Top 5 Things to Consider When Investing in a Collaborative Robot ...

Note: Price is not mentioned below but hopefully what’s described will help you determine whether the price you are quoted truly provides good value, and when comparing systems, are you comparing apples to apples.

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1)     Collaborative Robot Platform

Over the last few years, the number of manufacturers entering the COBOT space has grown.  Most of the traditional robot manufacturers have developed their own offerings and many have been adapted for welding applications.  How does one differentiate between them? 

One of the most important questions to ask is whether it is a proven platform.  How many have been deployed in the field and have had success?  The road to acceptance for collaborative robots as a viable technology hasn’t always been a smooth one and many hard lessons have been learned along the way.  Many of these lessons are unique to collaborative robot technology.  Has the platform you are considering been around long enough to have those wrinkles ironed out and best practices baked into its design?

These best practices also factor into the programming interface.  Is it logically laid out, with intuitive menus and prompts, or are there multiple layers of menus requiring you to navigate deep for the parameter you are looking for while decoding cryptic codes.  One of the promises of collaborative robots is that they are easy to use and deploy.  One should feel confident in being able to program it to weld.

2)     Functionality/Options/Features

You’re exploring this technology for a reason.  You want to see productivity gains as well as potential quality and consistency improvement.  The point and weld functionality that most COBOT welding solutions offer does make life easier and does improve productivity.  However, if you really want to get the solution to realize ROI it’s the added features that get you there.  Features such as through the arc seam tracking allows the solution to be more forgiving of upstream shortcomings to ensure trigger time is used to produce high quality output and not scrap (not to mention reduce or eliminate the need for rework).  Same goes for multi pass and pattern tools.  Not everyone has the type of production that warrants all these tools, however, if you do, the benefits will be well worth the investment.

Auto TCP (Tool Center Point) is another function that shouldn’t be overlooked.  If you plan on retaining and reusing programs over time this will be a definite benefit.  It’s important to have the welder calibrated (TCP) to the weld wire to ensure consistent results.  After numerous bumps against the welding gun over time calibration (TCP) may go off slightly.  If you load a previous program and run it out of calibration you may not get the results you anticipated.  You can reprogram the weld pattern in the current calibration but that defeats the purpose of saving programs in the first place.

When it comes to productivity you can also look outside the COBOT welder.  Does the OEM provide a suite of deployment methods such as a boom or cart for larger and remote welding work?  The beauty of COBOT welding is that you can bring the welder to the workpiece, and you’re not necessarily confined to the immediate reach of the arm.  Not everyone will need these alternate deployments, however.  Knowing that an OEM has developed and offers them shows that they really understand different welding environments and are conscious of trying to get their customers to maximize the utility of their investment.  You plan to grow your business and partnering with an OEM that can support you along that path is important.

3)     Levels of Service

As with all capital equipment purchases, the level of support one can expect from an OEM and associated Channel Partner is important.  This goes for the equipment itself and any other support you might need.

For the equipment, is there a robust infrastructure or network of support for the COBOT as well as the power unit?  This will help determine how quickly you get back up and running should there be a problem.

Does the OEM continuously improve and enhance their solution with relevant functionality?  This goes back to the previous point, the more functions the system can perform, the more potential return the system can provide.

Does the OEM offer any other services such as reach studies, do welding/cutting samples or custom options like drop carbide, for example.  If this is your first time investing in automation, having an OEM work with real life samples/CAD drawings and document results can give you the confidence the solution will be effective.

It seems cliché today that companies are looking to establish relationships instead of simply transacting.  In this case I would argue it’s critically important to partner with an OEM that drives innovation and is committed to your success.  In many cases this solution will be a fabrication shop’s first experience with robotics.  A robust support system will ensure that initial investments value is maximized through technical support and value-added services.

4)     Variety of power sources

Do you have a shop standard or does the work you do require the use of specific power units to take advantage of certain strengths?  Some COBOT welding solutions currently offered are only available with one brand of power source.  This may be ok if that is the standard that is currently in place in your facility or if you don’t have a preference.  However, if you do have a brand preference, you will be limiting yourself on choice and compromising on what works best for you.

5)     Ongoing Subscription Fees/Update Fees

More and more equipment and software are being sold in a subscription model.  In some instances, this can make sense where a large capital investment can be spread out over time.  In other cases, you still make the capital purchase and remain committed to ongoing fees.  This can also include access to much needed updates.  It’s important to clarify what the after purchase financial commitments will be, if any.  If so, you’ll need to factor them in to your operating budget in addition to the capital expenditure.

Bonus For Canadian Fabricators and Manufacturers

The company is the world’s best collaborative robot palletizer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

A reality for companies located in Canada is the need to ensure equipment meets CSA standards.  Often, equipment imported into Canada does meet the standards but simply doesn’t have the markings.  It’s important to determine whether the OEM or Channel Partner will have the inspection completed prior to shipment, so you can begin welding as soon as you receive it, or if you’ll need to make arrangements yourself to have the inspection done once received.

There’s something to be said for having the equipment ready to be productive once it’s taken out of the crate.

Have you taken the plunge and invested in a COBOT welding system?  Were any of these considerations part of what you used to decide on what solution to invest in?  What would be your top 5?

The 5 Principles

We all know that automation is going to impact the future of manufacturing massively. It already is helping businesses all over the world redesign their processes, maximize their output and grow in the face of a global shortage of labor. But knowing how beneficial automation can be is not the same as knowing how to implement a robotic palletizing solution effectively.

For production and technical managers, there is a lot to juggle. Commodity prices, supply chains, shortening delivery times, changing customer expectations, and a lack of skilled workers are ongoing challenges that automation can potentially help with. Creating the time and space needed to prepare and implement robot-based automation can seem like a tall order. Cobots are designed to be deployed into existing production lines quickly. They are versatile, affordable and easier to use than traditional industrial robots.

Getting the most value out of your cobot as quickly as possible requires preparation and sticking to some basic principles. Here are our top five rules for robotic palletizing:

1. Understand your payload

It may sound simplistic, but you need to make sure your chosen cobot model can carry out the palletizing tasks you want it to. When it comes to payload, this means thinking carefully about the weight of the packages and products being moved as well as the throughput of the conveyor. You might need your cobot to handle multiple boxes at the same time, which can, in turn, require a higher payload.

Also, don’t forget to include in your calculations the weight of the grippers you will be using. It will help ensure you get the best performance possible.

It is also important to understand the limitations of cobot-based solutions. If you need your robot to handle payloads of over 16kg at a time, you will likely need to start looking at traditional industrial robots. These will require more user training and additional safety infrastructure, but will be able to meet your needs. But for most palletizing functions, a cobot’s reach and payload capabilities should be more than enough.

2. Choose the right gripper

Your cobot is only as good as its end effector, otherwise known as its end-of-arm tooling or gripper. Making sure you have the right one is crucial to the success of your project. There are a couple of things to consider here. First, the kind of cardboard your products are packed in will mean that only some types of grippers are suitable, particularly for wrinkled or more lightweight packaging.

Second, you need to factor in the work rate of your cobot and its working environment. If you are going to push your robotic palletizing system to its payload limits consistently for long stretches every day, opting for lighter grippers can help reduce wear and tear. Some grippers will also need an external power source.

Our UR+ ecosystem has many different end effectors, from pneumatic grippers to vacuum ones. It should be your first stop when looking at your options.

3. Measure your footprint

Floorspace is one of the most important assets in a production line and one that is always limited and in demand. This is another area where cobots can have a clear advantage over other kinds of industrial robots, especially when it comes to palletizing. The small footprint of the cobot arm makes it much easier to design a really space efficient palletizing operation where most of the space is dedicated to the pallet rather than the robotics.

Most palletizing operations will be dual pallet. Again, having a robotic palletizing system that is as slim as possible has several benefits. Firstly, cobots don’t usually (subject to a thorough risk assessment of course) require the large protective enclosure that other robots do. Secondly, the small footprint means that it is always easy for human workers to access the pallets or the machine itself.

4. Get to grips with stack patterns

No two palletizing operations are ever the same. This means you will need to make sure the stack patterns you use are the right ones. You will need to do your pallet stacking to the maximum height that can fit into freight trucks and containers. Your stack patterns are important as they dictate how much product fits each pallet and how stable each completed pallet is.

Designing your own stack patterns can be complex. It involves translating the pallet stacking pattern into coordinates for the robot. Luckily, there are lots of software and application kits available that allow users to design and edit their own stack patterns without the need to write a single line of code. These software solutions are invaluable when it comes to democratizing the benefits of automation because they allow users with minimal automation experience and training to jump in and have a go. Explore UR+ where you can find some.

5. Optimize your safety

You should always complete a thorough risk assessment before implementing your cobot. In particular, you want to be sure that it is safe for workers and machines to work closely with regards to sharp edges and moving heavy payloads at speed.

For example, our PolyScope graphical interface for our e-series cobots comes with 17 market-leading safety features to help make sure this is always the case. Without the need for any coding, users can create safety planes and limit a joint’s range of motion. The versatility of your cobot means that you can also enhance the arm with additional sensors and application kits to enable additional functionalitiess – such as detecting when a human worker moves within its range.

The arm will then slow down automatically to its lowest speed until the person has stepped away again. While this feature is useful, it doesn’t completely remove any risk. No cobot arm is inherently safe – it is, after all, a piece of machinery. Training your staff on how to work safely around your new cobots should always be a priority.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of industrial palletizing robot. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.