Detection

Recognition of weld nuts in car body construction

TURCK's NIMFE weld nut sensor identifies and fixes nuts for flawless robot welding

Welding and Metal Spatter, Condition Monitoring, Magnetic Field Sensors

Benefits

The weld nut sensor prevents time-consuming rework due to missing weld nuts
The stainless steel centering sleeve protects the sensor and ensures that the weld nut is seated correctly

Challenge

In resistance spot welding in automotive production, weld nuts must be precisely positioned and fixed in place before they are welded by the robot. Optical sensors reach their limits here, as oil films or reflections on the sheet metal can cause measurement errors. A reliable solution is required that reliably detects the nut and holds it in the correct position to avoid faulty welded joints and costly rework or scrap.

Solution

The TURCK weld nut sensor detects and affixes the nut in one solution, ensuring reliable welding of nuts to sheet metal parts. Unlike optoelectronic sensors, the weld nut sensor works inductively and is insensitive to oil films or disruptive reflections.

The sensor has a cylindrical pin where the welding nut is placed. As soon as the nut is correctly positioned, the sensor detects its presence and at the same time holds it in a stable position. The robot then performs the welding process while the sensor affixes the nut. This ensures that no position deviations occur and that the nut is welded exactly to the intended position.

This solution significantly increases process reliability and reduces costly rework or scrap since faulty welds or missing nuts are avoided. In addition, cycle times are optimized because no additional quality control is required. Thanks to its robust design, the sensor is ideal for harsh applications in car body manufacturing and helps ensure consistent high-quality welded joints.