ROBOTICS IN WELDING
EXTENDING A ‘TECH’ ARM FOR
EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING
Welding is a high-precision work that calls for accuracy. With the lack of skilled labourers, the industry is shifting towards utilising more robotic applications. The right usage of robots in appropriate areas of welding will ensure best-in-class output, which in turn will lead to manufacturing of world-class products. GEETHA JAYARAMAN ith the increasing customer demand for a wide range of products and simultaneous shortage of skilled workers, automation and robotics play an important role in the welding industry. Robots are deployed to handle the parts that need to be welded as well as perform the process. These are generally used in resistance spot welding or arc welding where there is a need for high productivity. Although robotic welding is still emerging, it was introduced during the 1980s when the automotive industry discovered that robots could be employed for spot welding. Over the years, the use of robotics in welding has evolved continually. Since 2001, there has been a steady growth in the demand for quality robotic
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devices from end-users, as welding process demands utmost concentration to develop a perfect product. Welding needs to be precise and accurate. Vikas Swami, VP, KUKA Robotics, says, “Generally welding is considered to be a labour-intensive job, which is performed in a polluted environment. In order to ensure a good weld, it calls for efficient operator skills. However, with the use of robotics in welding, one can assure quality and consistency of products. The deployment of robotics helps manufacturers to achieve better product quality and attract more skilled labourers into the industry.”
THE MYTH Generally, companies purchase robotic welding equipment with the expectation that robots will solve all their productivity
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and quality problems. But after installation, the actual results often do not meet the end-users’ need and expectations. Thus, they come to a conclusion that the company has sold them the wrong system. Agreeing to this, Swami avers, “In India, most of the industry people have the right kind of knowledge, yet use robots for wrong applications. The ultimate conclusion is that the company sold the wrong model. Therefore, before purchasing a robot, manufacturers should specify the purpose of installing the robot in their facility, so that the company can suggest the appropriate robot for a particular application.” He adds, “Such guidelines can not only prevent disappointments resulting from false expectations, but also can help make a robotic welding project more profitable and dependable.”