Drive systems keep welding under tight control

For some time now Lenze in Germany have been supplying inverter-optimised 3-phase drive systems to Uniweld Maschinenbau in Germany for welding plant control.

Few lorry drivers are aware that Lenze technology helps Uniweld achieve the precision that gives many of the vehicles the strength on which they rely.

For some time now Lenze in Germany have been supplying inverter-optimised 3-phase drive systems to market leading Uniweld Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG in Burbach, Germany, for welding plant control.

Every system dispatched from the plant to customers all over Europe is unique.

High-performance submerged arc welding equipment, automation and handling machines are designed, constructed and manufactured by Uniweld in close liaison with its customers.

The same applies to inspection technology systems, complete production lines for automation processes, machines and plants used in the area of arc welding technology.

Almost all of these include Lenze manufactured intelligent drive systems consisting of SDS inverter optimised motors and servo frequency inverters for which Lenze are so well known the world over.

"Lenze technology plays a major role here, not only in the feed but also in the speed, reaction and uniformity of the various scanning movements which have to be smooth and gentle in order to achieve the perfectly straight and uniform weld lines required." said Helmut Schneider, head of Uniweld's mechanical engineering technical office.

For example.

a hoist used for assembling lorries contains five drive units equipped with SDS motors and gearboxes with the appropriate control systems.

The steel or aluminium used has to be welded together so that heavy bulk goods can be transported in compliance with strict safety regulations.

The welding method used is known as the MAG process, in which wire is welded under a protective gas.

The hoist moves the welding torch across the product: a profile is made by welding seams along the entire length, with additional seams being welded at right-angles along the cross-section.

The welding torch has to be tracked by the scanning system which sends out pulses to ensure that the welding head can move safely in a continuous direction along the three principal axes, controlling both height and width.

This 'machine management' is based on a control technology with feedback and tracking functions.

The SDS drive has to run smoothly at all times and it must track spontaneously and continuously, reacting in fractions of a second, because the path guide has to immediately balance out any irregularities at either end of the material by means of the gap, which can be up to 1mm wide.

Lenze products and technology has proved so good that the company now enjoys 'preferred supplier' status to Uniweld.

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