Abstract: A cutting device for cutting a flat workpiece includes a nibbler that continuously punches the workpiece, and a fluid spraying device that sprays a fluid onto the surface of the workpiece. The nibbler includes a cylindrical case, a punch that has a punch blade for punching the workpiece and that is accommodated in the case to have reciprocating motion in the vertical direction, and a die provided below the case. The cutting device is configured to move the workpiece interposed between the case and die in a prescribed direction while continuously punching the workpiece with the punch. The fluid spraying device has a spray port from which the fluid is discharged and is configured so the fluid is discharged from the spray port in the direction in which the punch approaches the die. The spray port of the fluid spraying device is disposed near the punch blade of the punch.

Abstract: A bead inspection step and a bead inspection apparatus that inspect the quality of a bead are disclosed . . . . The bead inspection apparatus includes a wire-feed-speed measurement device that measures the feed speed of a brazing wire, and an analysis portion that measures and analyzes position coordinate data about surfaces of a first, workpiece, a second workpiece and the bead, and performs a first shape data measurement step of. measuring first shape data before brazing, a second shape data measurement step of measuring second shape data after the brazing, a feature quantity calculation step of calculating predicted values of feature quantities based on the first and second shape data and the brazing wire feed speed, and a throat thickness calculation step of calculating a predicted value of the throat thickness by a regression expression formed based on actual measurements of the feature quantities and of the throat thickness.

Abstract: A bead inspection step and a bead inspection apparatus that inspect the quality of a bead are disclosed . . . . The bead inspection apparatus includes a wire-feed-speed measurement device that measures the feed speed of a brazing wire, and an analysis portion that measures and analyzes position coordinate data about surfaces of a first, workpiece, a second workpiece and the bead, and performs a first shape data measurement step of. measuring first shape data before brazing, a second shape data measurement step of measuring second shape data after the brazing, a feature quantity calculation step of calculating predicted values of feature quantities based on the first and second shape data and the brazing wire feed speed, and a throat thickness calculation step of calculating a predicted value of the throat thickness by a regression expression formed based on actual measurements of the feature quantities and of the throat thickness.

Abstract: A butt welding system and a butt welding method of steel plate by which the quality of a product can be ensured. Butting portions of blank members (1,2) to be joined together are butted and a predetermined butting load is applied to the butting portion, wherein the blank members (1,2) are moved relatively in the direction of the welding line thus matching the butting portions. Protrusions and recesses formed on each butting portion of each blank member (1,2) are flattened, whereby linear precision at each butting portion of each blank member (1,2) is enhanced as compared with a case where the butting portions are not matched. Since the gap is reduced extremely at the butting portion, welding is facilitated at the butting portion. Good welding beads are thereby obtained at the butting portion and the quality of a product is ensured.

Abstract: Welding equipment includes a torch for irradiating a laser beam, wire feeding means for feeding a filler wire, and tracking means for controlling the moving tracks of the torch and the wire feeding means so as to make the moving tracks follow a welding line. The tracking means has a contactor provided so as to be advanceable/retractable for making contact with a joint object resiliently. The torch and the wire feeding means are moved so as to follow the welding line by touching the contactor of the tracking means resiliently to the joint object while feeding the filler wire to a welding portion and irradiating that portion with the laser beam, thereby joining the joint objects.

Abstract: A butt welding system and a butt welding method of steel plate by which the quality of a product can be ensured. Butting portions of blank members (1,2) to be joined together are butted and a predetermined butting load is applied to the butting portion, wherein the blank members (1,2) are moved relatively in the direction of the welding line thus matching the butting portions. Protrusions and recesses formed on each butting portion of each blank member (1,2) are flattened, whereby linear precision at each butting portion of each blank member (1,2) is enhanced as compared with a case where the butting portions are not matched. Since the gap is reduced extremely at the butting portion, welding is facilitated at the butting portion. Good welding beads are thereby obtained at the butting portion and the quality of a product is ensured.

Abstract: Mash seam welding process and apparatus, wherein two plate-like workpieces having different thickness values are fed and guided by a guiding device such that a length W.sub.H of contact of the thick plate-like workpiece with one of two roller electrodes is smaller than a length W.sub.M of contact of the thin plate-like workpiece with the other roller electrode. In this arrangement, the amount of mashing of the thick plate-like workpiece by the roller electrode is made larger than that of the thin plate-like workpiece by the other roller electrode, so that an interface of the two plate-like workpieces is positioned intermediate between the pair of roller electrodes, whereby a weld nugget formed intermediate between the roller electrodes extends across the interface, permitting the weld to have a sufficient strength owing to a nugget ratio, which is a ratio of a width dimension W.sub.N of the weld nugget in the direction of the interface to a width dimension W.sub.G of the interface.

Abstract: Seam welding process and apparatus, wherein two plate-like workpieces are fed in a feeding direction toward a pair of roller electrodes, by guide rollers rotated by a driving device, while the workpieces are guided by a guiding device such that the edge portions overlap each other with a predetermined lap amount so that the overlapping edge portions are squeezed by the roller electrodes, and the edge portions are continuously welded together with a welding current being applied between the roller electrodes.

Abstract: Mash seam welding process and apparatus, wherein two plate-like workpieces having different thickness values are fed and guided by a guiding device such that a length W.sub.H of contact of the thick plate-like workpiece with one of two roller electrodes is smaller than a length W.sub.M of contact of the thin plate-like workpiece with the other roller electrode. In this arrangement, the amount of mashing of the thick plate-like workpiece by the roller electrode is made larger than that of the thin plate-like workpiece by the other roller electrode, so that an interface of the two plate-like workpieces is positioned intermediate between the pair of roller electrodes, whereby a weld nugget formed intermediate between the roller electrodes extends across the interface, permitting the weld to have a sufficient strength owing to a nugget ratio, which is a ratio of a width dimension W.sub.N of the weld nugget in the direction of the interface to a width dimension W.sub.G of the interface.