When the robot’s working envelope is too small for your project you need a RTU. At ARC we design and build RTUs to fit your needs.
- Post Date: June 2, 2021
Category: Robotic
WELD OF THE WEEK: Coordinated Motion
Eight is (much) greater than six when it comes to robot axes. In this episode, we showcase how a two-axis part positioner with coordinated motion will allow your six-axis robot to do things no human can.
- Post Date: May 28, 2021
Roboticist Chronicles: The Walking How It’s Made Guys
Join Gary Kowalski, Senior District Manager at FANUC AMERICA, and Dan Allford, President of ARC Specialties, as they reminisce on some of their past projects. They will go over some of their failure, successes, and proudest achievements in the robotics industry.
- Post Date: March 30, 2021
Additive Manufacturing, Blog, Consumer, Industry, Industry News, Manufacturing, News, Oil and Gas, Podcast, Robotic
The Future of Robotics in a Post-Pandemic World
Because they deal primarily with physical products, anyone in manufacturing knows that the industry as a whole has taken a hit from the effects of the pandemic.
- Post Date: February 3, 2021
Four Factors in Starting a Successful Robotics Company
Right now is a great time to consider starting a robotics company with the market offering a range of resources such as open-source code, a competent workforce, and more affordable components than ever before.
- Post Date: November 30, 2020
“Collaborative Robots: What are they and when to use them.” AWS Houston
On Wednesday, October 16th at 7:00 pm, Dan Allford lead a session at AWS Welding Houston.
Collaborative robots or cobots are designed to be safe to work near people.
This unique feature opens up new applications for robots. One of these areas is welding and plasma cutting. Using case studies, Dan discusses where cobots might be applied and where they should not.
- Post Date: October 17, 2019
FANUC America Features Robotic Plasma Cutting System for Metal Pipe from ARC Specialties
From FANUC America:
FANUC America Authorized System Integrator ARC Specialties designs and builds custom manufacturing machinery and automated systems including systems for metal welding and cutting, material handling, pick and place, test equipment and other custom applications. In this robotic system, ARC Specialties utilizes a FANUC M-710iC/20L robot to perform plasma cutting for 40-foot long sections of metal pipe.
First, a full-length pipe moves from a notched workplate to an automated infeed conveyor system. The automated in-feed conveyor indexes the pipe into the headstock cutting area, where the pipe is automatically positioned into place by chuck jaws. The system has five sets of chuck jaws that can be manually changed to accommodate pipes of varying diameter – from 0.75” to 24” in outer diameter. The six axis FANUC M-710iC/20L robot, equipped with a quick tool changer, picks up either an OAC or PAC torch from the quick tool change station. The robot uses touch sensing, as well as laser sensing to locate the nozzle parts and the pipe.
Once the pipe has been located the FANUC robot proceeds to first make a bevel cut. The headstock contains a robotic aux axis motor package and pop-up turning rolls that rotate the pipe in coordinated motion with the robot as it makes the cuts. After the bevel cut, the robot proceeds to plasma cut small and large holes into the pipe. The robot uses FANUC Constant Path, which allows it to maintain the same path regardless of static or dynamic speed override changes.
The system features simple setup – An operator simply inputs the desired cut dimensions into the HMI, presses the Go button, and the robot executes the cut. ARC Specialties’ cutting software generates robot code to execute the desired cuts based on the operator’s input, and the HMI is able to save and store these part programs. Once the FANUC robot is finished cutting, the pipe parts roll onto a gravity-fed pipe rack where they are removed from a notched work plate and finished pipe rack manually.
FANUC America Authorized System Integrator ARC Specialties transform manufacturing processes into high-quality, high-production and high profit operations. To learn more, please visithttp://www.arcspecialties.com.
- Post Date: November 28, 2016
Robotic System with Vision Currently in Assembly Shop
A Robotic System, complete with machine vision, is currently in progress at ARC Specialties. A photo of the robotic arm and attached camera for vision is below.
- Post Date: November 9, 2016
Robotics on Display at FABTECH 2016
The robotics team at ARC Specialties have designed, fabricated and programmed two separate robotic demonstration cells for Fabtech 2016 in Las Vegas. The RoboCell 1T will be located in the ARC Specialties booth, North Hall #5002, and the RoboCell 2P will be located in the KUKA Robotics booth, North Hall #5520.
The RoboCell 1T in the ARC Specialties booth will have a joystick that allows show attendees to try live Robotic TIG Welding on a business card holder to take home.
- Post Date: November 4, 2016
Robotic Hardbanding System
This Robotic Hardbanding System is an automatic welding machine that is used for applying tungsten carbide to tool joints and pipe. The project was completed in Summer 2016, and is available for purchase from ARC Specialties in Houston, Texas.
Features
- A dry run in the video demonstrates the torch movement during the weld program.
- Included here is a 3-jaw-self-centering manual actuated chuck.
- This Robotic Hardbanding System uses touch sense to calculate the diameter of the part.
- The system then changes the speed of rotation of the part to match that diameter.
- The laser in this system is used to show where the first bead will be welded on the part.
- The torch cleaning station automatically cleans the nozzle, applies anti-spatter, and can be programmed to clean at any interval.
- The carbide refill station includes semi-automatic feeder calibration and a water-cooled carbide nozzle integrated into the torch gas cup.
Robotic cells built by ARC Specialties may be customized with other robotic applications like TIG or MIG welding, plasma cutting, plasma transfer arc welding, and other manufacturing processes.
- Post Date: September 30, 2016
