High-tech company TRUMPF will be unveiling a new solution at Blechexpo that aims to help sheet-metal fabricators make the jump into automated laser welding. Many companies in this sector still rely on manual welding, which is both costly and time-consuming – especially in high wage countries such as Germany. The alternative is automated laser welding, but today’s systems tend to be large, expensive and complex to operate. Companies need low-cost solutions to get a foothold in this business – but these are few and far between. “The TruLaser Weld 1000 from TRUMPF fills a gap in the welding market. For the first time, it enables smaller companies to enjoy the benefits of automated laser welding, so they can boost the productivity of their production processes and gain a real competitive edge,” says TRUMPF product manager Martin Geiger. The new system is particularly suitable for job shops that weld products such as electrical cabinets, sheet-metal boxes and covers.
The TruLaser Weld 1000 makes programming quick and easy. Unlike most commercial systems, it does not require employees to spend several days attending training courses. Instead, all the necessary information can be obtained through e-learning. The system incorporates a robot whose operation is based on the concept of a collaborative robot, or cobot. However, its six-axis articulated arm enables it to move much faster and more precisely than a standard cobot, resulting in higher-quality weld seams and less non-productive time. The operator manually guides the robot over the seams on the part that need to be welded, pressing a button to mark the relevant waypoints. The software then creates the weld program.
Courtesy of TRUMPF.