Method and system for weld monitoring and tracking

A system for monitoring welding of components of a workpiece with multiple arc welds in a fixture using a consumable electrode wire, melting the wire by heat from an electric arc having a current and voltage which comprises:

• (a) one or more weld sensor means to be mounted on equipment for the welding;
• (b) a computer having preset weld data for a sequence of welds for the workpiece wherein the preset weld data includes a number indicating a position of the weld in the sequence of welds and weld information for the weld and with a program to continuously monitor output from the one or more weld sensor means, to provide weld data to the computer wherein the weld data includes a number of the weld for the workpiece and a quality of the weld, to associate weld data of the weld with preset weld data by matching the number of the weld from the weld data with the number in the preset weld data and to compare the quality of the weld in the weld data to the weld information for the weld in the preset weld data;
• and
• (c) switch means connected to the computer for starting a period during which the multiple welds are detected by the one or more weld sensor means and counted and monitored by the computer and for terminating the period, wherein the system is used with a fixture with a holding means for welding the components into the workpiece and wherein the program monitors each of the welds for a fault by means of the one or more weld sensor means between the starting and terminating of the monitoring by the switch means.

A system for monitoring welding of components of a workpiece with multiple arc welds in a fixture using a consumable electrode wire, melting the wire by heat from an electric arc having a current and voltage in real-time and for later analysis which comprises:

• (a) one or more weld sensor means to be mounted on equipment for the welding;
• (b) a computer with a program to continuously monitor output from the one or more weld sensor means and to provide weld data to the computer wherein the weld data includes a number of the weld on the workpiece and a quality of the weld;
• and
• (c) switch means connected to the computer for starting a period during which the multiple welds are detected by the one or more weld sensor means and counted and monitored by the computer and for terminating the period, wherein the system is used with a fixture with a holding means for welding the components into the workpiece and wherein the program monitors each of the welds for a fault by means of the one or more weld sensor means between the starting and terminating of the monitoring by the switch means, which provides the monitoring in real-time and for later analysis.

A method for welding of components of a workpiece with multiple arc welds in a fixture using a consumable electrode wire, melting the wire by heat from an electric arc having a current and voltage which comprises:

• (a) providing a system with the fixture having
• (i) one or more weld sensor means for determining a weld count and for detecting a quality of each weld on the workpiece on the fixture for welding the workpiece;
• (ii) a program in a computer to continuously monitor the output from the one or more weld sensor means and provide weld data in the computer wherein the weld data includes a number of the weld on the workpiece and a quality for the weld;
• and
• (iii) a switch means connected to the computer for starting a period during which the multiple welds are counted and monitored and then completed and for terminating the monitoring;
• (b) placing components which form the workpiece in the fixture, welding the workpiece with the multiple welds while counting each weld and assigning each weld a number and determining the quality of each weld;
• and
• (c) removing the workpiece from the fixture, wherein the program in the computer provides monitoring in real-time and for later analysis of each of the multiple welds by means of the one or more weld sensor means between the starting and terminating of the monitoring by the switch means.

A method for monitoring multiple arc welds performed on components to form a workpiece which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing weld sensors for counting the welds and for detecting a quality of each weld on the workpiece;
• (b) providing a computer having preset weld data for a sequence of welds for the workpiece, the preset weld data including a number for each weld identifying a position of the weld in the sequence of welds and weld information for each weld;
• (c) providing a program for use with the computer to continuously monitor an output of the weld sensors and to provide weld data for each weld, the weld data including a number of the weld identifying when the weld was performed on the workpiece and information about the quality of the weld;
• (d) a switch connected to the computer for starting and terminating a period during which the multiple welds are performed on the workpiece;
• (e) positioning the components which form the workpiece;
• (f) activating the switch to start the period and activate the program;
• (g) welding the components together to form the workpiece wherein during the welding the program counts and monitors the welds and provides weld data for the welds;
• (h) associating the weld data of the weld with preset weld data by matching the number of the weld from the weld data with the number in the preset weld data;
• and
• (i) comparing the quality of the weld in the weld data to the associated weld information for the weld in the preset weld data.