You may have parts that require repeated passes over the same section. This guide will walk you through the use of the Multipass feature to accomplish the task with ease.
Let's get started
What is Multipass Welding?
Multipass welding is a welding technique which involves depositing multiple layers (passes) of weld metal to build up a stronger, thicker weld. It is used when a single weld pass is not sufficient to fill a joint or achieve the required weld strength, especially in thick materials or high-stress applications.
With Beacon, leveraging multipass welding becomes a remarkably flexible and powerful process. Beacon's intuitive tools simplify the setup of complex multipass procedures while providing granular control over each pass, empowering you to achieve high-quality, robust welds efficiently.
Multipass Welding with Beacon: The Benefits
Faster Programming for Complex Welds: Significantly reduce programming time for multipass jobs. Beacon's interface makes it easy to teach the root pass, and add fill, and cap passes, and individually customize weld settings for each.
Full Edibility and Granular Control: Retain complete flexibility even after converting to a multipass sequence. You can still individually edit the position and weld settings for any point within any pass. Plus, easily use the "Start Here" feature on any specific point in the multipass sequence to begin program execution exactly where you need.
Better Heat Management: Achieve better heat management across multiple passes by adding interpass cooling actions or alternating weld directions between layers, all within the Beacon interface.
Improved Consistency: Ensure consistent multipass welds from part to part, with the precision and repeatability of the robot arm and its defined weld parameters for each pass.
Getting Started: How to Use Multipass Welding in Beacon
Teach Your Root Pass
First, program the initial weld path as you normally would by adding weld items in Beacon. This path will serve as the root pass for your multipass weld.
Ensure the root pass weld settings and torch angles are accurate.
Access the Multipass Feature
Click the three horizontal dots (...) next to the weld item you want to convert. (This must be the first item of a weld path)
From the dropdown menu, click "Convert to Multipass".
A "Multipass Settings" window will show up.
Configure the Multipass Weld
Enter the required Additional Passes (excluding the root pass).
Select the end weld sequence. This is the last weld that will be included in the multipass. By default it ends on the same weld that is selected.
Select the Travel/Work Angle Mode
Relative Mode: Choose this if you want the travel and work angle values for subsequent passes to be offsets applied to the root pass angles. (e.g., Root pass work angle is 45°, relative setting is +5°, subsequent pass will be 50°).
Fixed Mode: Choose this to set specific, absolute travel and work angles for subsequent passes, which will override the root pass angles for those passes.
Teaching the Pass Offsets
Beacon offers a Table based approach to enter the path offset values for subsequent passes as well as a Guided Teach option.
Offset Info
For a detailed explanation of what each offset setting means and how it affects the torch path, please click the Info button.
Guided Teach (Recommended for ease)
This allows you to physically move the robot arm to the desired starting point for that specific pass. Beacon will then automatically calculate the required path offsets.
Use the Teach button on any pass to enter Guided Teach.
When teaching the multipass, you can use the Teach Offsets button to freedrive the robot to the correct location or modify the offsets manually.
After clicking the Teach Offsets button, move the torch to the desired location and press the blue button on the the puck to save the offsets.
(Click Cancel to stop teaching)
Move To: You may use the Move To button to move the robot to the previous passes' start and end points if you need to reference them.
After capturing the point, the offsets will be populated and you will have an option to Execute Pass.
Executing the pass will run a one time weld using the offsets you just taught. This is useful to get realtime feedback and make adjustments as necessary (opposed to checking after running all the passes).
Pass Navigation: Use the navigation buttons at the bottom to switch between passes.
Click Done or the close icon in the top left to exit Guided Teaching.
Assign Weld Settings for Each Pass
You can select custom Weld Libraries (pre-saved settings) for each individual pass.
If no specific weld library is selected for a subsequent pass, Beacon will default to using the root pass weld settings for that pass.
Add Post Actions (Optional)
Post actions are non-weld points that can be added to the end of each pass. The currently supported actions are Air Move, Move to Home, and Wait For.
Improve heat management or automate steps between passes by adding Post Actions.
Examples:
Wait For (time) can be used to allow cooling time.
Wait For (operator) can be used to allow operators to check parts or perform other tasks before proceeding to the next pass.
Move can be used to retract, reposition, or clear obstacles.
A combination of Move and Wait For can be used to perform a specific motion like a cleaning cycle path.
Click the Actions link under the Post Action column.
Click the Add Post Action button.
Select the action type and additional required inputs.
Adding Additional Post Actions
Click the plus icon in the top right to add more actions.
Deleting Post Actions
To remove a single post action, swipe the action to the left then click the Delete button.
Copying Post Actions
Click the copy icon in the top right of the screen.
Select the passes you want to copy the actions to.
Click the Copy to (x) button.
Apply Multipass Weld Procedure
Once you have reviewed and confirmed all your settings within the "Multipass Settings" window (number of passes, angle modes, offsets, weld settings, and any interpass actions), click the "Convert to Multipass" button.
Note: Passes with all valid inputs will display a green checkmark icon next to the pass. Passes with any invalid inputs will display a red "x" icon.
Your original weld path will now be converted into a multipass sequence according to your configurations.
Additional Multipass Actions
Click the settings icon to display the Multipass actions.
Edit a Multipass
Click Edit Multipass
The Multipass Settings window will open allowing you to change any value.
After updating, click Replace Multipass.
Undoing a Multipass
Undoing a multipass will restore the originally taught points. However, they will retain their updated weld settings.
Click Undo Multipass.
Confirm the action to revert to the original weld items.
Deleting a Multipass
Click Delete All.
Confirm that you want to discard the whole multipass section.
Managing Multipass Schedules
Saving Multipass Schedules
When you have a valid schedule, click Save Schedule.
Select the Save as New option.
Give the Schedule a name.
Select where you want the Schedule to be accessed from.
Team: The schedule may only be used by parts within this team.
Organization: The schedule may be used by any part across the organization.
Machine: The schedule may only be used by parts created on this robot.
Click Save to complete the edit.
The schedule name will now appear on the Schedule field.
Using Saved Multipass Schedules
Click the Schedule input to open the Schedule Library.
Select your Schedule from the list.
The search bar may be used to filter schedules if there are many.
Select Use the schedule.
Click Confirm to confirm your selection.
Editing Multipass Schedules
When Multipass Settings are linked to a schedule you may save any change to that schedule.
Click the Save Schedule button and you will see Update Schedule as an option. Click it to update.
Then click the Save button to finalize the edit.
Unlinking Multipass Schedules
Click the x icon next to the linked schedule to unlink it from the settings.
