HUNTINGDON Fusion Techniques (HFT) has launched its new KR1000 robot cell resistance welder electrode force gauge, after two years of intense development.
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Electrode force in resistance welding is a crucial parameter in obtaining correct quality for both standard and critical welds in automotive manufacturing.
The new gauges can be mounted in robot cells used by car manufacturers and their tier one and two suppliers to allow automated checking of weld gun electrode force for obtaining optimum weld strength and equipment life.
The new gauges provide superior characteristics to the earlier HFT gauges, and after life tests show increased longevity and reliability over any instrument with a similar function.
The KR1000 force gauge head only is intended to work with robots that have Bosch welding controllers and to be a direct plug and play replacement to other electronic force gauges already in use that may be exhibiting poor reliability and lifetime.
This instrument is certified as Class III and calibrated to National Physical Laboratory Standards using traceable equipment with an accuracy rated as typically 0.5% or less of full scale which is 1000kg.
For companies operating robots with controllers not capable of reading an analogue force input, HFT provides the NBT 1000 interface to allow the KR1000 to be attached to any robot cell whatever controller it has.
This simple installation will save robot users having to purchase upgrades or changes to welding controllers and will allow any robot to go straight into action with resistance electrode force measuring.
Any car manufacturing line not yet using force measuring as part of their electrode dressing routine can now, for the first time, simply attach an HFT gauge for a very cost effective price offering rapid payback by extended equipment life and reduction in scrap parts and rework requirements.
HFT has also upgraded its swivel head hand held force gauge for car plants to cross check their robot results and to use for checking manually operated weld guns.
Robots fitted with servo guns that may not need cell mounted robot force gauges can have their calibration checked manually from time to time with the handheld force gauge.