Seam sealing originated, as have so many other applications, in the automotive sector.

Any seam can be sealed using this approach, but it became a specific requirement for vehicle underbodies 'in white' to be undersealed to prevent corrosion and increase the design life of the vehicle.

In the 1950's and 60's, with the onset of the use of salt on the roads, vehicle bodies were corroding within 2 - 3 years of build. An industry was born undersealing car bodies which had been inadequately protected during the build process.

The process could be carried out at a static transfer station or by tracking the vehicle body on a moving overhead conveyor. The robot must be situated below the vehicle body or floorpan, or the floorpan must be inverted. Whether it is a single robot or multiple robot station depends entirely on the cycle time and the length of seam that must be sealed.

The robot will manipulate a dispensing head or applicator, which delivers a constant flow of sealant.

Critical process requirements would be constant flow rate, feedback from the sealant delivery system and tip velocity control from the robot controller. A combination of feed and flow will produce optimum results. Flowrate feedback will alert the operator when process variables have not been maintained, as this will compromise quality and in some cases fail to complete a sealant run.

The benefits of automation include:

• Improved quality and consistency
• Increased production levels
• Zero material wastage
• No rework or recall
• High reliability
• Insulation from manning issues

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