Simple Connect Wire Brake Operation

The following outlines the operation of Wire Brake hardware when utilized on a Yaskawa robotic system with the Simple Connect configuration software:

How Yaskawa intends for the brake to operate:

1. Yaskawa believes the brake engagement should be a specified action via an output (not engaging automatically at the end of every weld!). This allows the users to engage the brake only when needed (ie TouchSensing) but it’s not anticipated to be need engaging on a weld-to-weld basis (this is unneeded wear on the pneumatic valves and will delay weld starting sequences).
2. Yaskawa makes disengagement easy, we’re doing disengaging automatically when Inch/Retract/ArcOn is requested.
3. Yaskawa DOES NOT automatically engage the brake at the end of every weld!
4. This approach is consistent across all our welding interfaces (Miller/Lincoln/Fronius/SKS/…) UWI and Non-UWI.
5. In systems with accessories like “Tip Change boxes” where the user might need to advance wire as part of a consumable change, we want to ensure the brake engages and disengages consistently in these instances too.

Normal operation of Wire Brake:

• The user will pulse (output on and back off) “PLS” the following outputs to engage the brake:
  

• The “PLS” will trigger a latch in ladder logic & acuate a solenoid to apply air pressure to brake.
• This will lock the wire in place, and as the user goes about the tasks (TouchSensing).
• When the robot is ready to being welding, an “ARCON/ASF” command is executed.
• The issuing of the “ARCOn/ASF” (or Inch/Retract) will be the trigger to release the brake and begin a delay timer allowing the brake to physically release the wire.

A “Servo On” control valve supplies air pressure to the majority of the welding accessories like AccuFast and Wire Brakes. In the case of AccuFast, the “Servo On” valve prevents bleeding air 100% of the time. In the event of an overnight power down, a robot being left in TEACH for a long amount of time, or the Power Saving function causing the robot to power off this “Servo On” valve prevents unnecessary utility usage.

The “Servo On” valve operation DOES control pneumatic air pressure to the wire brake valve(s) as well. In TEACH mode air pressure to the wire brake(s) will be removed each time servo power is applied via the “deadman switch”. While the robot will be stationary when the “Servo On” valve opens & removes pressure to the brake valves, slight wire movement can occur if pressure on the wire is present!