generating of the arc is stopped.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a welding device.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, the electrodes of torches used in welding equipment gradually wear out when used for a long time, so they must be replaced when their service life reaches the end. Therefore, the operating time of the welding equipment is shown in a count table, and the life of the torch electrode is determined based on this operating time and replacement work is performed.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in this conventional method, the lifespan of the electrode is determined based on the operating time of the welding equipment, and although it can be used as a rough guide to some extent, it is not possible to accurately determine the lifespan of the electrode. However, there was a problem that people ended up forgetting to replace the electrodes.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a welding device that can reliably replace electrodes without forgetting to replace them and can improve maintainability.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a counting means for counting the arc generation time of the power source of a welding torch, and a memory for accumulating and storing the time counted by the means. and a notification means that compares a value stored in the means with a preset life time of the electrode, and notifies that the life of the electrode has expired when the value stored in the storage means exceeds the life time. It is characterized by

(Function) In the present invention, since the arc generation time of the torch electrode is counted and the remaining life of the electrode is determined based on this integrated value, it is possible to accurately determine the end of the life of the electrode. Moreover, when the cumulative value of the arc generation time exceeds the preset life time of the electrode, the end of the life of the electrode is automatically notified, so that the electrode can be replaced without fail.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a block diagram of a welding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a concrete example of the entire welding device shown in the above embodiment.

First, in FIG. 2, a motherboard 1 is the main control section of the welding device, and controls the entire device by exchanging data with a memory card 2 storing various data and a programmable controller (hereinafter referred to as PC) 3. Control.

Further, a CRT (display unit) 4 is connected to the motherboard 1, and displays various types of information according to commands from the motherboard 1 or the PCB. The PCB is connected to the machine 6 and the welding power source 7 via the relay board 5, and controls the operation of the machine 6 and the welding power source 7, as well as performing control for diagnosing the lifespan of the torch power source, which will be described later.

The PCB is also connected to the torch position control units 8 to 10 and also controls the torch. Each torch position control section 8~
10 are connected to servo motors 14 to 16 and encoders 17 to 1 through corresponding servo amplifiers 11 to 13, respectively. The torch position control section 8 controls the torch in the X-axis direction of the coordinate axes, the 1-touch position control section 9 controls the torch in the Y-axis direction, and the torch position control section 10 controls the torch in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, each servo amplifier 11-13 is driven by the control of each torch position control section 8-10, and the servo motor 14-13 which drives the torch in each axial direction is driven by this drive.
16 is driven. In addition, the amount of rotation of each servo motor 14 to 16 is detected by the corresponding encoder 17 to 19, and by outputting this detected value to each torch position control unit 8 to 10, the x, y, and z of the torch is controlled. Movement in each axis direction is controlled.

A tachogenerator (TG) 20 for speed detection and a brake 21 are connected to the motor 16, and an MDI panel 22 and a hand box 23 are connected to the relay board 5.
, and a welding detection section 24 that detects welding of the welded portion.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the constituent members except the CRT4 are
For example, it is installed inside a PCB. Power-on detection section 25
is a detection circuit that detects when the power of the welding apparatus is turned on, and continues to output the detection signal output from the power-on detection section 25 to the timer 26 while the power is on. The timer 26 counts the power-on time based on the power-on detection signal.
It starts counting when the power is turned on and ends when the power is turned off. The RAM 27 is a memory that stores the count value of the timer 26, and sequentially adds up and memorizes the power-on time. Therefore, the integrated value of the power on time is memorized,
This integrated value is updated sequentially.

Note that the RAM 27 is a RAM protected by a backup battery, and data will not be lost even if the power is turned off.

The arc detection unit 28 detects the occurrence of an arc in the electrode of the torch by monitoring the welding current.

The two timers are configured so that the detection signal of arc occurrence is sent to the arc detection section 2.
8 is used to count the time during which the arc is being detected, and starts counting when an arc occurs, and stops counting when the arc stops occurring. RA~130 is for sequentially adding and storing the count values of the two timers as described above, and stores the cumulative time of arc occurrence. Note that the data stored in the RAM 30 is similarly protected by a backup battery. The comparison unit 31 includes a memory therein, and the life time of the torch electrode is stored in advance in this memory. The comparator 31 is a comparator circuit that compares this life time with the arc occurrence time stored in the RAM 30.

In the above configuration, when the arc generation time reaches the end of its life, the comparator 31 outputs a command to the CRT 4 to display a command to replace the electrode. That is, since the electrodes are worn out by the occurrence of arcs, the end of the life of the electrodes is determined based on the cumulative time of arc occurrences. Here, CR
In addition to the above-mentioned instruction to replace the f4 electrode, T4 displays various other information, including the RAM that stores the on-time of the electrode.
27. Data stored in the RAM 30 storing the arc occurrence time is also displayed. Therefore, by displaying the cumulative value of the power-on time and the cumulative value of the arc generation time, it is possible to know the usage status of the welding device and the remaining usage time of the electrode.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained in more detail.

First, the counting operation of the power-on time and the arc occurrence time will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step 301, the value of the timer 26 is input, and in step 302, the previous value of the timer 26 is compared. That is,
Looking at the change of the lowest do soto on the timer 26, as a result, the change power 《that (f, step 304)
starts counting the power-on time, and adds 1 to the value in the RAM 27. This counting operation continues until the power is turned off.

Next, in step 305, the arc-on status is input, and in step 306, it is determined whether the arc is on. That is, it is determined whether an arc detection signal is detected from the arc detection section 28, and if the arc is on, the process proceeds to step 307. Then, in step 307, the values of the two timers are input manually in the same manner as described above, and in step 308, they are compared with the previous values of the two timers. As a result, in step 309, the change in the least significant bit of the two timers is checked, and if there is a change in f, then in step 310, counting of the arc on time is started, and R
Add 1 to the value of AM30.

This counting operation continues until arcing stops.

Next, the operation time display operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, step 401 is for selecting a display mode, and selecting the display of the power on time and the arc occurrence time. Depending on the display mode selected here, the R A Fv1 selected in step 402
data is manually processed and calculated. That is, the data in the RAM 27 that stores the power-on time or the RAM 30 that stores the arc occurrence time is calculated, and step 4
03, the data will be displayed. Therefore, with this display, it is possible to know the usage status of the welding apparatus based on the power-on time, and the remaining life of the electrode can be known based on the arc generation time. On the other hand, step 404 is an operation other than these display modes, and involves processing in other modes.

Step 405 is for manually resetting the display and setting parameters using the numeric buttons. here,
If a reset of the power-on time is instructed, the timer 26 is initialized in step 406, and the data in the RAM 27 is cleared in step 407. Further, when an instruction is given to reset the display of the arc occurrence time, the timer 29 is similarly initialized in step 408, the data in the RAM 30 is cleared in step 409, and the electrode cancel flag is cleared in step 410. Furthermore,
The operator who instructs the setting of the parameters selects in step 411 whether or not to display an alarm, and whether or not to notify that the life of the electrode has come to an end and display an instruction to replace the electrode. Here, if an alarm is to be displayed, an electrode alarm flag is set in step 412, and parameters are set, ie, the life time of the electrode is set in step 413. On the other hand, if the alarm is not to be displayed, the electrode alarm flag is reset in step 414.

Steps 4↓5 are for determining whether or not to end the operating time display. If the display is to be ended here, the mode is initialized in step 416, and then the maintenance menu is displayed in step 417.

Next, the alarm display operation will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, in step 501, it is checked whether the electrode alarm flag of the electrode 501 is on, and if it is on, then in step 502, it is checked whether the electrode cancel flag is off. If the electrode cancellation flag is off, then in step 503, data on the arc-on time, that is, the integrated value of the arc generation time stored in RAM 30 is input manually.

Next, in step 504, the parameter data, that is, the life time of the electrode as described above, is input, and step 5
In step 05, the arc-on time and life time are compared. This comparison shows that if the arc on time exceeds the life time,
Proceeding to step 506, an alarm message is displayed, ie, a message indicating that the electrode has reached the end of its life and should be replaced is displayed. Therefore, when the electrode reaches the end of its life, an alarm message is automatically displayed, so that the user never forgets to replace the electrode, the electrode can be replaced reliably, and maintenance efficiency can be improved.

In addition, when erasing an alarm message, as shown in FIG. 6, the screen is first cleared in step 601.

Next, in step 602, the electrode cancellation flag is turned on, and in step 603, the operating time is displayed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be implemented in other appropriate forms by making appropriate design changes.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, since the arc generation time is counted and the remaining life of the electrode is determined from this integrated value, it is possible to accurately determine the end of the life of the electrode. Furthermore, since an alarm is automatically issued when the arc generation time reaches the life time, the electrode can be replaced reliably and maintenance efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a welding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a specific example of the overall configuration of the welding device shown in the above embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the welding device according to the above embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operation time counting operation, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing alarm message display operation, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing alarm message erasing operation. 25...Power-on detection unit 26.29...Timer 27.30...RAM 28...Arc detection unit 31...Comparison unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] A counting means for counting the arc generation time of the power source of the welding torch, a storage means for accumulating and storing the time counted by the means, and a value stored in the means and a preset life time of the electrode. and notifying means for comparing the values in the storage means and notifying the end of the life of the electrode when the value in the storage means exceeds the life time.