[WHITE PAPER] Engineering The Future With Remotely Operated, Multi-Function Robotic Work Cells

Navus

Traditionally, adaptive welding robots have been used to handle low skill, repetitive tasks from a fixed location. But with the tools and features available today for offline programming, sensing, tool changing, and remote monitoring, robotic systems are gaining the flexibility and technology needed to widen the range of capabilities. This is particularly useful when the welding requirements involve extremely large metal parts located in a dangerous environment.

The unprecedented Navus system featured in this free white paper, Engineering The Future With Remotely Operated, Multi-Function Robotic Work Cells, moves the robotic welding workcell 100-feet into position in a dangerous environment while the operator works remotely from a safe location. The multi-task robot effectively preps joints, welds, provides inter-pass cleaning, and vacuums welds remotely.

By drastically reducing operator risk and increasing productivity with multi-function robotics, Navus’ system substantially reduces the prohibitive costs of time and expense of traditional methods required to achieve this vital task.

In the free white paper, you will see how this innovative robotic system:

  • Saves money and time by bringing weld cell to part.
  • Reduces safety risk of harsh work environment with remote operation.
  • Saves time by eliminating need for operator rotations every 15 minutes.
  • Reduces quality risks of weld inclusions with use of 1 operator.

To learn how this Navus system is forging the future for multi-task, remotely operated welds, read the free white paper, Engineering The Future With Remotely Operated, Multi-Function Robotic Work Cells, by clicking here to download

Founded in 1998, Navus Automation, Inc. is an industry leader in full-service custom machine building, welding, and integration solutions. We collaborate with many Fortune 500 companies in the automotive, military, agriculture, and consumer industries. Navus engineers provide exceptional robotic solutions for integrated systems that increase productivity, quality, and safety. Contact us online or call us toll free at 1 (866) 597-0750.

Automated Multipass Heavy-Deposition Robotic Welding

Navus

One of our major contracts required welding large steel sheets for shipbuilding, which is typically a time-consuming endeavor, especially considering that the parts can weigh as much as 30 tons. However, with a multipass high-deposition robotic welding technique we were able to reduce the overall process time by about 60%.

Six ABB IRB 4600 robots, three on each side of the cell mounted on 30-meter tracks, move along using a Fronius GP tandem system. The robots work within two cells to achieve interpass cleaning, grinding, and removal of any silicate that could compromise finish quality.

The workpiece is a 2”-thick steel plate that must be flipped a total of four times for the completion of welding and cleaning between each pass. The welds require an interpass temperature of 200-300ºC, and cleaning must be completed before each pass.

Our engineers used RobotStudio to program the parts offline based on our client’s modeling software. Digital manufacturing with offline programming is essential in achieving a project of this scale.

With this system, our client was able to cut their manufacturing process from a minimum of 28 weeks to eight weeks for one key component, which reduces the overall build time per set of components by approximately 60-70%. Best of all, the increased productivity doesn’t come with any costs in quality. The robotic system has been qualified to complete UT (ultrasonic testing) class welds.

This project has been key to reaffirming our reputation for applying ingenuity to solve complex challenges and deliver customized turn-key systems solutions.

Founded in 1998, Navus Automation, Inc. is an industry leader in full-service custom machine building and integration solutions. We collaborate with many Fortune 500 companies in the medical, automotive, military, and consumer industries. Navus engineers provide exceptional robotic solutions for integrated systems that increase productivity, quality, and safety.