Cobots have been transforming automation in labor-intensive industries for the last decade. The latest improvements in lift strength make them particularly useful for packaging and warehousing. The ability to automate an entire process from start to finish, like cobots have done for palletization in tandem with automatic stretch wrappers, is incredible!

For smart factories, cobots have come into play in a few different ways. Here’s how cobots have improved our processes and products at American Manufacturing:

The Impact of Cobots on Smart Factory Automation

At American Manufacturing, we have introduced two welding cobots into our robotic workforce. These cobots work in tandem, each welding one half of a part for person-free, consistent welds. Cobots stands for “collaborative robots” because they are designed to work well with each other or alongside a human welder.

Increased Safety and Mobility

Unlike standard welding robots (what we refer to as “yellow robots” because of FANUC’s signature yellow color), cobots don’t require any safety fencing. Their slower air moves and automated sensors make them safe to work alongside while they are operating. This means less effort needs to go into safety compliance, and it also allows for more flexibility and mobility around the factory. We keep our cobots on pedestals that can easily be moved around the shop and set up for different fixtures that normally couldn’t be brought in and out of a full cell easily.

Versatility with End-of-Arm Toolings

Cobots have a unique versatility with the ability to connect to different end-of-arm toolings. For instance, cobots have been used to run CNC mills from start to finish without a human operator. The cobot can put the part in the lathe, exit the mill, shut the door, start the mill, and then go back in to pull the part out when it’s finished.

Our FANUC cobots come with an extension that allows for quick end-of-arm programming so the operator doesn’t have to return to the pendant to program things like start and stop points or wraparounds.

Better Results

A lot goes into making a “perfect” weld, whether a cobot, yellow robot, or human welder is doing the job. Cobots’ ability to keep their exact point in space with optimal heat, torch positioning, and spacing away from the part significantly increases welding efficiency. You seldom have to go in to clean up a weld or reweld a part. This repeatability and lack of dependence on the labor market make cobots a powerful force in improving lead times and end results for our customers.

Cobots of the Future: Automation and IoT Integration

The versatility of cobots combined with ever-improving technology means there are a lot of possibilities for where cobots can go in manufacturing. We would love for cobots to reach the point where they can pick up the parts needed for a weld, put them in the fixtures, and run fully independently of human operators—similar to how our Trumpf robotic bending cell works.

We would also love to see more IoT connectivity with cobots, integrating them into our ERP system to send data to our computers so we don’t need operators to keep a count of parts completed in a day.

If you’re looking for reliable and efficiently-made automotive parts, contact us at American Manufacturing to learn more about how we can provide you with the best parts for your products. We look forward to putting our innovative approach to work for you!