Dana Corporation clevis-to-rod inertia welding (Model 180B)

For odd-shaped parts which cannot be readily loaded into the welder, another solution had to be found. This Model 180B inertia welder, one of several supplied to Dana Corporation, has automated spindle and tail stock tooling. The shape of the parts makes it necessary to present the clevises to the spindle in an oriented manner such that the chuck can accept them for secure clamping. A four-position indexing table, which can be loaded by the operator, will present the parts to a loading arm. Should one of the stations be empty, the arm and table go into a search pattern looking for parts. The tail stock tooling includes a walking beam mechanism which loads the rod from a loading chute and unloads the welded assembly in the same cycle.