Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Method and Apparatus for Temperature Characterization in Welding

Abstract:

Provided is a system for controlling heating of a workpiece that includes an interface to receive a target temperature (T.sub.T) for the workpiece. A processor is configured to determine, based on monitoring outputs of temperature sensor(s), a current highest temperature (T.sub.H) for the workpiece and set a control temperature (T.sub.C) based on the received target temperature and the current highest temperature. A control system is configured to heat the workpiece to substantially the control temperature (T.sub.C) by turning on a heating device, and turning off the heating device when the workpiece reaches substantially the control temperature (T.sub.C). The processor is further configured to characterize a temperature ramp rate based on a measured temperature overshoot at the workpiece after turning off the heating device, and the control system is configured to heat the workpiece to the received target temperature (T.sub.T) by controlling the heating device based on the temperature ramp rate.