There's no denying it - capital planning can be tricky, even for the most aligned teams. In this resource, we’ll review five key manufacturing costs every team should consider when determining if welding automation (and which type) is the right fit for them. These costs provide a foundation for crucial conversations, helping to clarify your welding automation journey. Our pro tip? Take your time and work through the tough questions. Understanding these costs reveal critical insights, allowing you to assess how you might be able to reduce manufacturing costs with automated welding. 

IRCO Automation provides a robotic welding system for fuel cells with adaptive fill, laser seam tracking, and production monitoring.

A couple months ago, we posted Automated Welding : Myth vs Reality, an article exploring some common misconceptions about Welding Automation. As a follow-up to that post, and by special request, Matt has added to this series and provided us with a narrower look at Robotic Welding Automation: Myth vs Reality. Continue reading below to learn more about some of the misconceptions and facts about Robotic welding automation!

Did you ever watch that show on the Discovery channel or Science Channel called How It's Made? They would take some of the most random items, such as aluminum foil, contact lenses, glasses, pistons, etc., and in a quick episode breakdown how the basics of how it was manufactured. A lot of the products were made with some sort of automated system.....But did you ever wonder while watching, "How on Earth does that system work?" Maybe you'd wondered that same question about automated welding systems...."How on Earth does that work?" In this post, our guest writer, Steve, breaks down the 4 key components of an Automated Welding System. Read further to learn more!

Sections in this post: 

1. Weld Equipment
2. Part Positioning 
3. Placement of the Weld Torch
4. Control System

Automation can change a business, create new opportunities, and foster growth. However, sometimes the path to automation can be overwhelming. It is important to stay true to the fundamentals. In this post, our guest writer, Jordan, explains two key steps to getting started on the journey to welding automation. Read more below. 

Ready to "level up" your knowledge about Welding Automation? When choosing which type of system to go with, clarity to determine the best fit can come from knowing and understanding your goals and ROI. But when you have the choice between Hard or Robotic automation - a lot of questions might come up. Which is better for you? Is one type safer? Is one more expensive?

Automated systems and solutions have been rapidly changing the manufacturing world around us. Continue reading more below to explore some of the ways automation, and welding automation specifically, are changing the workplace.

Sections: 

• Headcount: Impact on Organizations and Workforces
• Data: Performance Monitoring Solution
• Repeatability: Demand for Increased Quality Upstream
• Differentiation: Opportunity to Standout in a Crowded Space

What comes to mind when you hear the term Automated Welding System? Notions of inaccessibly high-tech or financially impractical systems are a common misconception that may lead manufacturers to overlook game-changing equipment and radical process improvement.

But how can we separate these skeptical first impressions from the reality of modern-era automated systems? In this blog, we’d like to use our industry knowledge and experience to address and break-down some of the most common myths and misconceptions about automated welding systems.

This month’s featured product is IRCO Automations P3X 3 Axis Positioner. A product that allows us to explore and illustrate how traditional weld equipment can evolve to fit into a world of welding automation, robotic welding systems, and industry 4.0.  Read more below!

Sections in this Post: 

1. The Problem: You want something "more"
2. The Solution: "Smart" Weld Positioning Equipment and P3X example
3. Ready for the Future: Data Monitoring
4. Recap: Benefits
5. Conclusion: The Future of Standard Product

Happy National Welder Month!
Read more below.