AUTOMATED WELDING EQUIPMENT AND METHOD FOR THE FLANGE OF THE GUIDE THIMBLE TUBE IN THE NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY

Automated welding equipment and a method for a flange of a guide thimble tube in a nuclear fuel assembly are provided to simplify the welding process with an automated system conducting an entire process in a single operation, so as to increase productivity. Automated welding equipment comprises a bonding surface machining part, a flange feeding part, a welding part(300), an inner diameter machining part, a transport part, and an additional flange feeding part. The bonding surface machining part comprises a bundle of cutting tools. The flange feeding part comprises a magazine, a transport block, and a pneumatic cylinder. The welding part comprises tube sealing devices(310,320) and a welding torch(350). The inner diameter machining part comprises a bundle of cutting tools. The transport part comprises a lateral transport unit having a cam, and an axial transport unit having a gripper, wherein the lateral transport unit and the axial transport unit are respectively disposed between the bonding surface machining part, welding part, and the inner diameter machining part.