This compact welding machine was designed for welding shift forks on two lines. An operator inserts the shaft and fork into the welding device. They are then alternately welded and inserted at two stations. After the welding process, the component is moved to the next station for welding via transfer handling. So as not to damage the parts, a special heat-resistant plastic was used for the gripper jaws. After the second welding process, the part is removed and placed on a cooling belt, which transports the parts again to the operator’s side.

The material pairing was decisive for this machine. The shaft is made from heat-treated steel, while the fork is made from high-strength low-alloy steel. In addition, the components had to be welded without any weld spatters whatsoever. This task was solved in an outstanding manner with Plasmatron.
Due to the very small plant width specified by the customer, we had to develop a rather unconventional but functional machine concept in this case.