| Robotic welding has come of age in the
| |
| | welding machines are available new, many
|
| past few years. In advances in computer
| |
| | used and reconditioned models are also
|
| technology and robotics, simple,
| |
| | available and popular.
|
| repetitive tasks in manufacturing are
| |
| | Where robotic welding machines, and
|
| often performed by robotic welding
| |
| | industrial robots in general came from is
|
| devices, with a resulting savings in
| |
| | of interest. The first industrial robot,
|
| labor and an improvement in safety, since
| |
| | used for simple tasks, was invented in
|
| there is less human interaction and less
| |
| | 1962. In 1969 a Stanford University
|
| chance for human error.
| |
| | professor developed the Stanford arm, an
|
| Trade shows and conventions for the
| |
| | articulated robot that widened the
|
| fabrication industry and welding trades
| |
| | potential of robots, making robotic
|
| often feature robotic welding devices
| |
| | welding possible and feasible. By the
|
| these days. Demonstrations at the trade
| |
| | 1970's industrial robots were firmly
|
| shows give examples of robotic welding
| |
| | rooted in most industries and robotic
|
| machines doing graceful and complex
| |
| | welding's strong points had become
|
| maneuvers, demonstrating speed and
| |
| | obvious to industry. Soon large companies
|
| flexibility possible with robots today
| |
| | like General Electric and General Motors
|
| that were not possible a generation ago.
| |
| | were manufacturing robots, and several
|
| Industrial robots are used in welding,
| |
| | companies n the U.S. stated specifically
|
| painting, ironing, assembly, palletizing,
| |
| | to manufacture them and market them to
|
| pick and place, inspection, and testing
| |
| | industry, including Automatix and Adept
|
| of products. Robots have proven
| |
| | Technology, Inc, while Westinghouse
|
| themselves to be valuable resources in
| |
| | Electric Corporation acquired Animation,
|
| manufacturing applications in all of
| |
| | the grandmaster of industrial robotics.
|
| these areas.
| |
| | Many Japanese companies also entered the
|
| Any welding task is suitable for
| |
| | arena.
|
| automation if the task is repetitive.
| |
| | Today's popularity of industrial robots,
|
| From a practical, financial standpoint
| |
| | and in particular of robotic welding
|
| however the number of pieces that need to
| |
| | devices is due to the fact that these
|
| be welded must be of sufficient quantity
| |
| | machines save man hours, allowing skilled
|
| to allow a continuous flow, to justify
| |
| | human technicians, including welders, to
|
| the initial expense of setting up robotic
| |
| | concentrate on more complicated tasks
|
| welding machinery. In such instances an
| |
| | worthy of their skills and training.
|
| automatic welding gun can be placed in a
| |
| | Simple and repetitive tasks that would be
|
| static position or if needed on a curved
| |
| | a waste of a skilled welder's time are
|
| track to achieve a circular weld. In this
| |
| | generally handled by robotic welding
|
| type of situation, a work piece can be
| |
| | machines with cost savings in the
|
| rotated past the welding gun.
| |
| | millions every year, benefiting the
|
| The major manufacturers in three basic
| |
| | companies and stockholders.
|
| sizes offer robotic welding arms. These
| |
| | Overall, Robotic welding is one of the
|
| include a tabletop size with a six-pound
| |
| | most advanced computer technologies and
|
| payload, a medium sized model with a 13.2
| |
| | robotic welding devices save in labor and
|
| pound payload and larger machines with a
| |
| | an improvement in safety, by reducing
|
| 22.2 pound payload. While these robotic
| |
| | human error and human tragedy.
|
