Advancements in Robotic Welding Systems Causing a Decrease in Cost
Brief Summary:
Welding can be defined as a materials joining process and a major developments have happened in this industry thanks to robotic automation. Prices of robotics have decreased making robotic welding systems affordable for medium and small sized manufacturers.- Major trends for the welding industry include developments in robotic automation, just-in-time production, and new ways to better serve customers.
- While a robot is costly, per-part savings over large part runs are considerable.
- Robots can make lots of the same parts efficiently, but the role of robots still is limited in applications in which manufacturers join large parts one at a time.
- The robot can track a straight seam, but it has difficulty turning a corner.
- There is a need to improve robotics to control variables in assembly, such as component geometric shapes.
- Robot programming is manual.
- Researchers are looking for ways to automate the process of "teaching" robots.
- Robotics is not yet within the reach of small and medium-size manufacturers because of cost.
- But just as the price of personal computers continually has tumbled, similar price decreases may allow robots to one day populate job shops.
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