The Team at Navus: Forerunners of Technology Advancement

Navus

Navus has a reputation of delivering systems that work for our clients. We talk about solving client challenges regularly because it’s what we do every day! But how do we do it? We constantly look for ways to use, and even develop, the latest advanced technologies to ensure that our solutions work.

From robotics programming to bridging the gap between academic and hands-on engineering, our team takes their wealth of experience and knowledge to work with them every day of the week. They collaborate to make our solutions the best choice on the market, and think about challenges from every possible angle.

Meet Matt: Automation Technician

Matt N. recently joined the Navus team at the end of 2020, but he’s jumped right into his role creating solutions for our clients’ challenges. He’s been an impressive addition to our team, and we can’t wait to see how he continues to grow in knowledge and expertise at Navus.

Creating Something New Every Day

Navus: Describe what you do in your role at Navus.

Matt: I assemble and install electrical components as an aspect of our automation systems.

Navus: How did you end up in this career, and ultimately at Navus?

Matt: I was in the right place at the right time! In Fall of 2020, I was in my last semester of Electrical Engineering at Pellissippi State Community College. Navus came to visit our class to let us know about them and the work they do, but also to get to know us a little bit. I talked to them, and they thought I’d be a good fit at Navus, and I thought it would be a good opportunity for my career..

Navus: What’s your favorite part about your job and working at Navus?

Matt: I just like that it’s not always the same thing. Every day is a little different. Sometimes it’s similar to something I’ve done before, but oftentimes it’s something completely new. Especially for me, since I’m coming from the academic side of engineering rather than the experience side of it like some of my co-workers. It’s good for me to learn the practical side of some of the academic things that I learned about electrical engineering.

It’s also nice that Navus is a smaller company. We’re able to have input into the projects we’re working on, and to associate with everyone who’s involved with the project. I get to talk to the engineers, the project managers, the other fabricators, and the other technicians. We tend to work closely together that way to find the best multi-disciplinary solutions to the challenges that we face. I like that a lot about our company.

A Team That’s Not Afraid of Challenges

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to overcome challenges.

Matt: Everyone brings their own expertise to any challenge we face. When we look for solutions, everybody brings a different perspective based on what they know about that type of issue, what the end goal is, and how best to attain it for our client. 

We can collaborate and work together, and you end up getting input from other sides that you may not have thought about. Our team is familiar with all types of materials and the processes for fabricating them. They always bring their knowledge into play, and being a smaller operation allows us to share in those ways and come up with solutions for challenges.

Navus: What have been your favorite projects to work on?

Matt: Right now we’re working on a line that’s going to be a huge part of the future of the automobiles. It feels good to play a small part in the next generation of the automotive industry.

Navus: What do you hope for your future at Navus?

Matt: Honestly, I just like to see the robots dance. As advanced as robot technology is, and the constant advancement of the different tools we have to use with robots, we’re able to bring more and more of them into play and have greater precision with less waste and more efficiency. We create a better product for the end consumer—not only the client we’re working with, but also their ultimate client. It’s nice to be on the forefront of technology advancing.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex of Custom Automation

Navus’ team is made up of hand-picked individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to our work. One of our values as a team is the ability to collaborate and overcome any challenges our clients face. Team members like Matt are part of the reason that our high standards for the solutions and products we deliver are possible!

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help overcome your challenges through custom automation solutions, or if you’re interested in joining the Navus family, reach out to us today. You can contact us by emailing info@navusinc.com

Navus Fills Niche For Adaptive Multipass Welding

Navus

A crystal clear image from the HD camera during inspection shows 0 inclusions.

Here at Navus, multipass adaptive welding is one of our signature strengths. Having an adaptive process for welding allows us to create higher-quality joints on even the heaviest pieces. Our process has even been successful on joints with over 60 passes.

As Buck Barber, Navus’ General Manager explains:

“The team developed an algorithm that allows the system to adapt to changing joint parameters including width, position, and angle. In a sense, this allows us to hit a moving target. No one has put the technology together to do it quite this way.”

The resulting welding process is quicker, more consistent, and of higher quality.

What Is Multipass Welding?

As the name implies, multipass welding involves making multiple passes in order to weld a joint. However, this type of weld isn’t typically used for every joint you want to make. Instead, it’s reserved for when you have thick sections that need to be welded together. 

It’s also useful for:

  • Making repairs
  • Build ups
  • Surface hardfacing

Another important aspect to note is how often welds are made during this process. It’s usually best to let a weld cool after one pass before making another. 

 

Click here to download our latest white paper on increasing your productivity with new weld technology!

 

Implementing Automated Multipass Robotic Welding

Multipass welding can be a time-consuming project, especially in heavy industries. Fortunately, automated processes can help cut down on time. As one of our major clients who use parts weighing as much as 30 tons discovered, our automated systems can cut down on time by around 60%.

For this client, we used six ABB IRB 4600 robots. With three positioned on each side of the workcell and mounted on 30-meter racks, the Fronius GP tandem system makes the final touch for extremely heavy parts. 

We split the robots into two cells, working to perform tasks such as interpass:

  • Cleaning
  • Grinding
  • Removal of impurities that could affect the quality

The system is capable of maneuvering 2-inch steel plates that need to flip four times to complete the welding. The welds must reach an interpass temperature of 200-300ºC, as well as be cleaned between each pass. 

Our client provided information with their modeling software, allowing our engineers to program the parts offline using RobotStudio. This method is essential in order to achieve a project of this magnitude.

In the end, we were able to develop a system that cut our client’s manufacturing process from 28 weeks to eight. This is especially important since it involves creating one of their key components, which also drastically improves their output without any cost in quality. 

 

Click here to read more about this project!  

 

Adaptive robotic welding solutions like these are important for improving consistency and speed. Due to safety regulations, operators are given only a short period of time to work. If an operator has to switch every 15 minutes because of dangerous conditions, a wide gap is created where no value is being generated for the product. With robotics, these gaps are filled and arc-on time is maximized.

Strict ultrasonic testing requirements are needed since testing can’t be completed until the entire joint is finished. Any inclusion found in the root pass will result in the entire welding being ground out in order to be repaired. With automated multipass robotic welding, these occurrences are minimized while higher speeds allow the process to recover more quickly.

Navus — Providing Innovation in Automated Welding Since 1998

At Navus, we have years of experience with research and development as well as an on-staff weld inspector. This helps us to develop innovative solutions to solve the toughest challenges in welding. Whether you need to be able to weld in all positions, welds that stand up to the most rigorous testing, or both, we have the knowledge and experience to create a process for you.

Our solutions for multipass heavy deposition robotics include:

  • A portable robotic work cell for multiple welds in multiple positions
  • Robotic tool changes for single-torch welding, grinding, deburring, and cleaning
  • Remote operating solutions for hazardous environments to prep joints, weld, clean, and inspect
  • A T-beam welding robotic cell that reduces production time by nearly 70%
  • A custom weld cell with six robots to weld and clean odd-shaped 30-ton parts

Are you interested in how Navus can help with your automated welding needs? Contact us today to learn more!

 

Multipass adaptive welding is one of our signature strengths here at Navus. We have developed an algorithm that allows the system to adapt to changing parameters including angle, width, and position. This allows us to create processes for heavy-industry clients using parts as heavy as 30 tons, cutting down on time by around 60%.

Navus Automation, Inc., is a leading full-service automation integrator. Our world-class team has a reputation for applying ingenuity to solve complex challenges and deliver customized turn-key systems solutions. From concept to completion, Navus provides robotic welding and automation systems built upon our unwavering commitment to excellence, precision, and reliability.

 

Navus Enters A New Realm In Innovation

Navus


—By General Manager, Greg Hayzen

Since forming nearly 20 years ago, Navus has grown steadily and solidly to become a leading full-service automation integrator. The past few years have catapulted us to a new level of world-class excellence after we’ve successfully delivered seemingly impossible customized turn-key solutions to extremely difficult challenges.

Through ingenuity, our resourceful and determined team has taken on larger integration challenges and has continually succeeded in delivering robotic welding and automation systems that go above and beyond what each customer requested.

After one customer remarked that we achieved a solution that no one else ever had, we realized that we had entered a new realm in innovation. By clarifying the most complex challenges, Navus is positioned to forge the future of systems integration.

As an outward reflection of our inward growth, we’ve modernized our logo, our website, and our tagline—Forging the Future, Clarifying the Complex. We are excited about what the next 30 years might bring, and we look forward to working with you in the future.