Why Manufacturers Automate Welding
Welding capacity is often limited by the skilled labor available to do the work. Repeatable seams can consume hours that experienced welders could spend on fit-up, inspection, complex joints, and other work that requires their expertise. Welding automation helps manufacturers increase capacity by shifting repeatable welding to a cobot, allowing more work to move through production without relying on additional welding labor.
Get More From Your Skilled Welding Team
Certified welders are hard to find and harder to keep. A welding cobot takes repetitive passes off their plate, freeing them to focus on the work that needs their skills instead of spending hours on welds a machine can handle.
A welding cobot follows the same programmed weld path and parameters cycle after cycle, holding torch position, speed, and arc settings steady for tight, consistent, and repeatable welds. Cobots can also be reprogrammed for different compatible weldments, making welding automation practical for high-mix, lower volume shops as well as higher volume production.
How Welding Automation Helps Manufacturers
More Consistent Weld Quality
Maintain programmed torch paths and welding parameters from weld to weld, reducing variation and rework on repeatable parts.
Increases Safety
Keep operators further from heat, arc exposure, fumes, and awkward welding positions.
Free Up Skilled Welders
Let experienced welders focus on fit-up, parameter optimization, complex welds, and quality control instead of repetitive seams.
Flexible for High-Mix Work
Reprogram and redeploy the same cobot between compatible weldments as jobs change.
Increase Welding Capacity
Keep repeatable welds moving through production while your team handles loading, setup, inspection, and more complex welding work.
Reduce Rework and Scrap
More repeatable torch position and travel speed help cut down on inconsistent welds.
Lower Your Cost Per Weld
The ROI of welding automation goes beyond labor savings. Increased capacity, more consistent quality, less rework and scrap, and better use of skilled labor can all help lower production costs and increase the value of every welding hour.
Common Welding Robot Applications
Collaborative robots can automate a range of welding processes, from everyday MIG work and precision TIG welding to pipe, tube, and structural fabrication. Here are some of the most common welding applications. Contact Cobot Team today with any questions regarding your specific operational needs.
MIG/MAG Arc Welding
MIG welding is one of the most common cobot welding applications, versatile enough to handle repeatable welds on steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Cobots run the same weld path and process parameters cycle after cycle, helping automate brackets, enclosures, frames, and other fabricated components while freeing skilled welders from repetitive welding tasks.
TIG Welding
TIG welding demands precise control over torch movement and process variables, making repeatable TIG welding applications a strong fit for automation. Cobots provide controlled, repeatable torch movement for stainless steel assemblies, tubing, thin gauge components, and other work where weld precision, quality, consistency, and appearance are vital.
Pipe Welding
Pipe welding depends on holding a consistent travel speed and torch angle through a full rotation around the joint, which makes it a strong fit for pipe welding automation. A robotic pipe welder paired with a welding positioner can maintain that circumferential path automatically, rotating the part while the torch stays fixed in position, something that's hard to hold steady by hand for a full shift. This kind of pipe welding robot setup covers pipe assemblies, manifolds, exhaust components, handrails, tube frames, and other tubular fabrications.
Frame & Structural Fabrication
Equipment frames, carts, racks, bases, skids, and trailers often call for the same welds across every unit in a run, making them a good fit for robotic welding. This includes beam welding automation and other repeatable welds on structural components. A cobot can take on that repeatable structural welding, freeing skilled welders to focus on fit-up, complex joints, and work that needs their expertise.
More Welding Processes, One Flexible Platform
Cobots can also be equipped for more specialized joining processes, including resistance spot, laser, and plasma welding. Talk to us about your specific process and equipment to find the right fit for your operation.
Two Ways to Build Your Welding Cell
Cobot Team fits the welding cell to your shop, not the other way around. Depending on your equipment and application, we can integrate around what you already have or build a complete welding cell.
Build Around Your Existing Equipment
Already have a welding power source, torch, fixtures, or welding table you want to keep? Cobot Team can integrate a cobot around compatible equipment already in your shop.
Fully Integrated Welding Cells
For a complete system, Cobot Team can design and integrate the welding cell around your application, including the cobot, welding power source, torch, wire feeder, controls, welding platform, and other required equipment.
Is a Welding Robot Right for Your Operation?
Best Fit When:
May Be More Challenging When:
Weld paths are repetitive
Parts can be fixtured or presented consistently
You're facing a shortage of certified welders
You want skilled welders focused on setup, quality, and more complex work
Production volume justifies weld programming
Parts vary widely or are one-off/custom
Welds require constant operator judgement during the process
Production volume is very low
Best Welding Robot Brands
Cobot Team offers welding robots from leading manufacturers, matched to your application and production requirements. Explore each brand to compare payloads, reach, features, and welding capabilities, or contact us for help selecting the right fit.
FANUC
Proven for demanding industrial production
FANUC welding cobots range from the compact CRX-5iA up to the higher-payload CRX-20iA/L. Cobot Team's recommended welding platform, the CRX-10iA/L, is built for high-volume production and demanding manufacturing environments, with a 22 lb payload and 56 in reach for CNC and welding applications that need flexibility.
Dobot
Flexible automation with exceptional value
Best for manufacturers looking for a cost-effective, flexible welding solution with fast deployment and easy operation. The CR10A is the base robot for DOBOT's purpose-built Mobile Welding Platform, ideal for everyday MIG/MAG work, with the CR20A available for larger workpieces and heavier fabrication.
Why Choose Cobot Team?
An Automation Partner, Not Just a Robot Supplier
Whether you're automating your first welding cell or expanding automation across multiple facilities, Cobot Team provides the expertise and support to help you move forward with confidence.
Strategic, Phased Approach
Start with one application, demonstrate ROI, and expand automation at a pace that fits your operation.
Experienced Integration Team
From solution design and robot integration to programming and commissioning, we deliver automation systems ready for production.
DOBOT System Integrator
As a Dobot Distributor and Integrator, Cobot Team is highly experienced in designing, integrating, programming, and supporting Dobot welding solutions, including the CR10A and CR5A mobile welding platforms, with the CR20A available for larger workpiece welding.
Application Focused Solutions
We evaluate your manufacturing process and recommend the collaborative robots, end-of-arm tooling, and accessories that best fit your application.
Long-Term Support
Our team provides programming, training, technical support, and service to help you get the most from your automation investment. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Cobot Team provides nationwide remote and on site support as needed.
Authorized FANUC Integrator
As an Authorized FANUC Integrator, Cobot Team is highly experienced in designing, integrating, programming, and supporting FANUC welding automation, including the CRX-10iA/L for standard arc welding and the CRX-30iA for larger workpieces and laser welding.
