# US 9,517,527 B2 · Method of dressing a resistance spot welding tip

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- Number: US 9,517,527 B2
- Document ID: US9517527B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/244,108
- Filed: 2014-04-03
- Published: 2015-10-08
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-03
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: William C. Moision; Elizabeth Therese Hetrick
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517527B2

## CPC

- B23K 11/3063: {Electrode maintenance, e.g. cleaning, grinding}
- B23B 5/166: {Devices for working electrodes}
- B23C 3/12: Trimming or finishing edges, e.g. deburring welded corners
- B23K 11/115: {by means of two electrodes placed opposite one another on both sides of the welded parts}
- B23B 2222/21: Copper
- Y10T 29/49996: Successive distinct removal operations
- Y10T 409/303752: Process
- Y10T 409/303808: including infeeding
- Y10T 409/3042: Means to remove scale or raised surface imperfection
- Y10T 409/304256: Means to remove flash or burr
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B23C: MILLING (broaching B23D; broach-milling in making gears B23F; arrangement for copying or controlling B23Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method is disclosed for dressing a resistance stop welding (RSW) tip and a tip dresser apparatus. According to the method, a circumferential shoulder is cut to a predetermined depth from a distal end of the RSW tip. The shoulder is cut in the side wall to provide a reduced radius side wall and a reduced radius distal end on the RSW tip. The depth of dressing the distal end of the RSW tip is controlled by providing a stop that engages a step formed in the side wall formed by the circumferential shoulder. The tip dresser apparatus includes a first cutting blade retained by a first holder that cuts a step into the side wall to a predetermined depth. A second cutting blade retained by a second holder cuts a radiused surface on the distal end until the stop engages the step.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
cutting a circumferential shoulder in a cylindrical sidewall of a weld tip with a dresser to a predetermined depth from a distal end surface of the weld tip to form a step;
cutting a distal end surface of the weld tip with the dresser; and
engaging the step with a stop of the dresser that limits an amount of material removed from the distal end surface of the weld tip.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the dresser has a first holder for a first cutter that rotates about a first axis and a second holder for a second cutter that rotates about a second axis, and wherein the step of cutting the circumferential shoulder is performed by the first cutter, and wherein the step of cutting the distal end surface is performed by the second cutter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the second cutter comprises the stop.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 after the step of engaging the step, the method further comprises:
welding a plurality of parts together with the weld tip;
wearing down the weld tip; and
repeating the cutting steps and the engaging step.

### Claim 5

A method of dressing a weld tip having a cylindrical side wall and a distal end with a tip dresser having a sidewall cutting blade and a tip end cutting blade, comprising:
cutting a circumferential shoulder with the sidewall cutting blade to a predetermined distance from the distal end in the cylindrical sidewall to form a step in the sidewall;
cutting a distal end surface of the weld tip with the tip end cutting blade; and
engaging the step with a stop on the tip end cutting blade that limits an amount of material removed from the tip.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein the tip dresser has a first holder for the sidewall cutting blade that rotates about a first axis and a second holder for the tip end cutting blade that rotates about a second axis, and wherein the step of cutting the circumferential shoulder is performed by the sidewall cutting blade, and wherein the step of cutting the distal end surface is performed by the tip end cutting blade.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 further comprises:
selecting a weld tip that does not have a shoulder before the step of cutting the circumferential shoulder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein after the step of engaging the step, the method further comprises:
welding a plurality of parts together with the weld tip;
wearing down the weld tip; and
repeating the cutting steps and the engaging step.