FANUC America will introduce a line of collaborative arc welding robots at FABTECH 2019 in Chicago. The new arc welding cobots offer the same level of performance as FANUC’s ARC Mate robots, but a built-in sensor allows the new welding cobots to work safely alongside people.

Both of FANUC’s new welding cobots provide six axes of motion for maximum flexibility. The CR-15iA for ARC  offers a 15kg payload and a 1441mm reach, while the CR-7iA/L for ARC has a 7kg payload and 911mm reach. At FABTECH, the FANUC CR-15iA will perform live welding to build an aerospace jet turbine component. In the production of the part, the robot deposits material layer by layer, so that only the required material is used.

FANUC’s arc welding cobots are equipped with FANUC’s ArcTool application software. ArcTool’s programming interface supports both simple and complex applications, including features such as Weaving, iRVision, Seam Tracking, Thru-Arm Seam Tracking (TAST) and Multi-pass.

Here is a chart that compares the basic specs of FANUC’s new CR-15iA and CR-7iA/L collaborative arc welding robots:

FANUC said its collaborative arc welding robots will be available in December 2019. Both the CR-15iA and CR-7iA/L offer floor, ceiling and angle mounting options. The CR-15iA features a hollow wrist for integration of weld package dress outs, third-party utilities, and sensor cables.

Both of the cobots feature hand guidance functionality that enables users to teach the robots via demonstration. The cobots are both designed to meet the safety requirements of ISO 10218-1:2011 and RIA/ANSI R15.06-2012.

There will be multiple welding systems that use cobots at FABTECH 2019. Another system, Hirebotics’ BotX Welder, has zero installation costs.  With cloud monitoring, manufacturers pay only for the hours the system actually welds, thereby enabling the manufacturer to hire and fire BotX as business needs dictate. Vectis Automation will debut its Cobot Welding Tool, which uses a UR10e cobot, in Universal Robots’ booth.

FANUC America recently held the grand opening of a 461,000 square-foot robotics and automation facility in Auburn Hills, Mich. And collaborative robots played a major role in the grand opening celebration.