AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2015

An American National Standard

Specification for the Qualification of Robotic Arc Welding Personnel

AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2015

An American National Standard

Approved by the American National Standards Institute

December 12, 2014

Specification for the Qualification of

Robotic Arc Welding Personnel

3rd Edition

Supersedes AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2005

Prepared by the American Welding Society (AWS) D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding

Under the Direction of the AWS Technical Activities Committee

Approved by the AWS Board of Directors

Abstract

This specification provides requirements for the qualification of robotic arc welding personnel at three different classifications—Operator (O), Technician (T), and Engineer (E).

AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2015

Statement on the Use of American Welding Society Standards

All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, and guides) of the American Welding Society are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the American National Standards Institute. When AWS standards are either incorporated in, or made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmental bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS standard must be by agree- ment between the contracting parties.

AWS American National Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While AWS administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evalu- ate, or verify the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.

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Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in writing, to the appropriate technical committee. Such requests should be addressed to the American Welding Society, Attention: Managing Director, Technical Services Division, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166 (see Annex B). With regard to technical inquiries made concerning AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered. These opinions are offered solely as a convenience to users of this standard, and they do not constitute professional advice. Such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the particular individuals giving them. These individuals do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute official or unofficial opinions or interpretations of AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a substitute for an official interpretation.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding. It must be reviewed every five years and if not revised, it must be either reaffirmed or withdrawn. Comments (recommendations, additions, or deletions) and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are required and should be addressed to AWS Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding and the author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the comments. Guests are invited to attend all meetings of the AWS D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse decision concerning all such comments are pro- vided in the Rules of Operation of the Technical Activities Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166.

AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2015

Personnel

AWS D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding

J. S. Noruk, Chair Servo Robot Corporation

V. L. Mangold, Jr., Vice Chair Kaysafety

1. L. Pape, 2nd Vice Chair Wolf Robotics

   1. E. Lewis, Secretary American Welding Society

      1. T. Anderson Motoman, Incorporated

         1. J. Bischoff Hobart Brothers

J. M. Blahnik Caterpillar, Incorporated

E. Boan John Deere Seeding

R. E. Campbell Banker Steel Company

E. DiMilanta ABB, Incorporated

1. W. Gerhart Edison Welding Institute

2. K. Gross Milwaukee Area Technical College

T. B. Hansen TrinityRail

D. H. Juhl PRI Robotics, Incorporated

J. D. Lane D & S Manufacturing

1. Maroney AIDT-RTP

2. B. Massey Edison Welding Institute

J. D. Percio The Lincoln Electric Company

M. W. Perry Consultant

1. L. Peterson Crenlo, LLC

   W. R. Polanin Illinois Central College

   D. L. Pratt Consultant

   S. P. Redig Iowa Mold Tooling Company, Incorporated

   D. P. Rhoda Wolf Robotics

   N. P. Rice Worthington Industries

   M. F. Sinfield Naval Surface Warfare Center

   P. E. Staunton Shell

   K. Summers Miller Welding Automation

   D. C. Swann OTC DAIHEN, Incorporated

2. W. Trumbull Genesis Systems Group

H. Volkhart PECO

J. W. Williamson Fronius USA, LLC

Advisors to the AWS D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding

J. Berge Berge Robotics

P. Davison Robotic Industries Association

D. J. Erbe Praxair

M. A. Garman Kawasaki Robotics

K. V. Iyer Larsen and Toubro Limited

H. A. Jacobson C & G Systems

1. L. Jones, Jr. Dominion/Virginia Power

   R. W. Linn Productive Engineering, Incorporated

   1. E. Maxey Banker Steel Company

      AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2015

      
      

      Advisors to the AWS D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding

      T. K. Merrifield Midwest Engineering Systems, Incorporated

      S. D. Nelson Ace Precision Machining

      R. F. Noch Johnson Controls, Incorporated

      1. G. Winchester NEMA

         1. L. Woodman Automation Consultant

         2. A. Wright Wright Welding Technologies

            
            

            AWS D16B Subcommittee for Robotic Arc Welding Personnel Qualification

            V. L. Mangold, Jr., Chair Kaysafety

            C.E. Lewis, Secretary American Welding Society

            L. K. Gross Milwaukee Area Technical College

            J. D. Lane D & S Manufacturing

            D. L. Pape Wolf Robotics

            D. C. Swann OTC DAIHEN, Incorporated

            
            

            Advisors to the AWS D16B Subcommittee for Robotic Arc Welding Personnel Qualification

      2. A. Jacobson C & G Systems

AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2015

Foreword

This foreword is not part of AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2015, Specification for the Qualification of Robotic Arc Welding Personnel, but is included for informational purposes only.

The AWS D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding was organized in 1985 to provide centralized source for the exchange of technical information between manufacturers, installers, and operators of robotic and automated equipment.

The first edition of AWS D16.4 (AWS D16.4:1999, Specification for the Qualification for Robotic Arc Welding Personnel) provided guidelines for the qualification of arc welding personnel. The second edition (AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2005) included revisions based on the experience of the certification program for robotic arc welding per- sonnel. This edition reduced the levels of qualification from four to three and aligned education and experience require- ments more realistically with those in industry.

This third edition changes the levels of qualification to Level 1—Certified Robotic and Automated Welding Operator (CRAW-O), Level 2—Certified Robotic and Automated Welding Technician (CRAW-T), and Level 3—Certified Robotic and Automated Welding Engineer (CRAW-E) from the second edition’s qualification designations of Level 1— CRAW-L1, Level 2—CRAW-O, and Level 3—CRAW-T. Those certified under the second edition certification level designations shall be grandfathered into the corresponding third edition level designation.

This third edition also includes changes to the figures from the second edition. Figures 1 and 2 have been revised and Figure 3 removed. Additional changes that have been made from the 2005 edition are represented by a vertical line in the margin.

The requirements for certification of Robotic Arc Welders are located in the QC19 document.

Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the Secretary, AWS D16 Committee on Robotic and Automatic Welding, American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166.

AWS D16.4M/D16.4:2015

Table of Contents

Page No.

Personnel v

Foreword vii

List of Tables x

List of Figures x

1. General Requirements 1

   1. Scope. 1

   2. Units of Measurement. 1

   3. Safety. 1

2. Normative References 2

3. Terms and Definitions 2

4. Specifications for Qualification of Robotic Arc Welding Personnel 2

Annex A (Informative)—Bibliography 9

Annex B (Informative)—Guidelines for the Preparation of Technical Inquiries 11

List of AWS Documents on Robotics and Automatic Welding 13