Welding systems and methods

A system for tracking a joint extending from a first face of a work piece to a second face of the work piece, comprising:

• a first sensor configured to generate first joint characteristics of the joint at the first face;
• a second sensor configured to generate second joint characteristics of the joint at the second face;
• and
• an encoder coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to determine a joint position based on the first joint characteristics and the second joint characteristics,
• wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are eddy current sensors, and
• wherein the encoder is further configured to determine a joint taper based on the first joint characteristics and the second joint characteristics,
• wherein the first sensor is a weld face sensor and the second sensor is a root face sensor, and wherein the first face is a weld face and the second face is a root face, and
• wherein the weld face sensor is positioned on a first side of the joint at the weld face and the root face sensor is positioned on a second side of the joint at the root face.

A method for tracking a joint extending between first faces of work pieces to second faces of the work pieces, comprising the steps of:

• determining, with a first sensor, first joint characteristics of the joint at the first faces;
• determining, with a second sensor, second joint characteristics of the joint at the second faces;
• evaluating joint geometry based on the first joint characteristics and the second joint characteristics;
• and
• welding the joint based on the evaluated joint geometry,
• wherein the joint is a weld joint, the first faces form a weld face, and the second faces form a root face, and
• wherein the step of determining first joint characteristics includes determining a weld face thickness and the step of determining second joint characteristics includes determining a root face thickness.