9 Welding Robots to Watch From Fabtech 2021

FANUC CR-15iA

At Fabtech 2021, FANUC demonstrated its CR-15iA cobot, which enables welders to address gap conditions of 9 to 1.5 mm (0.35 to 0.05 in.) between workpieces. The cobot uses FANUC seam-tracking software with the Fuji-Cam 2.0 sensor, which communicates the gap conditions to the robot.

It can then perform adaptive welding. The adaptive process can change weaving amplitude, weave frequency, travel speed, wire feed speed, trim, as well as positional bias in X,Y,Z directions.

The demonstration featured the Lincoln Electric Power WaveR450 robotic power source with the advanced module using the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) pulse process.

At Fabtech 2021, cobot vendors displayed the latest features and accessories for automated welding, as shops struggle with worker shortages exacerbated by the pandemic.

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