Is robot welding something new? Can robot welding meet all kinds of welding needs? Does robot welding only have benefits? Will welding robots replace humans in welding work? If you are clear with the evolution of robotic welding, you will know these answers are no. Today, we will trace the history of robot welding, analyze the changes that robot welding has brought to the welding field, and predict the future trend of robot welding.

Content:

I. A Brief History of Robot Welding

II. Changes that Robot Welding Brought

III. Future Prediction of Robot Welding

IV. Megmeet Robotic Welding Machine

I. A Brief History of Robot Welding

In 1962, robot Unimation 001, invented by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger, performed spot welding work in General Motors’ automobile plant - the UNIMATE, which is the first time that robot welding came to the public.

In the second half of the 20th century, electric welding processes became very highly automated. Special robots have been developed that operate without human involvement. In the 1980s, robotic welding systems were widely praised in the automotive industry and began to gain popularity.

Subsequently, robot welding was widely used in many other fields, such as metal manufacturing, greatly improving the production efficiency of the manufacturing industry. More productive machines such as robots with advanced motion control and 3D vision, are being introduced.

II. Changes that Robot Welding Brought

As welding processes of manual welding are dangerous and the welding qualities are not guaranteed, welding work is time-consuming and laborious, and an engineering project can take many welders months or even years to complete. However, the application of industrial robots in the welding field completely solved these problems in industrial production and fabrication.

1. Higher welding efficiency

Welding robots will not be tired, need no rest, and can carry out 24 hours of high-intensity repetitive work, so their efficiency is higher and working hours is shorter as compared to manual welding.

2. Higher Welding Accuracy

Manual welding is affected by many factors such as the welding site environment and the welder's physical condition, so the welding accuracy cannot be guaranteed. However, robot welding can work without interference when the machine quality is good, and the accuracy and consistency of welding quality are ensured.

3. Higher Welding Security

Welding is a dangerous process with a high injury rate. Welding robots use a variety of tools other than manual equipment to weld, which greatly reduces the risk of injury during welding, so using robots instead of humans can improve welding safety.

4. Lower Welding Cost

With the evolution of robot technology, it seems reasonable to use robots rather than humans in production, in terms of cost. This is mainly due to the higher production efficiency and accuracy of robot welding, reducing the cost of working hours and rework costs. On the other hand, the use of welding robots can save welder training costs.

5. Less Resource Waste

Robot welding has higher accuracy and welding performance is high, thus the finished welds need less rework, greatly reducing the waste of resources.

6. Replace Part Welding Work

Industrial robots integrated with electric welding machines can replace human welders for welding work, but robots are essentially machines operated by intelligent systems, requiring professional operators to program the controllers, set new procedures for the equipment, change process parameters, and move the robotic arms as needed. As a result, robotic welding will replace some but not all welding jobs.

III. Future Prediction of Robot Welding

Although robots can complete resistance welding, arc welding, argon arc welding, MIG welding, spot welding, laser welding, plasma welding, and other welding processes, for some types of welding needs, manual welding is still very needed, robot welding can not meet all welding requirements. In the need to quickly change the welding process, the need to adapt to the situation, professional welders are still the best choice. Robots are not advanced enough to adapt so quickly to the needs of the jobs.

Robot arc welding will be used more and more widely. You can't deny the fact that it can produce a lot of products through improved automation. Things can only get better and faster from here. But don't worry, real on-site welders are still needed, as there is plenty of room for old-fashioned welders.

At present, robot welding is only a part of various industrial welding work projects. However, we expect that as innovation continues, the use of robot technology will increase. Expected industrial innovations are ease of use and the ability to work with other machines. 

IV. Megmeet Robotic Welding Machine

Robotic welding is gaining more popularity in industrial manufacturing and may replace multiple manual welding jobs. Suppose you want to buy robotic welding equipment or machines to maximize robotic welding efficiency. In that case, you can take MEGMEET （one of the best welding machine designers and manufacturers in China, committed to providing high-performance industrial heavy-duty inverter Co2/MMA/MIG/MAG/TIG welding equipment and robotic welding power source for customers） welding machine into consideration, and consult Megmeet's professional sales manager by clicking: http://www.wenceng.cn/en/contacts. You can collect Megmeet News Center Page or follow our LinkedIn page to learn more welding tips. 

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