Quebec-based Robotiq, a robot components manufacturer, has introduced a bolt-on-device with which welders and machinists can guide a robot’s end-effector with their hands and intuitively train the robot through welding trajectories.

The device, called Kinetiq Teaching, is a new robot accessory which can be fastened to the end linkage of a robotic arm. It can record the position for spot and line welds according to the robot’s workspace. Kinetiq Teaching will be launched on Yaskawa Motoman welding robots.

Samuel Bouchard, president of Robotiq, said, “Robotiq has designed Kinetiq Teaching to be a user-friendly solution, simple and intuitive, that can save robot down-time and allow every job shop the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of using a robotic welder.”

This accessory eliminates need for programming knowledge for robotic welding. Welders and machinists will be able to guide the robot arm or welding tip through its workflow by physically hand-guiding the end-effector. The welding parameters can be adjusted with buttons on the teach pendant interface. Welders can designate spot welds, line welds, speeds, and approach angles. using the teach pendant and also test the setting.

The advantages of the intuitive teaching method are precise teaching of welding trajectories to the robot by hand-guiding the torch through the welding path; setting short runs quickly and easily; reducing robot programming time and making robot programming simple and intuitive for any user, said officials.

Robotic welding is widely used in job shops and by contract manufacturers as few well experienced welders can control the productivity of many robotic welders at the same time. Machinists can fix the next batch of parts while the welder can supervise the quality of welds in the existing batch and adjust weld parameters if required.

Also, the welder can perform the first welds by hand to get an idea of the best welding process for the work piece so that he can effectively train the robot to repeat the action on many jobs. The welder need not write a single line of code or learn programming techniques.

In related news, LoadWorld robotic solution was introduced in 2012 as a pre-engineered standard robot solution for machine tending that can be integrated with new or existing machines. Robotic automation of the machining process improves productivity by reducing loading/unloading time. More parts are produced in less time due to improved spindle utilization.

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