Robo welder is rotating. Not welding yet but soon.
It amazes me that tiny motor and gear box is all you need.

Here is a movie to prove it.

Just because something you are building is small does not mean it does
not take a lot of time.

I tried the rubber tubing coupler but it did no rotate smoothly.
It would wind up and then would release.
This is a special coupling nut with a 4-40 set screw.

Paul Lamar


I am getting a degree in robo welder design.

I have discovered several things. Don't use caster wheels that are
the least bit soft. It is best to make your own rollers out of
metal.

The grounding of the tube resting on the stop doesn't
work very well. I found some 4 gage wire in  an automobile hi fi
audio shop that is very flexible. A zillion tiny copper wires.
I stripped the insulation off but not entirely necessary.
The insulation is soft and flexible as well.
About 2 bucks a foot.


I will attach that to the tube with
a hose clamp and wrap several turns around the tube to be
unwrapped as the tube turns and is welded.

I found a 110 Volt synchronous motor at MaMaster Carr that rotates at
exactly 1 RPM no matter what. It has enough torque to twist your
wrist off.

It takes the speed of welding out of the equation. All you need set
is the welding current and the distance of the tungsten to the metal.
The gas flow can be near the bottom of the recommended scale to conserver
that expensive consumable.

Paul Lamar



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