\[ \begin{align}\begin{aligned}\newcommand\blank{~\underline{\hspace{1.2cm}}~}\\% Bold symbols (vectors) \newcommand\bs[1]{\mathbf{#1}}\\% Differential \newcommand\dd[2][]{\mathrm{d}^{#1}{#2}} % use as \dd, \dd{x}, or \dd[2]{x}\\% Poor man's siunitx \newcommand\unit[1]{\mathrm{#1}} \newcommand\num[1]{#1} \newcommand\qty[2]{#1~\unit{#2}}\\\newcommand\per{/} \newcommand\squared{{}^2} \newcommand\cubed{{}^3} % % Scale \newcommand\milli{\unit{m}} \newcommand\centi{\unit{c}} \newcommand\kilo{\unit{k}} \newcommand\mega{\unit{M}} % % Percent \newcommand\percent{\unit{{\kern-4mu}\%}} % % Angle \newcommand\radian{\unit{rad}} \newcommand\degree{\unit{{\kern-4mu}^\circ}} % % Time \newcommand\second{\unit{s}} \newcommand\s{\second} \newcommand\minute{\unit{min}} \newcommand\hour{\unit{h}} % % Distance \newcommand\meter{\unit{m}} \newcommand\m{\meter} \newcommand\inch{\unit{in}} \newcommand\foot{\unit{ft}} % % Force \newcommand\newton{\unit{N}} \newcommand\kip{\unit{kip}} % kilopound in "freedom" units - edit made by Sri % % Mass \newcommand\gram{\unit{g}} \newcommand\g{\gram} \newcommand\kilogram{\unit{kg}} \newcommand\kg{\kilogram} \newcommand\grain{\unit{grain}} \newcommand\ounce{\unit{oz}} % % Temperature \newcommand\kelvin{\unit{K}} \newcommand\K{\kelvin} \newcommand\celsius{\unit{{}^\circ C}} \newcommand\C{\celsius} \newcommand\fahrenheit{\unit{{}^\circ F}} \newcommand\F{\fahrenheit} % % Area \newcommand\sqft{\unit{sq\,\foot}} % square foot % % Volume \newcommand\liter{\unit{L}} \newcommand\gallon{\unit{gal}} % % Frequency \newcommand\hertz{\unit{Hz}} \newcommand\rpm{\unit{rpm}} % % Voltage \newcommand\volt{\unit{V}} \newcommand\V{\volt} \newcommand\millivolt{\milli\volt} \newcommand\mV{\milli\volt} \newcommand\kilovolt{\kilo\volt} \newcommand\kV{\kilo\volt} % % Current \newcommand\ampere{\unit{A}} \newcommand\A{\ampere} \newcommand\milliampereA{\milli\ampere} \newcommand\mA{\milli\ampere} \newcommand\kiloampereA{\kilo\ampere} \newcommand\kA{\kilo\ampere} % % Resistance \newcommand\ohm{\Omega} \newcommand\milliohm{\milli\ohm} \newcommand\kiloohm{\kilo\ohm} % correct SI spelling \newcommand\kilohm{\kilo\ohm} % "American" spelling used in siunitx \newcommand\megaohm{\mega\ohm} % correct SI spelling \newcommand\megohm{\mega\ohm} % "American" spelling used in siunitx % % Capacitance \newcommand\farad{\unit{F}} \newcommand\F{\farad} \newcommand\microfarad{\micro\farad} \newcommand\muF{\micro\farad} % % Inductance \newcommand\henry{\unit{H}} \newcommand\H{\henry} \newcommand\millihenry{\milli\henry} \newcommand\mH{\milli\henry} % % Power \newcommand\watt{\unit{W}} \newcommand\W{\watt} \newcommand\milliwatt{\milli\watt} \newcommand\mW{\milli\watt} \newcommand\kilowatt{\kilo\watt} \newcommand\kW{\kilo\watt} % % Energy \newcommand\joule{\unit{J}} \newcommand\J{\joule} % % Composite units % % Torque \newcommand\ozin{\unit{\ounce}\,\unit{in}} \newcommand\newtonmeter{\unit{\newton\,\meter}} % % Pressure \newcommand\psf{\unit{psf}} % pounds per square foot \newcommand\pcf{\unit{pcf}} % pounds per cubic foot \newcommand\pascal{\unit{Pa}} \newcommand\Pa{\pascal} \newcommand\ksi{\unit{ksi}} % kilopound per square inch \newcommand\bar{\unit{bar}} \end{aligned}\end{align} \]

Dec 04, 2025 | 390 words | 4 min read

3.3.1. Task 1

Learning Objectives

By the end of this task, you will be able to analyze spot weld shear strength data using MS Excel’s Data Analysis ToolPak to create histograms, accurately determine the minimum required shear strength, and provide evidence-based recommendations on whether the spot welding robot meets the manufacturing company’s strength requirements. This task will enhance your ability to interpret and present technical data, facilitating informed decision-making in engineering contexts.

Introduction

Fig. 3.10 FANUC Robotics’ ARCMate 100iC Robot.

A manufacturing company is testing a spot-welding robot to see if it can provide spot welds that are strong enough for their needs, see Fig. 3.10 that shows a FANUC R-2000iD/210FH spot welding robot with hollow arm and internal cable dressing. An engineer has data on \(100\) spot weld shear strength tests in Mega Pascals (\(\mega\pascal\)) and wants to analyze the data to make an evidence-based decision about whether to purchase the robot.

Note

Click on this link to know more about spot-welding robot.

Task Instructions

1. Open the answer sheet ex3_ind_1_username.xlsx. Save it with your Purdue username replacing username in the file name.

2. In the Input Section of the sheet, import the data from the file ex3_ind_1_weldstrength.txt.

3. In the Calculation Section, use built-in MS Excel functions to calculate the descriptive statistics for the data; including minimum, maximum, range, mean, median, mode, variance, and standard deviation.

4. In the Output Section,

   1. Create a histogram in MS Excel using the Data Analysis ToolPak Add-in. See Installing the Data Analysis ToolPak.

   2. Copy and paste this question, and answer -

      If the required minimum shear strength is \(780 \ksi\) (kilo pound per square inch), should the company buy the welding robot? Justify your answer using the data.

5. Save the ex3_ind_1_username.xlsx file as ex3_ind_1_values_username.pdf displaying the values and ex3_ind_1_formulas_username.pdf displaying the formula.

6. Submit both files to Gradescope.

Note

Given are \(100\) measurements of strength tests. It is not of interest to compute statistics for just these \(100\) tests. \(100\) tests were done to get a good grasp of how the true underlying distribution looks like. Given more time and resources, one would probably conduct another \(100\) tests to improve the accuracy of the tests conclusions, correct? Thus, the test results are a sample from a much larger (in this case infinite) population. Imagine only \(2\) tests were done. It would not make sense to call this the entire population, correct? If one can without problem increase or decrease the number of given data points, it is most likely a sample, like in this case.

Table 3.10 Deliverables

Deliverables	Description
ex3_ind_1_values_username.pdf	PDF of your MS Excel document with values showing.
ex3_ind_1_formulas_username.pdf	PDF of your MS Excel document with formulas showing.