Article
Automatic welding
In February 2016, automatic welding using the RA-ALSTS-1000 laser seam tracking system was carried out at the Mahshahr pipe mill. Initial non-destructive ultrasonic and radiographic tests on pipes made this way showed the high quality of pipes produced with the seam tracking system. We have made a short video so other customers can see how the project was carried out; click the button below to watch it.
Video of the RA-ALSTS-1000 laser seam tracking system
In plants that make large-diameter water, oil and gas pipes, the welding nozzle or head must stay exactly in the middle of the seam. This matters just as much in spiral welding as in straight-seam welding. If the operator loses focus for a moment, the nozzle drifts off the seam. That drift can lead to lack of sidewall fusion or incomplete weld penetration.
This is where a seam tracking system helps you. The system keeps the welding nozzle on the seam continuously and automatically. It also adjusts the nozzle height by itself. This way, automatic welding continues without interruption through long production shifts. Seam deviation errors drop compared with manual work. Repairs caused by the nozzle leaving the seam also go down.
The know-how behind this system was developed in Iran. Feedback from Iranian operators went into its design. That is why operators with different levels of expertise can work with it easily. This technology is not limited to the pipe industry. Car manufacturing and steel building construction also need to locate seams, gaps or bulges precisely.
The system comes in three versions to fit the needs of different clients. See its benefits and models on the Iranian-made seam tracking system page. If you want to learn the general principles of this process, read the Welding article on Wikipedia.