Assembly is a very important part of most product realization processes. Components fabricated through machining, forming, etc. will be assembled together to form higher level of assemblies or the final products. An assembly process generally includes part positioning (or mating) followed by part joining. Part positioning can be accomplished using fixtures or robots. Part joining methods include mechanical fasteners, shrink and expansion fits, welding, and adhesives. Because an assembly process is. | 8 Assembly and Welding Processes and Their Monitoring and Control Assembly Processes Monitoring of KPCs Monitoring of KCCs Monitoring and Control of Resistance Welding Process Monitoring Control S. Jack Hu University of Michigan Elijah Kannatey-Asibu Jr. University of Michigan Monitoring and Control of Arc Welding Processes Modeling for Arc Length Control Weld Bead Geometry Control Weld Material Properties Monitoring of Arc Welding and Laser Welding Assembly is a very important part of most product realization processes. Components fabricated through machining forming etc. will be assembled together to form higher level of assemblies or the final products. An assembly process generally includes part positioning or mating followed by part joining. Part positioning can be accomplished using fixtures or robots. Part joining methods include mechanical fasteners shrink and expansion fits welding and adhesives. Because an assembly process is the place where quality variation from the individual components could accumulate it is critical to monitor and diagnose assembly and joining problems quickly and effectively. This chapter provides an overview of various approaches available for monitoring assembly and joining processes in particular resistance spot welding and arc welding processes Section describes techniques in the monitoring of assembly processes using examples from automotive body assembly processes Section describes the monitoring and control of resistance spotwelding processes and Section presents techniques in the monitoring and control of gas metal arc welding processes. Assembly Processes There are two types of assembly processes Mantripragada 1998 . Type I assemblies are comprised of machined or molded parts that have their matting features fully defined by their respective fabrication processes prior to assembly for example the insertion of a peg into a hole. Mating of part features is the main function of the assembly process.
