MRI: Acquisition of Instrumentation for Vision Based Control of Welding and Droplet Manufacturing Processes

这笔重大研究仪器(MRI)拨款用于购买高速数字成像系统和快速处理硬件，以及熔滴沉积平台和机器人熔化极弧焊机。该设备将用于构建先进的基于视觉的传感能力，可应用于弧焊和基于熔滴的制造工艺。这些过程密切相关，因为它们都涉及将熔滴转移到工件上，尽管具体的输送方法不同。该设备将允许对熔滴和熔池进行高速成像，目标是严格控制凝固过程。由于液滴加工可以在包括网络制造和快速原型制造在内的先进制造过程中发挥关键作用，因此这些过程的传感和控制将是至关重要的。我们将探讨基于视觉的控制的几个方面。例如，通过提取液滴沉积过程的动态行为并利用液滴转移和凝固模型，可以控制材料的微观结构。同样，焊接熔池的动态成像将能够实时确定焊接质量，从而控制焊接质量。基于视觉的焊接和熔滴制造过程控制包括几个不同的理论领域，包括流体动力学、传热学、计算机视觉、控制系统和机器人学。因此，这一工具将加强科罗拉多矿业学院工程部内部以及整个校园的跨学科联系。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant provides funds for the purchase of high speed digital imaging systems and fast processing hardware along with a droplet deposition platform, and a robotic Gas Metal Arc welder. This equipment will be used to build advanced vision based sensing capabilities that can be applied to arc welding and droplet-based manufacturing processes. These processes are intimately related, as they both involve the transfer of droplets of molten material to a work piece, although the particular method of delivery is different.This equipment will allow high-speed imaging of droplets and weld pools, with the goal of tight control of the solidification process. Because droplet processing can play a key role in advanced manufacturing processes, including net-shape manufacturing and rapid prototyping, the sensing and control of these processes will be critical. Several aspects of vision based control will be explored. For example, by extracting the dynamic behavior of the droplet deposition process and utilizing models of droplet transfer and solidification, control of the material micro-structure is possible. Similarly, dynamic imaging of the weld pool will enable the determination, and thus control, of weld quality in real time. Vision-based control of welding and droplet manufacturing processes encompasses several different theoretical areas, including fluid dynamics, heat transfer, computer vision, control systems, and robotics. This instrumentation will thus strengthen the interdisciplinary connections within the Engineering Division at the Colorado School of Mines, as well as across campus.