Robots used welding robot

Types of welding robots

These days, welding robots are an integral part of the construction, automotive, and manufacturing industries. These highly efficient machines perform welding tasks with precision and speed greater than a human’s capacity. The standard components of a welding robot are its arm, end effector (which performs the welding), control system, and sensors.

Robots used for welding come in several varieties, such as:

• Jointed-arm robots:

  One of the most popular welding robots, the jointed-arm robot has multiple rotational joints that mimic a human arm. This robot's arms can reach and maneuver into intricate spaces. It offers flexibility and adaptability for diverse welding tasks, including MIG (metal inert gas) welding, TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding, spot welding, and knife-edge welding.

• Delta robots:

  Delta robots (also known as parallel robots), have three arm segments connected to a fixed base that allows the end effector to move with great speed and precision. This type of welding robot is particularly suitable for light and quick jobs. They excel in applications that require handling multiple parts or performing assembly operations at high speeds.

• Cylindrical robots:

  Cylindrical robots employ a combination of rotary and linear motions to provide cylindrical coordinates, with an upper rotary joint linked to three parallel arms that move linearly. Their straightforward design and lesser costs are attractive features for businesses. They suit applications where space is limited and bulky machinery cannot be accommodated.

• Cartesian robots:

  Also called cartesian axis robots, they are programmed to operate along three linear axes (hence the name). Typically, the end effector of a cartesian robot takes the form of a gantry or conveyor belt. Their straightforward design and programmed motion along fixed paths make them ideally suited for tasks like welding sizeable stationary objects or structures that don't require complicated navigation patterns.

• SCARA welding robots:

  SCARA stands for Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm. These welding robots are ideal if the task involves vertical and horizontal welding applications. They possess an assembly that provides compliance in the horizontal direction, which enables accurate positioning and repeatability. Moreover, SCARA robots are widely recognized for their simple programming and quick setup, which aid manufacturers in attaining efficient production and reduced downtime.

Specifications and maintenance of welding robots

Specifications

• Welding capacity: The welding weight and maximum power are used to represent the capacity.
• Robot weight: The total weight of the robot, without anything extra, is considered a parameter that affects its control and vibration.
• Payload: It refers to the maximum weight the robot can handle.
• Reach: It indicates the distance the robot can move its arm.
• Degrees of freedom: The number of rotating joints of the robot determines its flexibility and operation.
• Motion range: Robots usually have rectangular, cylindrical, spherical, or joint-motion range measurements, which represent the scope of fundamental actions.

Maintenance

• Regular inspection: Check the overall condition of the welding robot, including components like the welding gun, feeder, drive motor, and reducer, to see if there is any abnormality.
• Cleaning: Clean up the welding robot regularly to keep its surface clean and avoid pollutants affecting its performance.
• Lubrication: Maintain regular lubrication for the robot's moving parts and bearings to ensure smooth operations and reduce wear.
• Calibration and debugging: Periodically calibrate and debug the welding parameters and position accuracy of the welding robots used to ensure their welding quality.
• Software upgrades: Regularly upgrade the robot's control software to improve its performance and functionality.
• Pay attention to safety: Welding robots operate in high-temperature, high-voltage, and high-risk environments. Attention should be paid to their safety and regular inspection of their protective devices.

Scenarios of welding robots

The presence of welding robots has transformed the use and scope of welding. Here are some common scenarios where these welding robots perform efficiently.

• Automotive and transport sector:

  Welding robots are an integral part of the automotive industry. Cars and other vehicles require thousands of welds to join parts like frames, chassis, body panels, exhaust systems, etc. These welding robots provide high accuracy, consistent quality, and fast welds. They efficiently handle the workload of creating these often intricate and precise welds for various vehicle parts. Besides, the coming together of welding robots and laser cutting machines has made a great impact on the transport industry, allowing the creation of lighter, faster, and safer vehicles.

• Heavy-duty Industries:

  Components made out of metal sheets and plates are the backbone of heavy-duty industries. This includes the oil and gas, power generation, mining, and other industrial sectors. In these areas, welding robots are responsible for creating these high-quality and heavy-duty welds on large pipes, tanks, structural frameworks, etc. These items often involve complicated geometric shapes and heavy wall thickness that require deep penetration.

• Construction:

  Welding robots help join different heavy metal parts in the construction industry. These parts include girders, beams, trusses, and other structural components that help make bridges, dams, buildings, and other infrastructures. Welding robots give construction workers well-structured and high-quality buildings by providing them with strong and high-quality welds.

• Shipbuilding:

  Marine industries are a sphere where welding robots are extensively used. The welding robots help weld sections like hulls, decks, superstructures, and pipelines to create ships, submarines, offshore structures, etc. Usually, the welding robots are employed to perform fillet, groove, and butt welds, thereby ensuring strong and reliable joints in ship infrastructure.

• Aerospace:

  Aerospace is yet another industry where welding robots find ample use. Welding robots are responsible for joining various lightweight alloys and composite materials used in aerospace vehicles. These include components like fuselages, wings, engines, etc. The welding robots ensure precision, repeatability, and minimal distortion during the welding process.

• Electronics:

  Electronics manufacturers use welding robots to assemble electronic components and packages. The components include circuit boards, connectors, semiconductor chips, and other miniaturized parts. The welding robots help ensure accurate placement and repeatable solder joints. Besides, they facilitate the mass production of electronic devices like smartphones, computers, consumer gadgets, etc.

How to choose robots used welding robot

When buying welding robots for sale, welding needs should be the priority. This includes the type of welding sought, the materials to be welded, the welding robot's weight capacity, and the welding frequency. It is also important to consider the robot's ease of programming and whether it can be integrated with existing systems. A robot that is easy to program will reduce downtime and increase productivity.

The welding robot should also be scalable to accommodate future growth. With welding volume often increasing as businesses expand, it is important to choose a robot that can be easily scaled up to meet increased demand. The robot should also have a high return on investment. When selecting a welding robot, calculating the expected ROI is important. This can be based on factors such as productivity gains, cost savings, and robot price.

Determine whether the robot will be new or used. A new welding robot will have the latest technology and be more efficient but will also be more expensive. On the other hand, a used welding robot will be cheaper but may have outdated technology. Finally, the price of a welding robot varies depending on its features and capabilities. Before shopping, buyers should set a budget and stick to it to avoid overspending.

For more insights and specific supplier recommendations, visit the welding robots for more details.

Robots used welding robot FAQ

Q1: Which material can be used with a welding robot?

A1: Welding robots can be used with these standard metals; however, their effectiveness will depend on the configuration, capability, and specification of the robot. Quality results may only be achievable if the robot is assembled with the required tools.

Q2: What is the size of the welding robot market?

A2: The global welding robot market size was valued at $4.05 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $7.97 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2023 to 2032.

Q3: How long does a welding robot take to complete a task?

A3: The welding robot performs welding tasks in seconds. However, the time taken depends on some factors, including the complexity of the welding task, the settings of the welding robot, and the type of welding required.

Q4: Can a welding robot be used for other jobs?

A4: Yes, welding robots can be customized to perform other tasks apart besides welding. They can be used for welding, soldering, and joining operations. More so, with the right tooling and programming, they can be used for machining,Assembly, material handling, packaging, palletizing, and engraving.