Abstract: This invention relates to a dynamic beam/seam alignment control system for electron beam welds utilizing video apparatus. The system includes automatic control of workpiece illumination, near infrared illumination of the workpiece to limit the range of illumination and camera sensitivity adjustment, curve fitting of seam position data to obtain an accurate measure of beam/seam alignment, and automatic beam detection and calculation of the threshold beam level from the peak beam level of the preceding video line to locate the beam or seam edges.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 24, 1978
Date of Patent:
January 8, 1980
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
Inventors:
James H. Burkhardt, Jr., J. James Henry, Clyde M. Davenport