Smooth Robotics
WELDING AUTOMATION MADE EASY
Cobot Welding Automation
built on the power source your shop runs on
SmoothTool is the welding software behind complete cobot welding cells on Universal Robots. It is pre-integrated with nine welding power source brands, controlled from the teach pendant, and delivered by a partner near you.
Also cutting? SmoothCut adds robotic plasma cutting to the same arm.
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You cannot hire the welders you need
In the US alone, the American Welding Society projects that 320,500 new welding professionals will be needed by 2029, with more than 157,000 nearing retirement. The work does not wait for hiring to catch up.
The usual answer is a robot cell programmed by someone else. That puts a programmer between the welder and the weld, and a programmer is the other person you cannot hire. Every new part number starts the loop over again, so the cell only pays off on long runs. Most shops do not have long runs.
The welder who knows the joint teaches the cobot
Guide the torch along the seam by hand, mark the path, set the parameters and run it. The program belongs to the people who know the joint, the material and where the part will distort, so changing it does not mean calling anyone.
- Welders stay in control. No robot programmer between them and the weld.
- Consistent from the first part. The same angles, weaving and parameters applied across the whole batch.
- Less time in the worst jobs. Repetitive seams move to the cobot, and your welders move to the work that needs their judgement.
You cannot hire the welders you need
In the US alone, the American Welding Society projects that 320,500 new welding professionals will be needed by 2029, with more than 157,000 nearing retirement. The work does not wait for hiring to catch up.
The usual answer is a robot cell programmed by someone else. That puts a programmer between the welder and the weld, and a programmer is the other person you cannot hire. Every new part number starts the loop over again, so the cell only pays off on long runs. Most shops do not have long runs.
The welder who knows the joint teaches the cobot
Guide the torch along the seam by hand, mark the path, set the parameters and run it. The program belongs to the people who know the joint, the material and where the part will distort, so changing it does not mean calling anyone.
- Welders stay in control. No robot programmer between them and the weld.
- Consistent from the first part. The same angles, weaving and parameters applied across the whole batch.
- Less time in the worst jobs. Repetitive seams move to the cobot, and your welders move to the work that needs their judgement.
Standardise on any power source brand
Cobot welding packages usually come with one power source brand. SmoothTool is pre-integrated with nine: Kemppi, Miller, ESAB, OTC, Fronius, Lorch, EWM, Megmeet and Lincoln Electric. Every one of them is controlled from the teach pendant, so your welders set parameters in the same place they teach the path.
That means the cobot runs on the brand your shop already stocks spare parts for, services and knows how to set up.
Weld three ways, cut with plasma, all on the same Universal Robots arm
MIG/MAG welding with weaving, multipass, stitching, tacking and pipe welding.
TIG welding, for example with Fronius iWave.
Laser welding with IPG Lightweld, Theo and Megmeet.
Plasma cutting and weld-ready bevels with SmoothCut.
Explore the features: 3D Universe · Weaving · Touch Sense · Angle System · Surfacing · Seam Tracking · Multipass · Stitch · Tack · Offset · Profile System
Built native for PolyScope X
SmoothTool for PolyScope X is built from the ground up for UR’s new robot software rather than ported onto it, and it launched alongside UR’s g-Series robots. On g-Series arms you have the option to use UR’s Smart Panel on the arm itself, so freedrive, waypoints and weld points are taught from the panel already on the robot. A programming flange is available for shops that prefer it.
SmoothTool also runs on e-Series and earlier UR robots with PolyScope 5
A cell built around your parts, by a partner near you
Smooth Robotics makes the software. A partner in your country builds the complete cell around it: the arm size your parts need, the power source you run, and the positioner or table the job calls for. They install it, train your welders and support it in your language.
Shun Fu Enterprise was in production three weeks after implementation started. Helsinki Shipyard cut its first production parts an hour to an hour and a half after the cobot station was delivered.
What shops get out of it
Fu Zhuan Steel Accelerates High-Mix Laser Welding with SmoothTool and UR12e cobot
Fu Zhuan Steel cut laser welding training time from over a month to just 1–2 days by pairing the UR12e cobot with SmoothTool. Less complexity, more flexibility, and a workforce that can keep up with demand.
Cobot Welding & Plasma Cutting at Helsinki Shipyard: Hybrid Automation for Big Production
A 160-year-old shipyard, one hybrid cobot, two processes. See how Helsinki Shipyard automated welding and plasma cutting for piping and prefabricated parts, and had first production parts running within an hour of delivery.
Innovating Railway Manufacturing with SmoothTool Cobot Welder
Peverk Oy introduced cobot welding with SmoothTool to handle demanding railway components. Production batches that once took two weeks to weld can now be completed in about one week, improving efficiency and freeing up capacity for new development.
SmoothTool Keeps Welding Expertise Alive at Breman Machinery
At Breman Machinery in the Netherlands, craftsmanship and innovation go hand in hand.
After years of manual welding, Jacky, a seasoned welder, struggled with shoulder pain that made welding impossible. But with a Cobot powered by SmoothTool, he’s back at the workstation, producing cleaner, longer, and more consistent welds than ever before.
HJHansen Recycling Group Explores Cobot Welding for Hardfacing
At HJHansen Recycling Group, heavy machinery is essential for handling large volumes of iron and scrap metal. Central to this operation are the company’s powerful grabs, which lift, move, and transport scrap across Denmark and to international destinations.
Over time, however, the grab blades face extreme wear and tear. To keep operations running efficiently, HJHansen’s team spends significant time reinforcing these blades with hardfacing coatings.
SLM Welding School Trains the Next Generation with Cobot Welding
At Schweisstechnische Lehranstalt Magdeburg GmbH (SLM) in Germany, the mission is clear: prepare future welders not only for today’s challenges but for tomorrow’s technologies.
To meet this goal, SLM has integrated cobot welding with SmoothTool and Universal Robots into their training programs—offering students a hands-on introduction to automation that’s as intuitive as it is effective.
Quantify the Benefits and Impact
Curious how much a welding cobot could save your business? Find out in seconds with our ROI calculator.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cobot Welding?
Cobot welding, or collaborative robot welding, is an automated welding process that uses a collaborative robot (cobot) to assist welders in producing high-quality welds with greater efficiency and consistency. Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots are designed to work safely alongside human operators, offering an intuitive and flexible solution for welding automation.
With user-friendly programming and built-in safety features, cobot welding makes automation accessible to businesses of all sizes—helping to reduce labor shortages, improve weld quality, and increase productivity.
Is SmoothTool only compatible with Universal Robots?
Yes, SmoothTool is designed for Universal Robots. SmoothTool runs on e-Series and earlier UR robots with PolyScope 5, and SmoothTool X is built natively for PolyScope X, which launched alongside UR’s g-Series robots. Robots with the CB 5.6 control box can run either PolyScope 5 or PolyScope X. Older robots need a new control box to run PolyScope X, but the robot itself does not necessarily have to be replaced, and PolyScope X also needs a PolyScope X licence.
Which languages are supported by SmoothTool?
SmoothTool is available in multiple languages to ensure a seamless user experience. The software currently supports:
- English
- Spanish
- German
- French
- Italian
- Portuguese
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Danish
- Dutch
- Polish
- Swedish
- Finnish
- Czech
- Slovak
- Slovenian
- Croatian
- Hungarian
- Chinese
What is SmoothTool?
SmoothTool is a cobot welding package for Universal Robots that includes intuitive software (URCap) and a programming flange.
It simplifies advanced weld programming with features like Touch Sense, Weaving, and Multipass, boosting productivity and precision.
SmoothTool runs on Universal Robots cobots: e-Series and UR series robots on PolyScope 5 (or PolyScope X with the CB 5.6 control box), and g-Series robots on PolyScope X. UR20 needs separate hardware. It is pre-integrated with nine welding power source brands, and the RetroFit Kit connects machines with a standard Euro, Miller or Lincoln connector.
For more information, check out the SmoothTool product page
Can I purchase a complete cobot welding system from Smooth Robotics?
Smooth Robotics provides the software and programming flange (SmoothTool), but we collaborate with local distributors and integrators worldwide. They offer complete cobot welding solutions, including hardware, setup, and on-site support in your local language.
Find a local SmoothTool distributor on our Partner Map
How much does a complete cobot welding system cost?
For an exact quote, please contact your local SmoothTool distributor and provide details about your specific requirements.
If you're looking for general price estimates, you can find example pricing here: Cobot Welding Price Examples.