Development and performance analysis of semi-automatic movement setup for planar welding

In this work, a bi-directional automatic movement unit for planar welding is indigenously developed in order to obtain weld with uniform bead width along a desired path. System modeling of the fabricated setup was carried out using bond graph to predict different system behaviors as well as predict the weld bead geometric path. The effectiveness of the automatic planar movement setup was validated depositing weld bead at different speeds on low carbon steel workpiece. Weld beads were deposited at equal and unequal speeds of each axis with independent movement as well as simultaneous movement of the axes. The bead width variations, geometric path are measured and validated along with the microstructural observations of the weld bead cross-sections. The setup was found to deposit weld beads successfully following the intended weld path and perform planar welding closely resembling with the predicted weld path.