US 12,138,713 B2
Applied force determination and control in joining process
Frank Schulze, Berlin (DE); Alexander Dobbert, Hannover (DE); and Norbert Krost, Berlin (DE)
Assigned to II-VI DELAWARE, INC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by II-VI DELAWARE, INC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/163,539.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/971,483, filed on Feb. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0245281 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
Int. Cl. B23K 3/06 (2006.01); G01L 5/16 (2020.01)
CPC B23K 3/063 (2013.01) [G01L 5/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for joining components, the method comprising:
positioning an arm of a brazing head adjacent at least one of the components, the arm having an end;
sensing a first lateral force value of at least a portion of the arm, wherein sensing the first lateral force value comprises sensing with a lateral force sensor disposed on the arm, the end of the arm being below the lateral force sensor;
determining a gravitational orientation associated with the brazing head;
positioning at least a portion of the arm against the at least one component;
determining a second lateral force value based on the first lateral force value, the gravitational orientation, and a mass of the end of the arm; and
repositioning at least a portion of the brazing head relative to the at least one component in response to the second lateral force value deviating from a target value.