Technical Data for Explorers
The MLZL design, specially designed for use in welding processes, is particularly compact in order to prevent the occurrence of interference contours on the welding torch. Even on difficult surfaces, the profile sensor optimized for weld seam tracking offers good profile quality without noise. The integrated cooling and air flushing enables use in hot and dirty industrial areas, while the adjustable cover protects the welding optics from the brightness and heat of the arc.
Discover more technical features of the MLZL tracker sensor in our interactive overview.
The Technical Highlights in Detail
weCat3D MLZL at a Glance
The Visual Field
Challenge with Weld Seam Tracking: Joint Types
With optical weld seam tracking, the position of the objects to be welded together must be reliably detected in order to ensure precise application of a high-quality weld seam. A distinction is made between different types of joints.
Butt joints
Lap joints
Parallel joints
T-joints
Double-tee joints
Corner joints
Multiple joints
Angular joints
The MLZL weCat3D profile sensor uses the weld tracking module of the uniVision software, which enables reliable detection of the guide point thanks to a special algorithm for all types of joint and thus guides the welding unit precisely.
Watch the MLZL tracker sensor in action during robotic welding in the following video. The joint types T-joint, butt joint and lap joint are shown.
Watch the MLZL tracker sensor in action during robotic welding in the following video. The joint types T-joint, butt joint and lap joint are shown.
Integration Options in the Welding Process
There are various options for integrating the MLZL 2D/3D profile sensor in weld seam tracking. With its special housing shape, the robust sensor is particularly suitable for use in robotic welding, but can also be used in welding applications with third-party software.
Weld Seam Tracking with Control Unit and Robot
With sensor-guided weld seam tracking in robot cells, the MLZL weCat3D sensor detects the joint before the automated welding process and passes on the exact positioning to the robot, which then corrects its path and applies the weld seams precisely.
The robot moves through three dimensions including rotations, which requires more complex calibration and robot path programming.
When solving high-frequency welding applications with the MLZL profile sensor, the control unit BB1C009 with uniVision software and matching robot plugins enables quick and easy integration and setup. The sensor and control unit as well as the robot control and robot communicate via the Ethernet TCP/IP industrial interface.
The compact and slim design of the MLZL sensor for weld seam tracking prevents the occurrence of an interfering contour on the welding torch and thus enables robot welding in gaps and corners.
The robot moves through three dimensions including rotations, which requires more complex calibration and robot path programming.
When solving high-frequency welding applications with the MLZL profile sensor, the control unit BB1C009 with uniVision software and matching robot plugins enables quick and easy integration and setup. The sensor and control unit as well as the robot control and robot communicate via the Ethernet TCP/IP industrial interface.
The compact and slim design of the MLZL sensor for weld seam tracking prevents the occurrence of an interfering contour on the welding torch and thus enables robot welding in gaps and corners.
uniVision Templates for Optical Weld Seam Tracking
uniVision software contains a special module for weld seam tracking, which ensures reliable and stable detection of all types of joints before the welding process.
Templates tailored to the application of weld seam tracking offer pre-parameterized templates for the most common joint types for quick and easy setup of weld seam tracking in the software.
Templates tailored to the application of weld seam tracking offer pre-parameterized templates for the most common joint types for quick and easy setup of weld seam tracking in the software.
Plugins for Robot Interfaces
Robot Weld Seam Tracking with MLZL
Weld Seam Tracking in Robot Cells by MLZL 2D/3D Profile Sensor h4>
In fully automatic robot welding cells, it is necessary to determine the exact positioning of the joints on edges, angles or steps before the welding process. For this purpose, a 2D/3D profile sensor is mounted directly next to the welding torch on the robot. Thanks to a protective housing, the sensor is protected against welding spatter. The sensor measures the interface via laser triangulation. The results are processed via uniVision software and sent to the control unit. The welding robot thus moves along the contour and connects the objects with a welding seam in the same movement sequence.
Weld Seam Tracking with Third-Party Software
With sensor-guided weld seam tracking, the MLZL weCat3D profile sensor detects the joint before the welding process and transmits the exact positioning to the higher-level control system, which then corrects the path and ensures precise application of the weld seams.
The MLZL profile sensor for weld seam tracking is integrated into new or existing systems with third-party software via the industrial interfaces TCP/IP or GigE Vision. SDKs are offered free of charge for this purpose.
The MLZL profile sensor for weld seam tracking is integrated into new or existing systems with third-party software via the industrial interfaces TCP/IP or GigE Vision. SDKs are offered free of charge for this purpose.