Rough set based modeling for welding groove bottom state in narrow gap MAG welding

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aim to build an information fusion model that can predict the bottom shape of welding groove for better welding quality control. Arc sensor is widely used in seam tracking due to its simplicity and good accessibility, but it heavily relies on the bottom shape of the groove. It is necessary to identify the welding groove bottom state. Therefore, arc sensor information and vision sensing information were fused by the rough set (RS) method to predict the groove state, which will lay the foundation for better welding quality control. Design/methodology/approach – First, a multi-sensor information system was established, which included an arc sensing component and a vision sensing component. For the arc sensing system, the current waveform in each rotating period was obtained and divided into 12 parts to calculate variables representing the variation of arc length. For the vision sensing system, images were obtained by passive vision when the arc was near the groove sidewall. The positions of the sidewall and the arc were calculated to get the weld deviation which was unrelated with the bottom groove state. Second, experimental data were generated by workpiece with various bottom shapes. At last, the RS method was adopted to fuse the arc sensing and the vision information, and a rule-based model with good prediction ability was obtained. Findings – By fusing arc sensing and vision sensing information, an RS-based model was built to predict the welding groove state. Originality/value – The RS modeling method was used to fuse arc sensing information and vision sensing information to build a model that predicts groove bottom state. The arc sensing information represented the arc length variation, while the vision sensing information contains the seam deviation which was unrelated with the bottom groove state. The RS model gives satisfactory prediction results and can be applied to weld quality control.