Cobots have been part of American Manufacturing’s welding workforce for over two years now, and we continue to find new ways to utilize them for improved productivity and enhanced safety throughout our manufacturing processes. At the same time, we still have several more traditional industrial robots in our welding family. So why not go all-in on cobots? What exactly makes a cobot different? Discover more about our welding robots and how they work together to serve our customers.

Cobots vs. Other Industrial Robots: Key Differences

Safety and Collaboration

The greatest difference between cobots and industrial robots comes down to safety. Cobots inherently have many safety features because they are designed to operate alongside a human worker in a collaborative environment. Cobots have slower air moves to reduce the risk of injury to any worker nearby, and the second they touch something or someone they’re not supposed to, they stop. Despite the slower air moves, cobots weld just as fast as any other welding robot!

Traditional industrial robots require a cell in which they operate, creating a barrier between them and any employees, so no one can come within range while the robot is operating. At American Manufacturing, we’ve created a “cell” of sorts around cobots for added awareness of any robot in operation, but it isn’t strictly necessary because the safety features of cobots are so extensive.

Flexibility and Programming

When it comes to programming, cobots are very flexible and user-friendly. All you have to do is put in the parameters for the task and let the cobots do the rest! Cobots can do more than just repeat the same weld or the same task over and over again. These highly versatile robots can produce high volumes of mixed products, managing multiple welds in a row and even taking on multiple tasks beyond a single weld. Cobots have been used in every step of a welding process, from opening the door and retrieving a part to closing the door, completing the weld, and setting the part aside for the next step in production.

Lifting Capacity

Lifting capacity is where traditional industrial robots win out over the cobot revolution, especially in industries like automotive that involve a lot of large and heavy parts. While cobots continuously improve with increased speed and lifting capacity, industrial robots are still an ideal choice for lifting heavier parts and products. This is ultimately why our robotic workforce isn’t exclusively cobots. Some situations call for heavier-duty capabilities. That said, our cobots are integral in our welding processes, reducing the need for skilled welders and improving customer outcomes.

Robot lifting option 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMN8msn0pms

Robot lifting option 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDd-ghon4q4

Envisioning the Possibilities: The Future of Cobots

While they still have their limitations, we’re excited to see how cobots will shape the future. AI integration may further improve the independence and flexibility of cobots, making them practical for several small labor processes. The more we can develop cobot capabilities, the more they can be used to partner with human workers for greater efficiency and to fill out the workforce when skilled workers are in short supply.

How Our Cobots Improve Customer Outcomes

When we first learned about cobots, we visited trade shows to watch them at work and consider not just how they would be beneficial within our facility, but also how they could increase positive outcomes for our customers. Our cobots at American Manufacturing have been a valuable source of increased efficiency, efficacy, and delivery. The decreased setup time has outweighed the slightly decreased air move times for an overall improved output speed. These skilled, collaborative robots have been invaluable in shoring up staffing shortages while providing consistent and high-quality welds every time.

If you’re interested in learning more about our welding and other manufacturing services, contact us to find out how we can support your business!