Robot welding is the process by which a mechanized programmable automated machine binds two or more pieces of metal together using a high voltage current. Its automation means it is capable of both handling the materials at the robot’s disposal as well binding them at the exact programmed point.
Robot welding is mostly utilized in areas where there is a need for resistance spot welding and arc welding. This is usually seen in the automotive industry where there is a need for accuracy and consistency in weld seems to produce products that are safe, rigid, and firm. This has seen the industry adopt a wide use of these welding robot arms.
The following are some of the benefits of a welding robot arm:
- Minimal human labor
- Consistency in welds
- Reduced wastage of material
- Reduce production time
- Few to no re-welding
Minimal human labor
Finding and training an individual as a welder is tedious and expensive. Applying the same principle to a group of people is time-consuming. They require payment and whenever there is a new project, they will have to be retrained which ultimately will have an impact on your bottom line.
To counter this, the application of robotic welders is the natural way to go. They can be programmed to perform different types of welds by simply loading a program into them saving plenty of time and improving on product rollout time. You only need a master welder who will conduct the quality control of each weld of a robot. This will save you money and improve your bottom line.
Consistency in welds
A welding robot arm can continuously place consistent quality welds when and where it is needed. This greatly improves the quality of the product and its shelf life. A robotic welder can continuously place welds without the boredom of doing repetitive work which would greatly impact the turnover of a human welder who would be affected by this.
Reduced wastage of material
Over welding or use of filler material is detrimental to any welding company and most welders are prone to doing this. This may inflate the cost of doing even the simplest of welds to unmanageable levels. A welding robot arm can be ultra-precise when welding, greatly reducing the amount of filler material used hence keeping the overall cost down and keeps wastage of materials at a minimum. This keeps the need to rework a weld at a minimum saving time.
Reduce production time
Where human beings would work for eight to twelve hours a day, a welding robotic arm can work for twenty-four hours straight without fatigue. They can also place better quality and more consistent welds compared to a human welder who is prone to fatigue which increases errors. This greatly reduces the time it takes to produce a welded product and increases yields. It also helps human beings reduce dangerous repetitive work and free up his/her time which is better utilized in solving more complex issues.
Few to no re-welding
This is an aspect of the welding industry that drives most companies to adopt welding robot arms. Consistent workflow and proper material used greatly impacts the performance of a welding robot. The higher the quality of material used the better the outcome. The fewer issues the robotic welder encounters, the faster the robot will work. If these issues are solved as soon as they arise, then there should be very few re-welds if any at all.
Conclusion
Ultimately although robotic welding has seen major use since it was first introduced in the USA in the 1960s but widely adopted in the 1980s, the cost of buying, running, and maintaining industrial-scale welding robot arms remains a challenge. But the introduction of miniature welding robot arms seems to be eliminating these challenges, which is a win for producers and consumers.
In conclusion, more companies should adopt the use of robotic welding arms to try and cover the shortage of skilled welders which in turn will guarantee the production of high quality and safer welds.
