Recently, EMET delivered a customized 4-axis Laser Welding Robot to a domestic client. The client's grating floor slab is made of aluminum, with high workpiece consistency, and the weld width does not exceed one-tenth of the plate thickness, making it highly suitable for laser welding processes.
The grating welding process is a widely used manufacturing technique in the field of metal structure fabrication, where the core objective is to connect metal grating components (such as cross bars and vertical bars) into a stable frame structure through welding methods, while meeting the requirements of strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal.
The typical application scenarios of this process include industrial platforms, building staircases, anti-slip walkways, ventilation filters, and mechanical equipment support frames, particularly suitable for structures requiring high load-bearing capacity and excellent ventilation and light transmission.
The fundamental principle of grid welding involves melting the metal base material using high-temperature electric arcs or laser beams while adding filler materials (such as electrodes or welding wires) at the weld joint, enabling the metal base material and filler materials to form a tightly metallurgically bonded structure upon cooling. Depending on the welding method, it is primarily categorized into the following two types:
Manual Arc Welding: High temperatures are generated by electric arc discharge between the electrode and the workpiece, melting the electrode and localized areas of the workpiece to form a molten pool, which solidifies into a weld seam. It is suitable for small-batch production or welding of irregular-shaped grilles, offering high flexibility but lower efficiency, with welding quality significantly influenced by the operator's skill.
Automated welding (e.g., gas-shielded arc welding, laser welding):
- Gas-shielded arc welding (MIG/MAG): Uses continuously fed welding wire as the electrode, with shielding gas (such as CO₂or argon) to isolate the air and reduce oxidation. It offers fast welding speed and minimal deformation, making it suitable for batch production of medium-thick plate grating.
- Laser Welding: Utilizing high-energy laser beams to melt metals, it features deep penetration, a small heat-affected zone, and high precision. Commonly used for precision grids or dissimilar metal welding, but with high equipment costs, Laser welding robot arm system is primarily employed in high-end manufacturing.
