Metal fabrication company American Tank & Fabricating Co. (AT&F) recently announced a new addition to their line of robotic welding solutions: an enormous, multi-axis programmable welding arm. According to AT&F, their new robotic welding system can handle the most demanding welding jobs, all while offering consistent and quality welds.
The robotic arm can achieve high precision though the use of six axes, allowing a free range of motion. An optical laser system built into the arm determines position and orientation of a workpiece. Integrated robotics give the arm an autonomous correction capability, meaning the arm can automatically adjust for variations; as AT&F states, even the most minor of variations can compromise weld quality.
The system is capable of welding lengths up to 12 m (40 feet) long and 6 m (20 feet) high.
Heavy workpieces are no problem, as two sets of 13,610 kg (30,000 lbs) turning rolls and a 54,430 kg (120,000 lbs) turntable are used for positioning. Welds can be completed quickly, as the machine offers a maximum pass speed of 76 cm (30 inches) per minute.
The company suggests that the new system can handle many welding applications, ranging from commercial products to military projects. AT&F is confident in the capability of the new system.
"We are always striving to be on the cutting edge and I think that our venture into robotics shows these efforts very clearly," said CEO Michael Forde Ripich.
"AT&F is interested in much more than just customer satisfaction. From state of the art, five axis waterjet and laser cutting, to heavy forming and machining, to hybrid laser and robotic welding, everything we do drives customer success."
For more robotic welding news, check out VIDEO: Programming Industrial Robots by Hand with Kinetiq Teaching.