Entron EN1000 series

ENTRON Controls, LLC. • 700120S • Page 87
7.0 STEPPER ON EN1000/EN1001 SERIES CONTROLS
Up to five steppers may be programmed on the EN1000 or EN1001 Series Controls with PROM
firmware version 619016-001R or later.
The weld stepper may be used to compensate the gradual deformation of a welding machine’s
electrodes. This deformation occurs because of the repeated application of heat and pressure to
the relatively soft electrode material, resulting in a broadening of the electrode face
(mushrooming) with continued usage. The increasing face diameter results in a decreasing
current density, which eventually reaches a point where satisfactory welds can no longer be
made. At this time, the weld current setting must be adjusted upwards or the electrodes must be
re-dressed before further use.
The weld stepper increases the number of satisfactory welds that can be made without re-
dressing the electrodes, by increasing the welding current in steps as the mushrooming progresses.
This action maintains the current density fairly constant for a relatively large number of welds.
The stepper can be programmed to not only change the weld current, but also the weld time,
and even the complete welding schedule if desired.
Each of the steppers may have up to maximum of ten steps, and each step may be programmed
from 0000 to 9999 welds.
The stepper can also be programmed to
provide an electrical output after the LAST
STEP to sound an alarm to alert the operator
that the electrodes need to be re-dressed or
replaced. After end of LAST STEP, stepper
can be reset manually or automatically.
The stepper may be useful when welding
complex multiple spot sequences. On a large
welded assembly for example, several welds
may require a given time and current setting
and then several more welds may require a
different time and current setting, continuing
in this manner through several changes in
welding parameters.
Each of the steppers may also be used as
simple weld count down-counter.
In PROM firmware version 619016-002P, a new STEPPER mode was added –
S.t.S.t.
S.t.S.t.
S.t.=
0202
0202
02, for
single stepper counter with multiple steps and any possible schedule sequence combination.
Stepper counter will be decremented during welding sequence only if weld was made; i.e.,
WELD time and weld CURRENT must be programmed, and control must be in the WELD
mode (External Weld/No Weld Switch, if used, must be closed and Front Panel WELD/NO
WELD indicator LED must be in WELD mode).
Figure 7-1. STEPPER enabling
NOTICE