Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

welding

Hirebotics develops new robotic welding system

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Hirebotics has developed a new robotic welding system using Universal Robots machines.

The new for-hire BotX Welder – developed by Hirebotics and utilizing Universal Robots’ UR10e collaborative robot arm – lets manufacturers automate arc welding with no capital investment, handling even small batch runs not feasible for traditional automation.

Nowhere in manufacturing is the shortage of labor felt as urgently as in the welding sector, which is now facing an acute shortage of welders nationwide. [Read more…] about Hirebotics develops new robotic welding system

New lasers can weld ceramics without furnace, claim scientists

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Smartphones that don’t scratch or shatter. Metal-free pacemakers. Electronics for space and other harsh environments.

These could all be made possible thanks to a new ceramic welding technology developed by a team of engineers at the University of California San Diego and the University of California Riverside.

The process, published in the August 23 issue of Science, uses an ultrafast pulsed laser to melt ceramic materials along the interface and fuse them together. [Read more…] about New lasers can weld ceramics without furnace, claim scientists

Kuka receives large order from Donghee for robotic welding systems

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Industrial robot manufacturer Kuka says it has received an order in the “single-digit million euro range” from the Korean automotive supplier Donghee Industrial.

The order was booked in the second quarter of 2019.

Donghee relies on robot-based friction stir welding from Kuka in the area of electric mobility. [Read more…] about Kuka receives large order from Donghee for robotic welding systems

Collaborative robots working with human welders in manufacturing, says Novarc

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Collaborative robots are working with human welders in manufacturing, according to Canada-based robotics company Novarc Technologies, a company which has built a robot specifically for pipe welding. 

Welding is one of the biggest applications for robots, particularly in the automotive industry.

According to the International Federation of Robotics, approximately half of all robotic arms sold in the US are bought by the automotive manufacturing sector, and around one-third of those robots are used for welding. [Read more…] about Collaborative robots working with human welders in manufacturing, says Novarc

Omron releases full metal proximity sensor for auto industry

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Omron Corporation has launched the E2EW Series of Full Metal Proximity Sensors, which have the world’s longest sensing distances, the company claims.

The automotive industry needs lighter automobiles, for electric vehicles and low fuel consumption, encouraging the material change in automotive components from iron to aluminium.

This will increase mixed production lines containing iron and aluminium. Full metal proximity sensors are mainly used in welding processes. However, previous full metal proximity sensors have short sensing distances.

[Read more…] about Omron releases full metal proximity sensor for auto industry

355 welding robots at new Byton car plant in China

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Byton, the electric vehicle maker, has announced it will complete its Round C fundraising in mid-2019 with support from multiple investors and shared further details of its Nanjing factory.

Construction of the plant, which started in September 2017, is nearing completion and trial production of the M-Byte SUV will start in the third quarter of 2019.

The installation and commissioning of key equipment has already begun in the five major workshops: stamping, paint, welding, battery, and assembly.

[Read more…] about 355 welding robots at new Byton car plant in China

ARC Specialties selects Universal Robots for new AI-based pipe-welding system

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ARC Specialties says it has solved the challenge of creating repeatable full penetration pipe welds by combining artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and the UR5 collaborative robot from Universal Robots. (See video below.)

The “unique” Artificial Intelligence Pipe Welding System debuts at ARC Specialties’ booth 705 at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, May 6-9.

The toughest welds to make are full penetration, single sided, V butt, pipe welds.

[Read more…] about ARC Specialties selects Universal Robots for new AI-based pipe-welding system

Alstom commissions the highest-capacity welding robot in the railway industry

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Alstom‘s Le Creusot site in France has unveiled the highest-capacity welding robot in the railway sector, developed and manufactured by its supplier Farman, a subsidiary of the Galilé group, which specialises in robotic installations.

This investment in innovation of over a million euros is aligned with the development strategy for the Alstom site in Le Creusot, the group’s centre of excellence for bogie design and production.

The site’s expertise is deployed in major rail projects such as the new-generation RER and Avelia Horizon, the fifth generation of TGV.

[Read more…] about Alstom commissions the highest-capacity welding robot in the railway industry

Sunstone Welders launches smart welding systems

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Sunstone Welders is launching a whole new line of smart micro resistance welding systems. The Sunstone Capacitive Discharge Dual Pulse Advanced (CDDP-A) welding systems are production ready with feedback, reporting, and full weld head control.

The CDDP-A is equipped with an 8″ full colour touch screen display. The CDDP-A interface provides an easy way for users to adjust production settings, including multiple PLC protocols, cloning options, weld monitoring, and SPC tools. In addition, the welding results are visible on the screen as the weld is completed and results can be exported to any computer.

Capacitive Discharge welding is an ideal solution for micro welding or joining. CD Welding is highly repeatable, can achieve quick energy release for welding highly conductive metals, and is not affected by line voltage fluctuations.

ABB to acquire AB Rotech to expand automotive welding solutions

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ABB is to acquire AB Rotech, a privately-owned company headquartered in Bursa, Turkey, with nearly 20 years of extensive experience in robotic welding solutions and services for the automotive industry.

The expertise of AB Rotech’s engineering team covers the entire robotics welding lifecycle, from design and commissioning to electrical engineering and customer service.

The parties agreed to not disclose the value of the acquisition. The acquisition is subject to regulatory clearance and is expected to close later this year.

[Read more…] about ABB to acquire AB Rotech to expand automotive welding solutions