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Costs of robotic welding power sources are huge! Right…?
And cost is the main barrier of entry for welding automation. It is too expensive for small companies to get started with robotic welding. The capital expenditure for a robotic welding cell is simply too large for the current budget and besides, robot welding only makes sense for large companies with big batch sizes…
But is that true?
What if we told you that you could use your existing manual welding power supply to get started with robotic welding? And that your new robotic welding solution comes with intuitive no-code programming software that requires minimal training of your employees and makes small batch welding profitable due to extremely quick change-over times?
All of this is possible with the SmoothTool cobot welding kit from Smooth Robotics.
Read on to learn more!
Cobot welding
Cobot welding is a type of robotic welding where you use a collaborative robot instead of a traditional industrial robot to do the welding.
Using collaborative robots for welding comes with a bunch of benefits, such as:
- Smaller footprint – No fencing or off-limit area is needed due to the inherent safety features of the collaborative robot.
- Easy to program – Unlike industrial robots that require skilled programmers to set up a new weld, the cobot welder comes with SmoothTool’s intuitive no-code welding software.
- Profitable for smaller batches – The quick changeover time makes cobot welding a viable solution for companies with smaller batch sizes.
- Low startup cost – The possibility for retrofitting combined with minimal training and fast installation, makes it a low-cost and quick way to get started with welding automation.
Retrofitting
The Retrofit Kit by Smooth Robotics allows you to easily integrate your existing power source with SmoothTool. If you have a welding power source that uses a Euro Connector, you can transform it into a powerful robotic welding unit by adding a cobot, SmoothTool, and the Retrofit Kit.
Retrofitting provides an entry-level solution for those eager to explore the realm of cobot welding, while still capitalizing on their existing manual welding power source. Our Retrofit Kit allows businesses to conveniently link their manual power source to automated welding systems, simplifying the transition with a few key components. It eliminates the challenge of adapting to a new power source.
The retrofit kit ensures a direct and efficient interface between the manual welding power source and the robot, providing an uncomplicated path towards the adoption of welding automation. Retrofitting, therefore, stands as a more affordable and simpler alternative for those looking to dip their toes into cobot welding using their existing welding power supply.
However, it’s crucial to understand that while retrofitting provides a cost-effective gateway into cobot welding, it should not be considered superior to an automatic power source. In essence, we endorse retrofitting as a means to break down barriers and ease the initiation into cobot welding. However, we also advise keeping sight of the considerable advantages that transitioning to cobot welding with an automatic power source can provide as your automation requirements progress.
How it works
Retrofit Kit consists of the connector plate, adaptor, and feedback shunt. The Connector plate comes with additional connections and sockets for digital inputs and outputs. The Adaptor fits on the euro connector between the hose and the power sources and provides the input signal from the robot. And finally, the feedback shunt is a clamp that goes on the ground cable and provides the feedback signal to the robot.
Benefits of retrofitting with your existing manual welding power source
- 1. Cost-Effective: One of the main barriers for small businesses in adopting welding automation is the cost. The Retrofit Kit helps companies to automate their welding process by using their existing welding power source, which significantly reduces the upfront costs of introducing cobot welding. The retrofitting possibility, combined with minimal training and fast installation, makes this a low-cost and quick way to start welding automation. This lower barrier to entry can make cobot welding accessible to more businesses.
- 2. Seamless Integration: The Retrofit Kit is expertly designed for effortless integration with any welding power source using the Euro Connector. Comprising a connector plate, adaptor, and feedback shunt, these components work in unison to smooth out the connection process, transforming it into an uncomplicated and efficient task. The focus is not only on compatibility but also on simplicity, ensuring that the transition to automation becomes as smooth as possible. It eliminates the need to deal with a multitude of cables, providing a straightforward method of connecting your old power source to the robot. This ease of integration reduces setup time, minimizes potential errors, and enables a quicker return to operational efficiency, all of which underline the value of the Retrofit Kit for your welding automation journey.
- 3. Revival of Old Equipment: The Retrofit Kit breathes new life into older, reliable manual welding power sources by making them compatible with modern cobot welding applications. This means businesses can significantly extend the lifespan of their existing equipment, fostering sustainability by reducing waste and saving valuable resources. This also presents a cost-effective way to modernize operations, taking advantage of the reliability and proven efficiency of older equipment. Rather than discarding and replacing, the Retrofit Kit allows you to repurpose and use your machinery, simultaneously preserving past investments while driving forward into the future of welding automation.
- 4. Prevention of New Learning Curve: With the Retrofit Kit, businesses can use their existing welding power source, avoiding the need to familiarize themselves with a new system. This means they can sidestep the time and resources typically required to learn and adapt to a new power source. This is not only cost-effective, as it eliminates the need for an additional investment, but it also enables businesses to focus on the more essential tasks at hand.
- 5. Risk Mitigation: The final but no less important advantage of the Retrofit Kit is the way it reduces the risk associated with automation. Making a significant investment in cobot welding always comes with some degree of uncertainty, especially with concerns about whether the robot will be a good fit for your specific production type, or adaptability to changes in your business environment. The Retrofit Kit alleviates a portion of this risk by eliminating the need for investing in a new power source, thus lowering the overall investment. With less capital tied up in the power source, the risk associated with such an investment is effectively diminished. Plus, the robot can always be resold, providing a viable exit strategy if your needs change in the future. In essence, the Retrofit Kit provides a safer entry point into the world of automated welding.
Manual power sources vs automatic robotic power sources
For those concerned about the costs of acquiring a new power source, it’s important to consider the viable alternative of utilizing your existing manual welding power supply. Especially for small businesses operating within budget constraints, having an easy-to-use option that capitalizes on the existing welding power supply can be absolutely essential. This is where the SmoothTool Retrofit Kit comes in.
The SmoothTool Retrofit Kit enables seamless integration of existing manual power sources into the automated welding system. This allows you to experience the benefits of automation without the need for a costly upgrade or extensive retraining. While using the manual welding power supply with the SmoothTool Retrofit Kit offers a cost-effective and convenient way to enter welding automation, it’s important to understand its limitations.
When using a manual welding power source, parameters are controlled on the power source, which means that changes on the fly are not possible unless you manually adjust them while welding. The robot’s role is confined to turning on and off the welding. This limited control and flexibility might pose challenges to operations requiring more precision and customization.
In contrast, automatic robotic welding power sources provide advanced control over welding parameters. With an automatic setup, you can make parameter changes on the fly, directly inserting where the parameters should change in the program. The ability to change jobs and parameters directly from the robot teach pendant simplifies the operation and increases efficiency. Further, automatic power sources often come with advanced features such as adaptive welding capabilities, the ability to move wire back and forward, perform gas tests, and integrated software interfaces.
As your business grows and evolves, you might consider transitioning to an automatic robotic welding power supply to unlock these possibilities. The Retrofit Kit offers a valuable steppingstone towards automation by helping to use a manual welding power supply. While manual power sources have limitations compared to automatic robotic power sources, they provide a practical starting point for businesses to experience the benefits of welding automation.
Therefore, it’s important to choose the right power source option based on your specific needs and goals and embark on your journey towards a successful welding operation. Keep in mind the relative pros and cons of manual versus automatic power sources, and choose the one that best fits your operation’s scale, budget, and technical requirements.
Conclusion
SmoothTool cobot welding kit offers an alternative cost-effective solution for small businesses to enter the world of welding automation. By retrofitting existing manual welding power supply, companies can minimize upfront costs and eliminate the need to learn a new power source. The simplified process, seamless integration, and ability to revive older equipment make welding automation accessible and efficient. With the SmoothTool kit, businesses can harness the benefits of cobot welding, increase productivity, and stay competitive in the market. Currently, we support those using Euro connectors, but we will be expanding this list soon. Stay tuned to discover exciting upcoming news!
Watch our video to see how it works!
Explore our YouTube channel for additional videos, or visit the RetroFit Kit product page to discover more about the kit. If you have any further questions, please fill out the form on our contact page.
