China’s manufacturing industry is steadily transitioning toward intelligent and automated production. In this context, the precision and efficiency of the welding process have become key indicators of production capability. For complex structures like transformer tanks, which demand high welding accuracy, the Weld Navigator® laser seam tracker combined with a Yaskawa dual-robot collaborative system delivers an efficient and precise automated welding solution. This significantly enhances both welding quality and production efficiency.
Challenges in Transformer Tank Welding
As a critical component of power equipment, the welding quality of transformer tanks directly impacts overall sealing performance and service life. Traditional welding methods involve complex programming (teaching), limited precision, and frequent manual intervention—falling short of the high-efficiency, high-consistency demands of modern manufacturing. To address these challenges, Weld Navigator® offers a smarter and more efficient solution with laser seam tracking technology.
Solution: Weld Navigator® Laser Tracking + Dual-Robot Collaboration
This solution employs two Yaskawa industrial robots equipped with Weld Navigator® laser seam tracking sensors to jointly perform automatic welding across various sections of the transformer tank.
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Intelligent Path Correction: Capable of dynamically detecting thermal deformation and assembly errors, the system adjusts the torch position in real-time, ensuring the weld seam stays aligned with the optimal path.
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Dual-Robot Coordination: Two robots work collaboratively via a communication module, each handling different weld zones. This shortens welding cycles and significantly boosts overall efficiency.
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Multi-Weld Compatibility: The system supports a variety of weld types—including flat, fillet, and lap joints—meeting diverse welding needs across the tank structure.
Application Case
In this case, the combination of Weld Navigator® laser seam tracker and Yaskawa dual-robot collaboration has demonstrated excellent performance in real-world applications. It effectively reduces welding defects caused by thermal deformation and assembly variances, minimizes reliance on skilled welders, and allows for rapid deployment and replication. As a result, it greatly improves both productivity and weld consistency.
Weld Navigator® continues to deepen its focus on laser seam tracking technology and promote intelligent welding solutions across industries such as power, automotive, and heavy machinery. In the future, we aim to further collaborate with leading robot manufacturers and system integrators to deliver higher-performance, more reliable smart welding solutions, helping manufacturing enterprises accelerate their path to intelligent transformation.
