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Welding and Mechatronics Institute

Teaching, research, and development in Welding Technology: processes, procedures, equipment, and instrumentation

Facilities

Always in search of real innovations in the field of electric arc welding and its automation, as well as the breadth and currency of the academic content taught to undergraduate and graduate students, LABSOLDA's strategy includes the design, implementation, maintenance, and constant updating of an infrastructure adequate for this purpose. On the one hand, the addition of in-house technology in welding power sources, instrumentation, and mechanization equipment allows for flexibility in research and continuous improvement of the generated innovations, escaping the limitations of commercial equipment and enriching the training of specialized human resources. At the same time, state-of-the-art commercial equipment is incorporated into the infrastructure, which allows for the development of procedures, analyses, and the provision of in-depth technological information to society (industrial, teaching, and research sectors), supporting unbiased technology comparisons and selections based on scientific criteria. In addition to the systems directly dedicated to Welding operations and its Automation, there are also accessory technologies that enable greater versatility and agility in activities, as well as broader analyses of the processes. Furthermore, there is an electronic and mechanical support structure.

 

Welding Processes and Accessory Technologies


  • Robotic cell: 6-axis MOTOMAN UP6 robot, independent rotary table, micro-processed welding power source;
  • Robotic cell: 6-axis MOTOMAN HP20D robot, integrated rotary table, integrated CMT 3200 welding power source;
  • Robotic cell: 7-axis MOTOMAN SIA10D robot, integrated rotary table, integrated STT 455M welding power source;
  • PTA-P 250 Plasma Transferred Arc welding system with powder;
  • Manual and automatic torches for PTA-P welding;
  • MIG/MAG welding torches. TIG and Plasma;
  • 6 Tartílope automatic welding torch displacement devices, including orbital welding (in 1 axis, 2 axes, and 4 axes);
  • 2 heads for orbital TIG welding of thin-walled tubes;
  • 5-gas mixer: He. Ar. H2. CO2 and N2. from WITT;
  • Ar and CO2 gas mixer. from WITT;
  • Thermco benchtop gas mixture analyzer;
  • Complete flexible test benches (welding table, clamping devices, etc.), configurable for different welding positions;
  • Electronic, transistorized, multi-process welding power sources;
  • Resistance spot welding equipment;
  • 2 SAP portable welding data monitoring and processing systems;
  • 2 high-speed filming systems, including 2 cameras and 2 data acquisition systems (synchronization between filming and oscillograms);
  • Phased array ultrasonic digital inspection system;
  • X-Ray equipment (Computed Radiography);
  • VH1102 Microhardness Tester - Manufacturer BUEHLER/WILSON; Microhardness measuring equipment for evaluating microstructures formed in different welding configurations, mainly for determining zones with the formation of high-hardness microconstituents. Measurement of microhardness on the Vickers scale (HV) in the range of 250-400HV. Load Range 0.5-1Kg.
  • Carl Zeiss Axiolab 5 Optical Microscope;Equipment for characterizing microstructures formed in different welding configurations, mainly for determining zones susceptible to metallurgical problems. Features objectives: 5 - 10 - 20 - 50 - 100X, plus a 10X eyepiece. Provides a maximum magnification of 1000X.
  • SensorTherm Metis M322 two-color pyrometer;Equipment for temperature measurement in the infrared spectrum without the need for contact and determination of the object's emissivity. Temperature measurement range: 600-2300ºC
  • Oxygen Monitor - Oximeter - Digital Model PRO OX-100.Equipment that measures the amount of oxygen (in parts per million - ppm) in a gas mixture, with a resolution of 0.01% (100ppm)

 

Support Structure

Electronics and software

  • Digital oscilloscopes;
  • Multimeters;
  • Logic analyzer;
  • Voltage sources, ammeters, benches, and platforms for assembly, simulation, and testing of boards and circuits;
  • Wire feed speed meters;
  • Gas flow meters;
  • Independent gas flow control valve;
  • Microcomputers for programming, analysis and data processing, software and hardware projects, report generation, among other activities.

Mechanics

  • Workshop equipped with saw, grinder, sander, and other tools for project support activities (guillotine, mechanical tooling. oxy-fuel cutting, etc);
  • Plasma cutting machine;
  • Room equipped with polishers for preparing specimens for macrographic testing;
  • Beveling machines for small to large diameter pipes;
  • Automatic polisher.

Teaching and training

  • Classroom;
  • Projector;
  • Television;
  • Interactive digital whiteboard;
  • Library.