Welding robots

Specialist pipe fittings manufacturer, Valen Fittings, is innovatively using two FANUC Robotics robots to increase capacity and remove the physical strain of manual plasma cutting and welding. Compensating for manufacturing variances, the systems incorporate adaptive path control for plasma cutting and human intervention for real time path control of welding operations.

Working with welding automation specialist Pentangle Engineering, Valen implemented a Fanuc Robotics M-16 iB, inverted on a jib, to plasma cut edges and then to cut a weld preparation angle along the same edge. A second robot is used to weld prepared sections, utilising a 6 axes FANUC Robotics ARC Mate 120-iC positioned with a single axis manipulator.