Cobot Welding

Cobot welding is a type of automated, robot-driven welding. A cobot welder (a flexible robot arm fitted with welding equipment) is programmed to perform welding tasks to an extremely high standard under the supervision of a welder. For example, CRX series models by FANUC, a major cobot manufacturer, excel at arc welding, an in-demand welding technique.

‘Cobot’ means ‘collaborative robot’ – one that works closely and safely with people. Touch a cobot welder while it’s working and it’ll stop immediately to protect you. Welding cobots don’t require fencing; they work alongside employees in factories, workshops and other facilities. Plus, they can be moved to wherever they’re needed.

A cobot welding system such as Cyber-Mate features a collaborative robot welding arm mounted on a portable workbench. You create and run welding programmes with a touchscreen controller.

Why Use a Welding Cobot?

One of the most compelling reasons to use a welding cobot is it can make welding processes significantly better and more productive. Cobot welding is safer and more accurate than manual welding. That’s because it combines a human welder’s skills and expertise (the welder trains the cobot) with a cobot welder’s ability to weld repeatedly with a degree of precision and efficiency that’s impossible to achieve manually.

Collaborative robot welding systems are highly adaptable and ‘learn’ quickly. This makes them excellent investments, especially for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing (i.e. producing a wide range of products in small quantities). A welding cobot package can handle simple, repetitive tasks and/or challenging work. Part changeovers don’t faze cobots, and eye-like sensors enable them to identify and check objects. Plus, a slimline cobot welder is suitable for arc welding in hard-to-access areas.

Another key reason why businesses adopt cobot welding is it overcomes problems caused by the shortage of qualified, skilled welders. If you struggle to recruit more welders or meet deadlines, a welding cobot package can relieve your worries.

What Are the Benefits of Collaborative Robot Welding?

• Safer working environment – when cobot welders complete the taxing, hazardous tasks, people are less likely to get injured.

• More engaged employees – the International Federation of Robotics emphasises that cobots can do repetitive work while staff ‘focus on more interesting and satisfying tasks’, such as fitting weldments.

• Better quality products and fewer mistakes – a cobot welding system is more reliable than manual welding. Cobots can make longer weld seams, cope more easily with challenging materials and parts with inconsistent features, and produce a cleaner finish.

• Enhanced productivity and faster cycle times – a cobot welder doesn’t get ill or tired.

• Respond rapidly to changes – a cobot welding system is extremely versatile, so you can keep up with changing demands.

• Fully integrated – Cyber-Weld is committed to ensuring your welding cobot package is a perfect fit for your operations.

• Small footprint – systems such as Cyber-Mate are compact and portable.



• Cost reduction – using a cobot welding system can be much cheaper than training additional welders.
  

How Do Welders Work with a Cobot?

Welders can work with a cobot even if they have no experience of robots. A welding cobot package is straightforward – it can be mastered in hours and easily programmed/re-programmed.



Imagine there’s an arc welding task for a cobot welder. First, the human welder ‘teaches’ the cobot what to do by guiding it to the points that need welding and recording them on the controller, creating a welding programme. (Cyber-Mate’s teach pendant has a timeline and drag-and-drop icons to streamline this process.) The collaborative robot welding arm performs a dry run, giving the welder the chance to make adjustments. Next the welder starts the programme, puts on a welding helmet and supervises the cobot welding.

How Much Does a Cobot Welder Cost?

Because cobot welders vary greatly (the FANUC CRX models have payloads from 5-25kg and reaches ranging from about 1m to nearly 2m), there’s no single, standard price. The same is true for cobot welding systems – each is designed with a specific business in mind.

What we can say is a cobot welder is compact and therefore costs less than many other robots. Cobot systems tend to require less investment than recruitment and training programmes and salary/pension packages. There’s no need to buy safety fencing for cobots. Plus, our tailor-made approach enables us to work within almost any business’s budget for cobot welding.



A welding cobot package can reduce production costs, as cobot welding is more efficient and creates less waste than manual welding. You could say the package pays for itself.

Cyber-Weld Are Industry Leaders in Collaborative Robot Welding

When you’re looking for a robotics expert to create and integrate a welding cobot package, look no further than Cyber-Weld. Serving UK and international customers, we have 25 years’ experience of all aspects of robotic welding systems and work with the best cobot manufacturers.

Cyber-Mate, one of our latest cobot welding innovations, highlights our strengths. With this superb plug-and-play package, complete with initial welding parameters, you can get up and running without delay. Cyber-Mate is fitted with a six-axis FANUC CRX cobot welder, which offers superior movement and control and makes weaving and seam tracking simple. Fantastic!

Contact Cyber-Weld Today for More Information about Cobot Welding Packages

Isn’t it time your business benefitted from a welding cobot package?

You can depend on Cyber-Weld’s specialist team to deliver a package that makes your welding operations the envy of your competitors.



Simply contact us today to discuss your needs.