Cobot welding — short for collaborative robot welding — is all about working safely and efficiently right alongside humans.
They help welders by taking on repetitive, high-precision jobs, reducing human exposure to hazards, and bringing a new level of consistency to the table.
The kicker? Cobots like RO1 by Standard Bots make this advanced tech accessible and affordable for small fab shops, not just big-budget factories.
Read on to learn:
- How cobot welding works
- Perks of cobot welding
- Things to consider before buying a cobot
- Why Standard Bots’ RO1 is the smart choice
How cobot welding works
Alright, so you’re wondering, how exactly does a cobot welding robot work? How do these little robots get the job done with so much precision?
Here’s the scoop on how these machines operate:
- Human-robot collaboration: Think of cobots as the spotless welding partner — they handle the gritty stuff while you give your attention to other stuff. Think safety and side-by-side collab. So, while a welder supervises or handles quality control, the cobot manages the repetitive, precision parts.
And with sensors to stop it from moving, if someone steps in, cobot welding takes the edge off safety risks without needing a fenced-off setup. (You should still exercise care, though.)
- AI and automation in welding: Cobots are more than just programmable machines. With AI, they can learn and refine welding techniques — like MIG, TIG, or arc welding — adjusting patterns and precision as they go. Cobots like Standard Bots’ RO1 can handle a range of welding styles and are smart enough to recall exact weld patterns, so each job is as precise as the last. Is it easy to program?
Easier than programming a remote — RO1’s no-code interface is intuitive and designed for people who weren’t born with a cellphone attached to their hands.
- Flexibility and adaptability: Need to switch from one welding style to another? No problem. Cobots like RO1 can handle different welding techniques, and you can reprogram them without days of downtime.
Whether it’s arc welding on Monday or TIG on Tuesday, RO1 and similar cobots are adaptable, shifting gears easily to keep production flowing smoothly.
Benefits of using cobot or robot welding
So, are you still on the fence about getting a cobot welding robot?
Turns out, cobots bring some big perks to the welding game:
- Consistent, high-quality welds: Cobots aren’t showing up to work tired or distracted, which means every weld is consistent, clean, and just right. They’re like that Virgo friend who always double-checks everything twice — but better because they’ll (almost) never accidentally add too much flux or miss a seam.
Your welds come out uniform, day after day, keeping quality high and re-dos low.
- Workplace safety goes up: Welding is hot, dangerous — and sometimes a little too close to explosive materials for comfort. Cobots step in and handle the risky stuff, like the high-temp welding and fume-heavy jobs, so human welders don’t have to (unless they like that kind of stuff, no judgment).
With built-in sensors, cobots also know when someone’s in their way and will stop in their tracks — no fencing is necessary.
- Scalable, whether you’re welding in a garage or a plant: The beauty of cobots is that they fit wherever they’re needed. Whether you’re a small shop looking to get more welds done in less time or a big factory that wants extra hands on a production line, cobots can adapt. And if you’re not ready to go all-in, cobots like RO1 come with flexible options like extremely cost-effective leasing.
So, you can start small, test it out, and scale up when you’re ready.
- Less physical strain means more productivity: Welding is tough on the body. Standing for hours, hunching over metal, breathing in fumes — it adds up, and your spine can feel it. Cobot robot welding handles the repetitive, physically demanding parts of welding, giving your team some relief. Less strain on your crew means they’re more productive and ready to tackle the jobs that really need their know-how.
And hey, maybe they’ll have time for a chiropractor appointment or twelve.
- Adapts to changing project needs: Welding jobs aren’t all the same. One day, you’re welding lightweight metals; the next, you’re working on heavy-duty steel. Cobots are like the chameleons of the workshop — they switch between different welding types without needing a big setup overhaul.
- Saves you money on labor and rework: Hiring skilled welders takes time and money, and reworking a poor weld eats up both. To top it off, welders are in high demand but in low supply. Cobots bring a level of consistency that reduces errors, which means fewer touch-ups and less wasted material.
Plus, with a cobot managing part of the load, you can use skilled welders where they’re really needed.
- Data-driven quality control: Cobots can track every weld they make, storing data about angles, heat, speed, and more. This built-in data lets you catch issues early and maintain high standards across projects. It’s like having a running log of each weld, so if there’s ever a question about quality, the cobot has the receipts.
Challenges of implementing cobot welding
Alright, let’s be real — cobot welding sounds like a dream, but that doesn’t mean it’s 100% foolproof.
Here’s what you need to keep in mind before you invest:
- Money up front: While cobots are usually more affordable than the giant industrial robots that take up half the shop floor, they’re still an investment that sometimes exceeds $75,000. Even if you’re going with a cobot like RO1 — which comes in at a lower cost than most — you’ll need to budget for the initial buy or lease.
On the bright side, that investment pays off in long-term consistency and productivity. So, think of it as putting down a little now to save big later.
- Training your team: Cobots are user-friendly, with RO1 being especially intuitive thanks to its no-code setup, but they still require knowledgeable operators. Welding staff may need a little time to get comfortable programming the cobot and managing its operations. The upside? Once your team’s up to speed, cobots are straightforward to handle and much easier than traditional, code-heavy industrial robots.
Just don’t expect to unbox it and go — you’ll need to give your crew a quick crash course.
- Initial setup and programming: Cobots are adaptable, sure, but that first setup can still feel a bit like taming a mechanical bull. You’ll need to program it for specific weld types, angles, and speeds, especially if you’re switching between different welding jobs. Luckily, cobots like RO1 make it easy, and they come with an intuitive interface that’s way less scary than the usual robot programming.
But prepare for a little trial and error while dialing in those first welds. Don’t expect perfection from the get-go.
- Maintenance — it’s still a machine, after all: Cobots may feel like trusty sidekicks, but like any machine, they need maintenance. Regular checkups, software updates, and the occasional tweak are all part of the package. And if something breaks? Like with the Ghostbusters, you’ll need to know who to call.
The good news? With cobots being smaller and simpler than traditional robots, maintenance is usually quicker and cheaper, too.
- Not the fastest option for heavy-duty work: Cobots are amazing at adapting to different stuff, but they’re not usually built to weld at breakneck speeds or handle the heaviest metalwork out there. If you’re a factory cranking out hundreds of high-volume welds per hour, a cobot might not hit those numbers.
Cobots are perfect for flexibility and precision but are better suited to medium or small-scale production, not full-on assembly-line speed welding.
- Space and layout considerations: Cobots are designed to work safely with humans, which is fantastic — but they still need their own space. You’ll need to figure out where it’s going, make sure it can reach the materials it needs, and arrange things so it’s not bumping into the rest of the workshop.
Think of it as setting up a workstation for a new team member who doesn’t like being cramped. This may also cost you extra money.
How RO1 by Standard Bots automates welding
If you’re looking to automate welding without the tech headaches, Standard Bots’ RO1 might be the cobot you’ve been waiting for.
Let’s take a look at why it’s perfect for welding duties:
- Built for welding flexibility: RO1 can handle a variety of welding types — MIG, TIG, arc welding, you name it. Whether you’re shifting between jobs or have a setup with mixed welding needs, RO1 adapts without needing a complete reprogramming session every time. Set it up, let it know the weld type, and you’re ready to go.
It’s ideal for shops that deal with different projects and don’t want to be stuck with a single-use bot.
- Quick programming and AI: RO1 doesn’t need advanced code or complex programming to get the job done. Its no-code, intuitive setup makes it easy for operators to program specific weld types and patterns, and its built-in AI remembers them for future jobs. Once RO1 learns a welding pattern, it replicates it with impressive precision — we’re talking repeatability of +/- 0.025 mm.
- Affordable lease options: RO1 offers a leasing model starting at $5/hr, so you can test out the cobot, let it handle a few jobs, and see if it fits your operation. This makes it accessible for smaller businesses that want to explore automation without a huge upfront investment.
And if it turns out to be the perfect fit, buying it outright is always an option.
- Safety-first design for human collaboration: RO1 doesn’t need barriers or cages, so that you can set it upright on the floor with the rest of the team. It’s equipped with machine vision and collision detection, which means it’ll stop if anyone steps too close. For any shop focused on safety — and let’s face it, that’s every shop — RO1’s design lets welders work alongside it without worrying about accidents.
- Maintenance that won’t stress you out: Machines need maintenance, but RO1 keeps it simple. With fewer moving parts than industrial robots and user-friendly software updates, maintenance won’t disrupt your operations. If anything goes wrong, RO1’s support team is easy to reach, helping you keep downtime and productivity low.
Summing up
Cobot welding introduces automation that is practical, safe, and adaptable.
By combining the precision of robotics with the flexibility to work side by side with human welders, cobots give you consistent quality while easing up on the more dangerous and boring parts of the job.
While traditional industrial robots can be complicated and pricier than post-halving Bitcoin, cobots like Standard Bots’ RO1 make advanced automation accessible without bleeding you dry — or needing a degree in robotics.
Next steps with Standard Bots
Ready to add some high-powered welding automation to your team? Meet Standard Bots’ RO1 — the reliable, flexible cobot designed to make welding automation simple and effective.
- Affordable and dependable: RO1 delivers top-tier performance at half the cost of traditional robotic options. Not ready to buy? Lease RO1 for only $5/hr to get a taste of what it can do.
- Speed & precision: With an 18 kg payload and repeatability of +/-0.025 mm, RO1 tackles your welding jobs with speed and accuracy.
- AI-powered adaptability: With GPT-4-level AI and no-code setup, RO1 is as adaptable as it is powerful, fitting right into your workflow without needing a specialized tech team.
- Safety-first design: Equipped with machine vision and collision detection, RO1 is made to work safely right alongside your team — no need for barriers or extra safety gear.
Get in touch with our team today to start your complimentary, risk-free 30-day trial of RO1 and see how it can elevate your welding operation without the complexity.
