Abstract: In a method and apparatus for monitoring a non-melting welding electrode of an automated arc welding apparatus, using at least one camera, welding electrode images are captured and processed, and the state of the welding electrode is concluded therefrom. The images are captured during a welding process carried out with the arc welding apparatus, the images are reprocessed, and the arc of the welding process is extracted. The shape of the electrode end is determined from the reprocessed images and compared with a predefined shape of the electrode end. The images are reprocessed by capturing at least two images with different exposure times, cutting out and/or weighting partial areas from the at least two images with different exposure times, and combining them to form a composite image. If the determined shape of the electrode end deviates from the predefined shape of the electrode end, a signal is output.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for monitoring a non-melting welding electrode of an automated arc welding apparatus, using at least one camera, welding electrode images are captured and processed, and the state of the welding electrode is concluded therefrom. The images are captured during a welding process carried out with the arc welding apparatus, the images are reprocessed, and the arc of the welding process is extracted. The shape of the electrode end is determined from the reprocessed images and compared with a predefined shape of the electrode end. The images are reprocessed by capturing at least two images with different exposure times, cutting out and/or weighting partial areas from the at least two images with different exposure times, and combining them to form a composite image. If the determined shape of the electrode end deviates from the predefined shape of the electrode end, a signal is output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a welding system and welding method, with a welding current source (1) for providing at least one process parameter (Pi(t)), that varies periodically with a period (T), a process controller (2) for specifying the period (T) of the at least one process parameter (Pi(t)), a power unit (3) and at least one port (4) for connecting to at least one sensor (5) for acquiring process variables (Gj(t)) and/or at least one process actuator (6) for influencing process parameters (Pi(t)), wherein the at least one sensor (5) and/or the at least one process actuator (6) can be triggered by the periodically varying process parameter (Pi(t)) according to at least one predefined trigger condition (B1).

Abstract: A monitoring module for monitoring an electric arc machining process includes a camera, a photo flash lamp and a control system that controls the photo flash lamp in such a way that it illuminates when the camera records the image. The components are arranged in a common housing. The common housing includes a compressed air connection and an air outlet (7) or a deflection device arranged at the housing, which is provided for the orientation of the discharging air beam across the optical axis of the camera. Furthermore, an air flow caused by the compressed air is led via the light source and/or the control system and/or a charging connection for the light source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring module (1 . . . 1?) for monitoring an electric arc machining process, said module comprising a camera (2), a photo flash lamp (3) and a control system (4) that controls the photo flash lamp (3) and a control system (4) that controls the photo flash lamp (3) in such a way that it illuminates when the camera (2) records the image. According to the invention, said components (2, 3, 4) are arranged in a common housing (5), which comprises a compressed air connection (6) and an air outlet (7) or a deflection device arranged at the housing (5), which is provided for the orientation of the discharging air beam perpendicular to the optical axis (A) of the camera (2). Furthermore, an air flow caused by the compressed air is led via the light source (3) and/or the control system (4) and/or a charging connection (8) for the light source (3).