Abstract: A robotic welding equipment station to detect deviation of a tool center point of a welding torch. The station is provided with pairs of light emitting and detecting devices to emit and detect two separate light beams. The pairs of light emitting devices and detectors are oriented at an angle and spaced apart from each other such that the two light beams are at an angle to one another and the weld wire electrode is able to simultaneously interrupt both light beams when there is no deviation in a tool center point. The spacing prevents the weld wire electrode from interrupting both light beams when an increasing deviation of the tool center point propagates along the length of the weld wire electrode. First and second output signals generated by the first and second light detectors are received by a means for detecting deviation of the tool center point.

Abstract: A robotic welding equipment station to detect deviation of a tool center point of a welding torch. The station is provided with pairs of light emitting and detecting devices to emit and detect two separate light beams. The pairs of light emitting devices and detectors are oriented at an angle and spaced apart from each other such that the two light beams are at an angle to one another and the weld wire electrode is able to simultaneously interrupt both light beams when there is no deviation in a tool center point. The spacing prevents the weld wire electrode from interrupting both light beams when an increasing deviation of the tool center point propagates along the length of the weld wire electrode. First and second output signals generated by the first and second light detectors are received by a means for detecting deviation of the tool center point.