As it is rightfully said, “You may design something in steel but to make it, you need to know how to manipulate the material. On a sheer technical end, you have to know how to weld steel.” – Brian Slocum
Welding is a fabrication process in which materials such as metals or thermoplastics are joined. It uses heat to melt the joints of the desired parts. The cooling that ensues causes fusion. Welding is different from brazing or soldering where the base material does not melt. There are different types of welding. All of which can be clubbed under two broad categories such as Manual welding and Robotic welding.
What is Robotic Welding?
Automated welding, also known as Robotic welding, is the process of fusing two materials thanks to mechanized programmed tools. The many advantages of Robotic welding are: Weld quality, waste reduction, high efficiency, quick lead times, superior repeatability, and high output. This being said, there are disadvantages too. Robotic welding has a high initial cost, necessitates more advanced programming skills, can lack flexibility, and requires more space. Also, this type of welding causes a huge change in floorplans and is not suitable for production lines that require frequent changes. Over and above, automatic welding processes require the built and use of a mechanical jig specific to the shape of the product, therefore limiting the flexibility of the cell. These downsides have led automation welding to be concentrated mostly in large-scale industries.
An accessible solution
The Robotic Welding Assistant (RWA) by DIY-Robotics can help small and medium-scale industries in automating their plants by overcoming the disadvantages of automated welding. It is easy to program, cost-effective, faster, and consistent. Overall, it increases productivity. Now, let us see what the future holds in terms of automated welding for small and medium-scale industries.
Symbiosis Relation
As the name suggests, the RWA assists the welder. It does the work of a JIG and a human. It not only helps the welder with symmetrical parts, but it also helps with asymmetrical or irregular surface welding. This symbiosis relation makes for a safe environment in which humans can work with robots.
Third Arm
The RWA is a plug-and-play robotic cell that acts as a third arm. It holds the part in a fixed position, as the operator welds. Moreover, Fanuc robots’ 360° maneuverability helps in optimizing the work and safely prioritizes a horizontal welding position for the welder.
Budget-Friendly Solution
Traditional robotic welding equipment setup typically costs over 100 000 USD. Adding to that, let’s not forget that this number blows up when associated costs such as labor, energy, material, factory setup, and installation are taken into account. The Robotic Welding Assistant however, starts at 74 000 USD and requires minimal programming skills.
Versatility
Small-scale industries deal with a large variety of customers and small quantities of products. The right solution for these industries needs to not only be budget-friendly but also flexible to fit and change from product to product in less time and with less floor space. On top of offering some of the features a huge welding robot would, the RWA has other features:
- Joystick control for easy movement control
- Safe Human-centric design, horizontal welding position
- Consistent results with 100% accuracy
- Versatile ergonomic welding capability
- Compact Design architecture; fits in the current factory floorplan
- Variable payload capacity
A great solution for SMEs
The Robotic Welding Assistant by DIY-Robotics is a go-to solution for any small to medium-scale industry. With minimal investment, this solution answers all your welding requirements without imposing any major changes in your current factory floorplan.
References
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A. T. &. Machine, “What are the Pros and Cons of Robotic vs Manual Welding?,” AAA Tool & Machine, 08 09 2019. [Online]. Available: https://aaatoolandmachine.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-robotic-vs-manual-welding/.
- C. E. Bennett Brumson, “Robots For Small Business: A Growing Trend,” automate, 31 10 2003. [Online]. Available: https://www.automate.org/industry-insights/robots-for-small-business-a-growing-trend.
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D. Robotics, “ROBOTIC WELDING ASSISTANT,” DIY Robotics, 20 05 2021. [Online]. Available: https://diy-robotics.com/robotic-welding-assistant/.
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F. F. /. T. Knell, “How does laser welding work? Costs, advantages & disadvantages,” maschinenmarkt international, 24 08 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.maschinenmarkt.international/how-does-laser-welding-work-costs-advantages-disadvantages-a-857309/.
- O. S. Amar Chinchane, “Robotic Welding Market,” 30 11 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/robotic-welding-market.
- Wikipedia, “Welding,” 15 05 2021. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welding.
