Why do I have to do so many program touch-ups on my Arc Welding Robot?
Robots often get blamed for things that are not their fault. In order to fully appreciate how this happens, we must first understand how a robot works. Robots just follow the directions that the programmer told it. They go to the exact same point and do the exact same thing every time - with a few exceptions like touch sensing and seam tracking. If some component is not in the same location every time, then the robot misses the weld joint.
The first thing to check is the Tool Center Point (TCP). Most robot manufacturers have an automatic TCP check that pretty much takes out any operator intervention.
If the TCP check is okay, then some things to look for are: 1.) inconsistent parts 2.) tooling not repeating 3.) worn contact tip 4.) loose bolts or screws holding the torch, robot, tooling or positioner. Check first for obvoius things such as parts that may have changed or are not holding tolerance. Changing the contact tip is always a good, simple thing to try. Other things that you can also try are checking the tooling, torch and all components for looseness.
In any robot application, repeatability is key. The robot goes to exactly the same point and does exactly what it is programmed to do every time. If the parts are not there, it has no way of knowing. As a last resort, before making any program changes, it is recommended to run at least 3 parts on each fixture to verify any repeatablilty issues. If all three parts are off in the same manner, then program touch-ups may be required.
The first thing to check is the Tool Center Point (TCP). Most robot manufacturers have an automatic TCP check that pretty much takes out any operator intervention.
If the TCP check is okay, then some things to look for are: 1.) inconsistent parts 2.) tooling not repeating 3.) worn contact tip 4.) loose bolts or screws holding the torch, robot, tooling or positioner. Check first for obvoius things such as parts that may have changed or are not holding tolerance. Changing the contact tip is always a good, simple thing to try. Other things that you can also try are checking the tooling, torch and all components for looseness.
In any robot application, repeatability is key. The robot goes to exactly the same point and does exactly what it is programmed to do every time. If the parts are not there, it has no way of knowing. As a last resort, before making any program changes, it is recommended to run at least 3 parts on each fixture to verify any repeatablilty issues. If all three parts are off in the same manner, then program touch-ups may be required.