robot welding

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Hello all,I am not a welder. I don't know a thing about welding.However, a good company offered me a job with decent wages where they will teach me from scratch. However, they call it robot welding. On my interview they said I program the computer and if the piece falls out I put it back in place etc, but it is actually the machine (robot) doing the welding.I did a lot of research on the internet  but I know the best information I can get is from someone who is actually doing it or has done it in the past.So my questions would be what are pros and cons of robot welding, is it dangerous, and how exactly does it work?Any advice, any suggestions?Cliff
Reply:Originally Posted by CliffordHello all,I am not a welder. I don't know a thing about welding......... I program the computer Cliff
Reply:is it a better job than you have now?do you have a job now? anytime i've seen robots up and running no one was near them while they were running.  a pneumatic arm was actually loading a part on the welding fixture, no one was near either operation.  they actually had motion detectors around them.. i would say there is some fail safe operation you will have to do that will make sure your clear of the machinery before the process is started, much like operating a press where you have to hit a button with each hand to actuate the press, either that or possibly a cycle start button thats far enough away to get you out of harms way, maybe closing a door and the door activating a switch or something...  its hard to say when you haven't seen the actual operation..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:You likely will be loading and unloading welding stations.  Yes it is safe.  They use automated blinds that block you from the welding arc and/or they use light curtains that prevent you from reaching or walking into the danger area.  Walk in and the robotic arms stop instantly.  If you have initiative and interest you will learn to program a robotic arm.  If you do not have a head for it you will be unloading and loading for many years to come.  As a side note: once you learn how to program robotic arms you become valuable. A large tractor manufacturing plant locally had one arm in full production.  When they moved the arm out of that plant and made it "assembly and paint only" the operator was offerred a move to another plant if he wanted.  I don't know if he accepted or decided to stay put.
Reply:Originally Posted by bruceris it a better job than you have now?do you have a job now?
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanYou likely will be loading and unloading welding stations.  Yes it is safe.  They use automated blinds that block you from the welding arc and/or they use light curtains that prevent you from reaching or walking into the danger area.  Walk in and the robotic arms stop instantly.  If you have initiative and interest you will learn to program a robotic arm.  If you do not have a head for it you will be unloading and loading for many years to come.  As a side note: once you learn how to program robotic arms you become valuable. A large tractor manufacturing plant locally had one arm in full production.  When they moved the arm out of that plant and made it "assembly and paint only" the operator was offerred a move to another plant if he wanted.  I don't know if he accepted or decided to stay put.
Reply:Hey Cliff,Just some mental fodder to contemplate from an 'ol-timer. First, be quite thankful to get a job, especially nowadays, that starts you @$20/hr & not indicate any pre-requisites. This is a golden opportunity for you to learn the newest technologies related to welding & robotics...... it IS the future within the production arena as it is the most cost-effective & profitable application for any company producing multiple items.Robotics in welding is simply a computer directing the robotic motion, feed, heat & material manipulation in a controlled environment to produce repetitive consistency. It is much faster/efficient than a manual weldor. Your having the opportunity for the company to take a chance with you shows they feel you may become an asset that will maintain their profitability to stay in business & possibly expand. This would also be another opportunity for you to advance within the company & may render you in a foreman/trainer position that would definitely increase your value to the company & thus a salary increase. Also, to your advantage, would be to learn some basic welding processes to get a familiarization of metallic fusion if you are inexperienced.Anyway, it's all in your hands how far you want to go & the level of hunger you have to maintain a good job with a steady income & learn everything you can. Simply ask yourself: "How bad do I want it?"DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:If I were in your position, I would probably have already broken my arm trying to get the phone to call the company back asking when they want me to start.  I'm surprised they aren't requiring a degree in computer programming or a manual weld test of some type for that high of a starting wage.
Reply:Originally Posted by yorkiepapHey Cliff,Just some mental fodder to contemplate from an 'ol-timer. First, be quite thankful to get a job, especially nowadays, that starts you @$20/hr & not indicate any pre-requisites. This is a golden opportunity for you to learn the newest technologies related to welding & robotics...... it IS the future within the production arena as it is the most cost-effective & profitable application for any company producing multiple items.Robotics in welding is simply a computer directing the robotic motion, feed, heat & material manipulation in a controlled environment to produce repetitive consistency. It is much faster/efficient than a manual weldor. Your having the opportunity for the company to take a chance with you shows they feel you may become an asset that will maintain their profitability to stay in business & possibly expand. This would also be another opportunity for you to advance within the company & may render you in a foreman/trainer position that would definitely increase your value to the company & thus a salary increase. Also, to your advantage, would be to learn some basic welding processes to get a familiarization of metallic fusion if you are inexperienced.Anyway, it's all in your hands how far you want to go & the level of hunger you have to maintain a good job with a steady income & learn everything you can. Simply ask yourself: "How bad do I want it?"Denny
Reply:Originally Posted by JoshDIf I were in your position, I would probably have already broken my arm trying to get the phone to call the company back asking when they want me to start.  I'm surprised they aren't requiring a degree in computer programming or a manual weld test of some type for that high of a starting wage.
Reply:Clifford, the term programming is kind of misleading when used in configuration of a motion control system like 'robotic welding' or CNC anything.The main functions are already "programmed" by someone who wrote the actual code in a 'machine language'. What they mean by the term "programming" is really to learn to configure some values that apply to a given weld or movement.What this will consist of is learning to plan movements using beginning and end points and 'teach' or show the robot arm where to move for different steps in the 'program'.This could also be described a creating a sequence of events that call up movements and actions which are already in the robotic arm's 'library' or 'memory'. When the term "programming" is used it might be more accurately described as "entering values to call up moves within a sequence" and that is more or less what a 'program' is.By showing an NC controller what is 'begin' and 'end' the machine can repeat that step; very exactly. Then the welding is simply turning on and off the power supply and perhaps (but not necessarily) adjusting the welding amperage, wire feed, angle of the head to work and other adjustments.What it sounds like you're doing is learning to operate a welding 'cell' or welding station.The difference between that and "learning to weld by hand" is that the robot is not going to have to learn to hold the torch steady- it is steady.  The robotic arm will not need to learn to move at an even speed, it will move evenly at any speed you configure.  Although you may have to speed it up or slow it down if the weld travel is not matched to the wire feed speed...But you will not have to learn to do with your own hands the work of fusing metal with an electric arc- instead you'll be adjusting a series of values or parameters to guide a machine to do the welds.This is very safe, and will allow you to have a great job but you won't be able to convert the job skill to building a gate for the house or a trailer for your boat.In most PLC/NC controlled arms there is an interface screen that you 'tell' the machine what to do. You tell it to 'listen up' then; 'this is the start' and; 'this is the end' and so on.  So the word programming is not the same word as used if you were getting a job for MicroSoft creating C++ code to become the new MicroSoft Office programs.Good luck with your new job,CheersKevin Morin
Reply:To program a robotic weld, You pick up the teach pendent and run the weld head from start to finish at a very very slow speed, Adjusting height and angles as you go. Store the program . ready to weld, call up program and press play button on the cell and step back.Some cells have you loading the back side of the two sided table while the robot is welding on the other. Most operators Don't just stand there watching the robot weld. The few places I have seen in operation The operator is always doing some thing. Putting parts away to getting ready for the next weld sequence. Loading the table and tack welding the parts together first.