*Have you considered coving “Plasma Arc Welding” ?* It seems niche/mainly by early adoption users, but it supposedly has the penetration of SMAW and the Cleanliness of GTAW. (Also sorry in advance if you already covered this and i missed it!)
My company has a robot welder, and our production has actually slowed down on average since we started putting every frame through it. We do large structural bases for AC unit rooms. The robot does every weld it can reach, on every base... The logistics of moving them around to the robot with cranes and having a queue ends up (from what I can gather) taking longer than sitting down and welding it yourself. I think this technology has great potential, but my company doesn't seem to be using it at its best. Still very interesting to think about!
Without actually seeing your process and depending upon size and actual type of structure (I-Beam vs tubing/angle), you probably need 2 robots or the one you have is not programmed well. The cell needs to be set up properly for robotic welding which also sometimes means twin mig torches and seam tracking. The robotic cell needs to be inline with the fit up process with automated fixtures for holding transfer or the robot needs to be on a track.
Interesting to hear! Currently writing a master thesis about efficency and flexibility related to similar projects, could I reach out to you for a few questions?
*I’m excited about more content on this!* I just finished a hear of Welding School at FSCJ; had a great time and learned a bunch, *But failed all the bend tests due to my Shaky Hands (due to Essential Tremor) messing up my Arc Length etc constantly. *So, like some supervillian, now i want to just learn robotics and have Robot (Dr Octopus-esque?) Arms do it for me!* (Edit: Made Important Bits Bold for Readability Lol)
I would gladly take the position of welder robot driver. If you're mad about that, move out of the way while I weld 8x as much as you can in a longer, back-breaking shift lol.
I have been in industrial robots mostly in automotive but also in heavy industry (CAT), food manufacturing and packaging since '95. Robots and automation is where it's at and yes you might not need to know much about welding if you are an operator but to make actual good welds fast and know what to fix when something goes wrong (it will) you need to learn not only the robotic welding system including the associated automation inside and out, but also how to actually weld with various processes. Three companies I worked for taught welding, robotic welding, robotics, and automation with one company sending the robot technicians and engineers (the people responsible for setup, programming, and fixing) to an AWS welding school where we had to learn and actually pass the various position tests etc.
Robotic welders are used in the Ship Building Industry, because they can put them on the side of a ship welding up hull plates and they roll along on Magnetic tracks, which is Safer than having to put up endless scaffolding for people, and be safe up there.
I had the pleasure of working with a robot welder in production as an operator, a millwright, and a welder. Loved the precision welds they make and how many people can say they work with a robot? : )
Are there Integrations with Motion Capture/VR equipment etc? Could you have a welder use a simulator then basically Copy and Paste that into Robot Processes? (If not I’ll add “Open Source Software tool for That” to my eternally growing “To-Do” list yeeesh)
I have over 25 years of Welding Experience my Boss is a Machinist by trade and he tells us welders that he can teach a newbie how to weld in 1 hour, I say BS. Now with Robots, you still need to Programme the Robot on what type of weld, what Size, and how to miss obstacles, this process here is the first I've seen with a scanner so that it "sees" where to weld. Also on 3/8" thick plate I would NOT be doing a vertical Down, Vertical UP only.
Here is why I think the "naysayers" that robotics taking jobs are wrong headed. Take any job and give it 3 stages. Stage 1 takes 10 welders, Stage 2 takes 10 welders and stage 3 takes 10 welders. Now, you introduce a robotic machine to take over Stage 1 because it is more efficient and has more output then the previous 10 welders. A robot puts out the work of 15 welders in Stage 1. What happens to Stage 2 and 3? They need more welders. Stage 1 increases output and now Stage 2 and 3 need more welders (15 -20 welders) to keep up with the output from Stage 1. Not to mention, there is a job created in maintaining the robot in Stage 1. Overall result of incorporating robots....."we need more welders!" This "fantasy" that robots eliminate jobs is flawed thinking.
They had some working at my workplace today. And OSHA is coming around. I wonder if this means the number of people pushing for the increased use of automated welding is increasing. I’d love to not lose my job to a robot.
It depends. Robots are expensive (although may be cheaper long term), and have issues getting into cramped spaces/doing odd things. *HOWEVER* robots are more precise, can work near 24/7, are cheaper in the long run, and can eve do things/go places humans can’t (ESPECIALLY Saturation Diving, i can see that being replaced in part by ROVs with FCAW Guns soon (although the underwater construction grunt aspect may still remain) ). For better, or for worse, robots are coming for *ALL* our jobs eventually (Re: “Humans Need Not Apply” by CPG Grey). It is up to us voters to decide if we get *Fully Automated Open Source Luxury Anarcho Space-Communism*, or some “The Expanse” esque hellhole with an insane wealth gap run by Jeff Besos and Elon Musk etc.
@@ericlotze7724 Hey! We do not see our solution as a replacement for welders. At the end of the day, robots do not know HOW to weld. The decision and the control remain on the welder, not a robot. Moreover, robots are not capable to weld everything. There always will be joints that could be welded only by hand. But at the same time, we see a lot of synergies that are possible between a welder and a robot. Our solution is the bridge that makes it happen. Designed for welders it’s a new way to increase your productivity and weld much more than before.
Idc what the sales rep tells you it kills jobs wether he wants to admit it or not. I’ve installed robotics & automation at variety of plants I’ve also worked at plants that have automation. It decreases the amount of labor you need to a job which means it eliminates jobs in the process. Before someone tried to argue with you me about this topic unless you have factual data to claim it doesn’t kill jobs save it.
Not a winning combination with the opening audio levels. Highly compressed audio relying on the camera condenser mic is not a combination that will win the hearts of your hard of hearing audience like myself.
You need welders to operate the equipment…if anything it makes your job a bit less taxing on your body. Not to mention understanding technology and welding is a money making combo!
*Have you considered coving “Plasma Arc Welding” ?*
It seems niche/mainly by early adoption users, but it supposedly has the penetration of SMAW and the Cleanliness of GTAW.
(Also sorry in advance if you already covered this and i missed it!)
Thanks for your question, Eric!
Yes, we consider Plasma Arc Welding. It is definitely a good niche for such type of applications.
My company has a robot welder, and our production has actually slowed down on average since we started putting every frame through it. We do large structural bases for AC unit rooms. The robot does every weld it can reach, on every base... The logistics of moving them around to the robot with cranes and having a queue ends up (from what I can gather) taking longer than sitting down and welding it yourself. I think this technology has great potential, but my company doesn't seem to be using it at its best. Still very interesting to think about!
Oh, yeah, it's the usual: here's a new toy; now we must use this toy for literally everything, since we paid a big bucks for it.
Without actually seeing your process and depending upon size and actual type of structure (I-Beam vs tubing/angle), you probably need 2 robots or the one you have is not programmed well. The cell needs to be set up properly for robotic welding which also sometimes means twin mig torches and seam tracking. The robotic cell needs to be inline with the fit up process with automated fixtures for holding transfer or the robot needs to be on a track.
Interesting to hear! Currently writing a master thesis about efficency and flexibility related to similar projects, could I reach out to you for a few questions?
Amazing technology, looks almost too easy!
Thanks for the feedback, Chris!
*I’m excited about more content on this!* I just finished a hear of Welding School at FSCJ; had a great time and learned a bunch, *But failed all the bend tests due to my Shaky Hands (due to Essential Tremor) messing up my Arc Length etc constantly.
*So, like some supervillian, now i want to just learn robotics and have Robot (Dr Octopus-esque?) Arms do it for me!*
(Edit: Made Important Bits Bold for Readability Lol)
Good to hear! 👏🏽
I would gladly take the position of welder robot driver. If you're mad about that, move out of the way while I weld 8x as much as you can in a longer, back-breaking shift lol.
I have been in industrial robots mostly in automotive but also in heavy industry (CAT), food manufacturing and packaging since '95. Robots and automation is where it's at and yes you might not need to know much about welding if you are an operator but to make actual good welds fast and know what to fix when something goes wrong (it will) you need to learn not only the robotic welding system including the associated automation inside and out, but also how to actually weld with various processes. Three companies I worked for taught welding, robotic welding, robotics, and automation with one company sending the robot technicians and engineers (the people responsible for setup, programming, and fixing) to an AWS welding school where we had to learn and actually pass the various position tests etc.
Sick! Hope to see more of this type of content! Need more engineering/CWI/robotics info!!!
Robotic welders are used in the Ship Building Industry, because they can put them on the side of a ship welding up hull plates and they roll along on Magnetic tracks, which is Safer than having to put up endless scaffolding for people, and be safe up there.
I had the pleasure of working with a robot welder in production as an operator, a millwright, and a welder. Loved the precision welds they make and how many people can say they work with a robot? : )
Do you think it's important to develop new tools to make control of the robot welders easier?
@@ABAGY Absolutely, it's a feature that is long overdue.
Are there Integrations with Motion Capture/VR equipment etc? Could you have a welder use a simulator then basically Copy and Paste that into Robot Processes?
(If not I’ll add “Open Source Software tool for That” to my eternally growing “To-Do” list yeeesh)
I want to learn how weld but I don't want to do it as a profession. I love learning.
I have over 25 years of Welding Experience my Boss is a Machinist by trade and he tells us welders that he can teach a newbie how to weld in 1 hour, I say BS. Now with Robots, you still need to Programme the Robot on what type of weld, what Size, and how to miss obstacles, this process here is the first I've seen with a scanner so that it "sees" where to weld. Also on 3/8" thick plate I would NOT be doing a vertical Down, Vertical UP only.
Are there integrations with CAD software?
Great question! Yes, this software integrates with the CAD software and takes STEP model of the part as an input.
Here is why I think the "naysayers" that robotics taking jobs are wrong headed.
Take any job and give it 3 stages. Stage 1 takes 10 welders, Stage 2 takes 10 welders and stage 3 takes 10 welders. Now, you introduce a robotic machine to take over Stage 1 because it is more efficient and has more output then the previous 10 welders. A robot puts out the work of 15 welders in Stage 1. What happens to Stage 2 and 3? They need more welders. Stage 1 increases output and now Stage 2 and 3 need more welders (15 -20 welders) to keep up with the output from Stage 1. Not to mention, there is a job created in maintaining the robot in Stage 1. Overall result of incorporating robots....."we need more welders!"
This "fantasy" that robots eliminate jobs is flawed thinking.
They had some working at my workplace today. And OSHA is coming around.
I wonder if this means the number of people pushing for the increased use of automated welding is increasing.
I’d love to not lose my job to a robot.
It depends. Robots are expensive (although may be cheaper long term), and have issues getting into cramped spaces/doing odd things.
*HOWEVER* robots are more precise, can work near 24/7, are cheaper in the long run, and can eve do things/go places humans can’t (ESPECIALLY Saturation Diving, i can see that being replaced in part by ROVs with FCAW Guns soon (although the underwater construction grunt aspect may still remain) ).
For better, or for worse, robots are coming for *ALL* our jobs eventually (Re: “Humans Need Not Apply” by CPG Grey). It is up to us voters to decide if we get *Fully Automated Open Source Luxury Anarcho Space-Communism*, or some “The Expanse” esque hellhole with an insane wealth gap run by Jeff Besos and Elon Musk etc.
@@ericlotze7724 Hey! We do not see our solution as a replacement for welders. At the end of the day, robots do not know HOW to weld. The decision and the control remain on the welder, not a robot. Moreover, robots are not capable to weld everything. There always will be joints that could be welded only by hand. But at the same time, we see a lot of synergies that are possible between a welder and a robot. Our solution is the bridge that makes it happen. Designed for welders it’s a new way to increase your productivity and weld much more than before.
Then learn to use robots.
still need manual welders to tack weld the assembly together though.
you can do a tac program before hand and run directly into the weld phasing.
Wimp. When I weld my race cars I am like a snake throughout the car. I am in my sixties.
Idc what the sales rep tells you it kills jobs wether he wants to admit it or not. I’ve installed robotics & automation at variety of plants I’ve also worked at plants that have automation. It decreases the amount of labor you need to a job which means it eliminates jobs in the process. Before someone tried to argue with you me about this topic unless you have factual data to claim it doesn’t kill jobs save it.
Not a winning combination with the opening audio levels. Highly compressed audio relying on the camera condenser mic is not a combination that will win the hearts of your hard of hearing audience like myself.
There goes another 100,000 jobs 🤦♂️
You need welders to operate the equipment…if anything it makes your job a bit less taxing on your body. Not to mention understanding technology and welding is a money making combo!