If you are following our blog you must have heard of Kinetiq Teaching. Even if we say that programming a welding robot is easier with Kinetiq Teaching, you probably would like to have proof to believe it, right? This is why we created a series of videos that show you how to program a welding robot using Kinetiq Teaching. Or you could come and visit one of our live demonstrations that are given periodically at different shows and expositions. The next one is listed at the end of this article.
Hand-Guiding
Kinetiq Teaching is a technology that enables you to hand-guide a welding robot through a particular welding path. By doing so, you are teaching the robot to learn the path while recording it. Once the program is completed, the robot can re-do the exact same path at your chosen speed while it is welding. The human ''teacher'' can enter into the working area while the robot is in ''teaching'' mode. This means the robot is speed restricted and cannot harm the worker. In teach mode the robot is guided by the direct movement of the human, this means the worker is controlling the speed, rotation and direction of the robot with his/her hand and the teach pendant.
Programming
Yes, the robot can be hand-guided, but just as important is the programming interface. In fact, the very visual and user friendly interface allows the worker to program: points, lines, curves and complex paths by using the teach pendant and the robot movements. There is no need for complex programming knowledge. Tasks that needed hours and hours of programming and testing to set up before are now done within a couple of minutes. This means more welders in the shop can program the automated robot.
Mechanical Fit
The technology is now combined with Motoman/Yaskawa robots. A force torque sensor is fixed between the robot flange and the welding tool. By having the force torque sensor here, the robot ''feels'' the forces that are applied after the sensor. This means that if the worker is pushing on the robot arm, nothing happens. Although, if the worker is applying forces on the tool, the robot will move really easily.
Hopefully, the videos associated with this blog post, can give you a better idea of the ease of programming available through these devices. Remember that the programming time is reduce dramatically and the needed skills are minimum. This means that you can make better use of or free up the use of your experienced welders or use less experienced workers to accomplish the same production results. Also, since it is easy to program and re-program your welding robot, think about the high mix and low volume batches that can be produced with these devices.
This system will be displayed in the Robotiq and Motoman booths at Fabtech 2014.
See the following articles for further information on automated welding.
What is the Cost of a Robotic Welding Cell
Pre-engineered Robotic Welding Systems
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