Smart Laser Probe for automatic welding machine seam tracking
1 min read
Meta Vision Systems has launched a laser seam tracking system that applies the company's latest sensor technology to welding machine applications. Called Smart Laser Probe, it is manufactured at the company's Oxfordshire factory.
Using the latest advances in megapixel CMOS cameras, embedded electronics and high resolution displays, Meta has designed a new generation of Smart Laser Probe with significant improvements in performance, reliability and ease of use over Meta's original laser probe which provided laser seam tracking performance and reliability at a price roughly comparable with mechanical, tactile probe tracking.
Meta's SLS (smart laser sensor) technology incorporates the image processing hardware and software inside the sensor head. This greatly simplifies the architecture of the system. The non-contact, seam-tracking system senses and compensates for any deviation from the nominal weld path to ensure highly accurate, automated welding, without the need for expensive fixturing or manual guidance.
Even though the electronics for image processing is now in the sensor head rather than a separate controller, as previously, a high sampling rate of 30 full frames per second at megapixel camera resolution underpins fast welding speeds and better accuracy. Additionally, partial frames can be analysed at substantially higher rates.
Advanced anti-reflection techniques have been incorporated in both the hardware and software, so system performance with more reflective metals such as aluminium and stainless steel is substantially improved.
A further advantage of the new design is that it can tolerate a wide range of ambient temperatures from -40°C to +55°C.
Finally, the operator pendant has been completely redesigned to be more robust and informative, including multi-colour LEDs to give the operator status feedback directly from the pendant itself.
