An Identification and Localization Method for 3D Workpiece Welds Based on the DBSCAN Point Cloud Clustering Algorithm

With the development of robotic welding automation, there is a strong interest in welding seam identification and localization methods with high accuracy, real-time performance, and robustness. This paper proposed a 3D workpiece weld identification and localization method based on DBSCAN (density-ba...

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Main Authors: Nian Zhou, Ping Jiang, Shiliang Jiang, Leshi Shu, Xiaoxian Ni, Linjun Zhong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/8/6/287
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author Nian Zhou
Ping Jiang
Shiliang Jiang
Leshi Shu
Xiaoxian Ni
Linjun Zhong
author_facet Nian Zhou
Ping Jiang
Shiliang Jiang
Leshi Shu
Xiaoxian Ni
Linjun Zhong
author_sort Nian Zhou
collection DOAJ
description With the development of robotic welding automation, there is a strong interest in welding seam identification and localization methods with high accuracy, real-time performance, and robustness. This paper proposed a 3D workpiece weld identification and localization method based on DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise) to realize stable feature extraction for multiple joint types. Firstly, this method employs combinatorial filtering to effectively eliminate non-target point clouds, including outliers and installation platform point clouds, which can minimize the computational load. Secondly, DBSCAN is used to classify workpiece point clouds into different clusters, which can be used for point cloud segmentation of flat workpieces and curved workpieces. Thirdly, the edge detection and feature extraction methods are used to obtain joint gap and weld feature points while combining the information of point clouds for different types of welds. Finally, based on the identification and localization of the welds, welding path planning and attitude planning are implemented. Experimentation results indicated that the proposed method exhibits robustness across various types of welded joints, including butt joints with straight seams, butt joints with curved seams, butt joints with curved workpieces, and lap joints. Meanwhile, the average error of joint gap detection was 0.11 mm and the processing time of a 90 mm straight-seam butt joint is 701.12 ms.
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-d522d249e7404e94b4c9250469bea2d72025-08-20T02:53:26ZengMDPI AGJournal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing2504-44942024-12-018628710.3390/jmmp8060287An Identification and Localization Method for 3D Workpiece Welds Based on the DBSCAN Point Cloud Clustering AlgorithmNian Zhou0Ping Jiang1Shiliang Jiang2Leshi Shu3Xiaoxian Ni4Linjun Zhong5The State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaThe Second Ship Design Institute of Wuhan, Wuhan 430064, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaWith the development of robotic welding automation, there is a strong interest in welding seam identification and localization methods with high accuracy, real-time performance, and robustness. This paper proposed a 3D workpiece weld identification and localization method based on DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise) to realize stable feature extraction for multiple joint types. Firstly, this method employs combinatorial filtering to effectively eliminate non-target point clouds, including outliers and installation platform point clouds, which can minimize the computational load. Secondly, DBSCAN is used to classify workpiece point clouds into different clusters, which can be used for point cloud segmentation of flat workpieces and curved workpieces. Thirdly, the edge detection and feature extraction methods are used to obtain joint gap and weld feature points while combining the information of point clouds for different types of welds. Finally, based on the identification and localization of the welds, welding path planning and attitude planning are implemented. Experimentation results indicated that the proposed method exhibits robustness across various types of welded joints, including butt joints with straight seams, butt joints with curved seams, butt joints with curved workpieces, and lap joints. Meanwhile, the average error of joint gap detection was 0.11 mm and the processing time of a 90 mm straight-seam butt joint is 701.12 ms.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/8/6/287point cloud clusteringjoint gap detectionwelding seam extractionweld planningwelding
spellingShingle Nian Zhou
Ping Jiang
Shiliang Jiang
Leshi Shu
Xiaoxian Ni
Linjun Zhong
An Identification and Localization Method for 3D Workpiece Welds Based on the DBSCAN Point Cloud Clustering Algorithm
Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing
point cloud clustering
joint gap detection
welding seam extraction
weld planning
welding
title An Identification and Localization Method for 3D Workpiece Welds Based on the DBSCAN Point Cloud Clustering Algorithm
title_full An Identification and Localization Method for 3D Workpiece Welds Based on the DBSCAN Point Cloud Clustering Algorithm
title_fullStr An Identification and Localization Method for 3D Workpiece Welds Based on the DBSCAN Point Cloud Clustering Algorithm
title_full_unstemmed An Identification and Localization Method for 3D Workpiece Welds Based on the DBSCAN Point Cloud Clustering Algorithm
title_short An Identification and Localization Method for 3D Workpiece Welds Based on the DBSCAN Point Cloud Clustering Algorithm
title_sort identification and localization method for 3d workpiece welds based on the dbscan point cloud clustering algorithm
topic point cloud clustering
joint gap detection
welding seam extraction
weld planning
welding
url https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/8/6/287
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