{"id":81010,"date":"2024-10-11T13:13:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T18:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/?p=81010"},"modified":"2025-07-15T14:41:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T19:41:20","slug":"universal-robots-expands-beyond-the-welding-cart-at-fabtech-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/videos\/universal-robots-expands-beyond-the-welding-cart-at-fabtech-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Universal Robots Expands \u2018Beyond the Welding Cart\u2019 at FABTECH 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

The line between traditional automation and collaborative robots continues to grey as cobots take on more advanced welding tasks. Since\u00a0Universal Robots<\/a>\u00a0(UR) introduced North America\u2019s first cobot welder at FABTECH 2017, cobot welding has come a long way in a short time.<\/p>\n

\u201cUR cobots started out predominantly in air-cooled MIG welding solutions placed on carts,\u201d says Will Healy III, global industry leader of welding at Universal Robots. \u201cNow we see cobots take on heavier duty and more advanced tasks such as TIG, laser, and spot welding, along with plasma- and oxyfuel cutting.\u201d<\/p>\n

At\u00a0Universal Robots\u2019 FABTECH booth #4755<\/a>, attendees will also witness UR cobots \u2018going beyond the cart,\u2019 expanding the work envelope. he show is the launchpad for dual-axis cobot welding with coordinated motion through the cobot\u2019s own controller. \u201cHaving the cobot sync up with a rotary positioner or a linear rail, timing it within milliseconds, means our customers can now weld parts they normally couldn\u2019t weld efficiently because they\u2019d either have to stop and manually move the part, or weld it at two different times,\u201d explains Healy.<\/p>\n

A FABTECH first<\/strong>
\nThe new capabilities are possible through UR\u2019s new\u00a0MotionPlus<\/a>\u00a0package that enables UR\u2019s welding partners to add dual-axis coordinated motion capabilities to their own solutions. \u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first time multi-axis cobot welding with coordinated motion is showcased in North America,\u201d says Healy.<\/p>\n

Vectis Automation<\/a>\u00a0is one of the first UR partners to leverage MotionPlus, launching the RevoTM<\/sup>\u00a0Dual Axis system at FABTECH. The new multi-axis positioning method can tackle more complex multi-faceted parts and excel in situations where the fabricator needs to get parts in position relative to gravity. Vectis will also showcase QuickTeach and AI Path Optimization; QuickTeach allows the cobot champion to teach points and optimize paths right at the torch. AI Path Optimization applies user-defined work angles, push\/pull angles, and smoothed corner transitions to the weld path – ensuring the weld is always created according to the procedure specifications.<\/p>\n

THG Automation<\/a>\u00a0will demonstrate multi-axis welding for the first time as well, their THG Multi-motion features a dual-axis skyhook with a part welded by a UR cobot mounted on a rail, all working in unison. THG is also launching the THG-Multi-Op; two all-in-one systems, one for MIG\/TIG and one for cutting and welding, each system has a tool changer that allows the operator to easily switch between applications. Other new THG products at the show include a laser welding system and a new mobile base that gives the user flexibility to bring the system up to unusual sized parts.<\/p>\n

PolyScope X redefines automation software
\n<\/strong>Having pioneered ease-of-use in cobot welding with the innovative Beacon-teaching app,\u00a0Hirebotics<\/a>\u00a0is one of the first UR partners to leverage UR\u2019s new\u00a0PolyScope X<\/a>\u00a0platform, implementing Beacon on the UR cobot\u2019s teach pendant in addition to iOS, Android, and any web-based device. Welders can now get instant in-app support through the UR the teach pendant, watch instructional videos, and teach the cobot even complex welds in minutes. New advanced Hirebotics cobot welding features include Enhanced Stitch Welding; delivering the ability to stitch weld through complex paths and Fine Tune; allowing precise adjustments in torch angles and weld points, making it accessible for welders to optimize their work.<\/p>\n

Cobot welding on the move
\n<\/strong>\u201cLeaping off of the cart entirely, the lightweight and easily redeployable UR cobot is expanding onto new production floors through cobot portability,\u201d shares Healy. \u201cWith portable cobots, welders in industries left out of automation like ship building and construction now have access to a powerful tool to improve productivity and eliminate boring repetitive work. Welders no longer need to be contortionists bending into uncomfortable positions to reach the joint for long hours each day.\u201d<\/p>\n

New innovative deployment of cobot welders includes the\u00a0Inrotech-Crawler<\/a>\u00a0making its FABTECH debut, featuring UR\u2019s smallest UR3 cobot placed on a carriage running on a flexible rail system fixed to the substrate. The Inrotech-Crawler specializes in butt-weld connections and multi-pass welding, regardless of the shape or orientation. The robot continuously adjusts the welding parameters according to its changing position (e.g. around a pipe).<\/p>\n

Another mobile cobot welder making a premiere at FABTECH is Hyundai Welding\u2019s\u00a0portable cobot welding system<\/a>. Hyundai Welding has worked with the world\u2019s largest and most advanced shipyards to develop an agile solution addressing the tight working environments in welding sections, especially inside-block welding of the ship\u2019s hull.<\/p>\n

Cobots in press brake tending, finishing, and laser restoration
\n<\/strong>Welding is not the only task expertly handled by cobots at FABTECH. Alongside demos from Hirebotics, and Vectis Automation, UR\u2019s own booth features the following partner solutions:<\/p>\n

The robotic machine tending system\u00a0AutoTend<\/a>\u00a0from Mid Atlantic Machinery, a press brake integration solution featuring a UR10e cobot. AutoTend will bend a candy dish part from type 304 stainless steel. The demo will showcase Mid Atlantic\u2019s patented rotary end-of-arm tooling while demonstrating the ability of the cobot to bend complex parts while interacting directly with the press brake touch screen control.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Smart Finishing Workcell<\/a>\u00a0from Cohesive Robotics, a game-changer for automated surface finishing tasks. At the show, Cohesive Robotics will demonstrate autonomous scanning and on-the-fly programming of a UR cobot to simulate various finishing processes in the booth. Designed for high-mix manufacturing operations, the work cell leverages machine vision and AI to perform common material removal and surface finishing processes on nearly any part, of any quantity, and with no programming required.<\/p>\n

Advanced Laser Restoration<\/a>\u00a0will be showcasing the next generation of laser cleaning technology, highlighting the seamless integration of advanced laser cleaning systems with robotic automation. By pairing laser cleaning technology with the agility of Universal Robots’ systems, Advanced Laser Restoration automates surface preparation tasks such as rust and coating removal with pinpoint accuracy, reducing downtime and enhancing productivity.<\/p>\n

For attendees looking for a guided, insightful introduction to the many new fabricating applications and solutions powered by UR cobots, Universal Robots is hosting Cobot Walks at FABTECH<\/a> for the first time. The focused tour introduces participants to live demonstrations, expert insights, future trends, networking opportunities, and interactive Q&As.<\/p><\/div>\n

About Universal Robots<\/h2>\n

Universal Robots is a global leader in collaborative robotics (cobots), used across a wide range of industries. Our mission is simple: Automation for anyone. Anywhere. With over 90,000 cobots sold worldwide, our user-friendly platform is supported by intuitive PolyScope software, award-winning training, comprehensive services, and the world\u2019s largest cobot ecosystem, delivering innovation and choice to our customers. Universal Robots is part of Teradyne Robotics, a division of Teradyne (NASDAQ:TER), a leading supplier of automatic test equipment and advanced robotics technology.<\/p>\n

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Industrial Machinery Digest<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The line between traditional automation and collaborative robots continues to grey as cobots take on more advanced welding tasks. Since\u00a0Universal Robots\u00a0(UR) introduced North America\u2019s first cobot welder at FABTECH 2017, cobot welding has come a long way in a short time. \u201cUR cobots started out predominantly in air-cooled MIG welding solutions placed on carts,\u201d says […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1337,"featured_media":81013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13280,1455,13226,13534,13228,19],"tags":[3401,4492],"class_list":{"0":"post-81010","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bins-carts","8":"category-imd","9":"category-robotics","10":"category-safety","11":"category-software","12":"category-videos","13":"tag-fabtech","14":"tag-universal-robots"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1337"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81010"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81010\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/industrialmachinerydigest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}