1. General

Welding automation draws its solutions from control and regulation techniques processed by programmed logic and, more generally, by computer or microcomputer technology:

• digitization of mechanical, electrical or thermal machine functions, with actuators equipped with digital encoders or sensors;

• digital display and closed-loop control of parameter values ;

• use of cycle programming techniques and constant or variable welding phase parameters;

• memory storage of programs, so that they can be recalled quickly, accurately and in their entirety on demand.

The result is greater precision, adaptability and reproducibility. These possibilities already exist elsewhere, and in welding robots in particular.