| Investing in robotic equipment can be a big leap for a | | | | ideal person to select for programming or operating |
| small business. Industrial robots have been automating | | | | the robotic welder. When choosing robot operators, |
| tasks since 1961. The first industrial robot, the Unimate, | | | | programmers, and technicians, special consideration |
| worked with the die casting machines at a General | | | | should be given to motivated employees that are |
| Motors plant. In the last decade there has been a | | | | willing to learn and advance their skills. |
| surge of robots being integrated into mid-sized and | | | | 3. Make Training a Priority It is important when |
| smaller companies. One reason is the growth and | | | | purchasing a robot integrator to choose one that |
| affordability of the used robot market. With the leaps | | | | provides training on the robotic system. This allows |
| made in controls technology, companies are upgrading | | | | your company to be able to fully utilize the robot and |
| robots before the current model has finished its | | | | minimize later down-time due to mechanical problems. |
| life-span. However, the overall functionality of the | | | | Ideally the person chosen to receive the training should |
| six-axis articulated arm has not changed in the last | | | | be the future programmer or operator. With the proper |
| decade. As companies consolidate and reorganize, the | | | | training, the programmer should be able to reliably |
| factory surplus is sold. | | | | produce efficient and effective robot programs. Basic |
| Automation benefits include saving money and | | | | groundwork training is a minimum, with the real learning |
| reducing production time. Automation also leads to an | | | | happening on the shop floor. Generally your robotic |
| increase in part quality and reliability. These are some | | | | integrator will program your robotic system to interact |
| tips to help you get started implementing automation | | | | with your current equipment and leave you with a |
| onto your factory floor. | | | | turnkey solution that requires only a push of a button. It |
| | | | is still ideal to have trained personnel on hand should a |
| 1. | | | | future problem arise. Routine maintenance, such as an |
| Involve the Shop Floor Workers Consulting the | | | | annual grease replenishment and battery replacement, |
| workers that currently produce the part is a good | | | | is also an issue that you will want a trained individual to |
| starting point. This is the person who has the | | | | perform. Many robotic systems have been destroyed |
| experience to know what works and what had not | | | | by well-meaning maintenance by individuals that do not |
| worked in the past. They often have helpful insight into | | | | understand the complex nature of the robotic system. |
| the process that you can not gain by simply watching. | | | | 4. Watch Part Fit-Up and Repeatability The most |
| Requesting their participation in the robotic welding | | | | problematical issue with welding robots is part quality. |
| project will help it be more successful. The workers | | | | Robotic systems are designed to repeat the same |
| who manually perform the process can provide advice | | | | sequence of events. If the robot system has been |
| on the configuration and specifications of the | | | | damaged, repeatability can become an issue. Robotics |
| equipment up front, avoiding the possibility that the | | | | systems sold feature a repeatability measurement and |
| equipment is not as ergonomically friendly or | | | | that should be taken into account along with payload |
| productive as it could be. Failure to involve them | | | | and reach requirements. Used robots should be tested |
| disregards the insight they have gained though | | | | for accuracy and repeatability during the reconditioning |
| experience with the process. | | | | process. When performing properly, robotic systems |
| 2. Choose your Robot Operators and Robotic | | | | are more reliable and produce parts far superior in |
| Programmers Carefully Most industrial robots are | | | | quality than manually welded parts. Touch sensing and |
| controlled by the use of teach pendants. Several of | | | | seam tracking can be used to compensate for weld |
| these pendants now are programmed with an | | | | joints that are not static, but robots are limited by the |
| interface that resembles a personal computer. An | | | | laws of physics. The use of quality equipment in |
| individual that is computer-literate will have less trouble | | | | conjunction with robots improves the part fit-up. |
| learning how to instruct the robot and moving it to | | | | Attention should be paid to lasers, welding and cutting |
| accomplish the desired tasks such as welding or | | | | torches, welding power supplies, raw consumables, and |
| material handling. For instance, the challenge of | | | | other variables that could lead to a loss of quality in the |
| transforming a manual welding process to a robotic | | | | finished product. |
| welding process is best handled by someone with a | | | | 5. |
| solid background in manual welding. This would be an | | | | |