How to Improve Robotic Welding Lifespan
Improving the lifespan of welding robots is an important aspect of achieving desired return on investment (ROI) and maintaining the highest possible levels of productivity. Welding robots that require constant maintenance or equipment replacement drive up operating costs unnecessarily and restrict the productivity potential of automation in your facility.
Extending the operating lifespan of welding robots is a core part of the mission of automation.
3 Ways to Increase Robotic Welding Lifespan
There are many things you can do to improve the lifespan of welding robots, but there are three important ways to ensure you’re getting the most out of your robots.
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Invest in the Proper Protective Equipment
Most robotic welding systems include a complicated system to guide and move the robot. Linear guides, vision systems and motion control systems can all be adversely impacted by weld spatter and fumes, leading to frequent replacements, high levels of downtime, and shorter robot lifespan. Making the investment in equipment to protect these systems from the harsh welding process keeps robots at peak productivity for much longer.
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Schedule Regular Maintenance
Keeping a regular maintenance schedule can help detect potential problems before they cause damage to the robot while also minimizing unnecessary downtime. If undetected, variations in the robot’s operations can create damage to the robot arm or tooling. Preventative maintenance keeps robots operating efficiently and allows the right integrator to proactively address performance issues before they cause costly downtime or damage.
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Repurpose Old Robots
As processes within your facility change over time, some robots may be decommissioned before the end of their operating lifespan. In some cases, material handling robots or other types of robots can be repurposed as robotic welding robots, and vice versa, effectively extending the lifespan of these robots and minimizing investment in new robotic equipment.
Investing in protective equipment, keeping a regular maintenance schedule and repurposing old robots are some of the most effective ways to increase the operating lifespan of your industrial robots.
It’s important to extend the lifespan of welding robots. Maximizing productivity, achieving expected ROI and minimizing operating costs are essential goals in automation. Working to extend robot lifespan is a central part of reaching those goals.
To learn more, read about Genesis Systems Group’s industry-leading robotic welding integration services.
