I have been an entrepreneur since 1983. Historically 90% of start-ups fail. I have yet to bankrupt one (knock on wood). People ask me how I did it. So we are going to do a series on Dan’s Business Secrets or Dan’s BS for short.
My guest on this episode is an old friend, Bruce E. Arnold. We are both Oil & Gas manufacturing guys starting back to the ’70s.
Trey and I go way back in the welding automation business. Trey has focused on field welding, while I have concentrated on machines operating in factories. But the two fields are merging. Robots are becoming smaller and more flexible. These advancements allow robots to move to the field. Flexibility allows our systems to adapt to the variable parts and changing environment in field welding. Also, as the systems become smaller and more portable, deploying them in the field becomes more practical.
When you install a single tool on a robot’s wrist, you limit your ‘bot to just one function. Multiple tools allow robots to do more. Automatic tool changers are the enabling technology. To show you how I’m showcasing one of John Martin‘s latest projects, this is a double robot bolting system with many unique challenges.
This video shows off a heavy-duty material handling job using two large KUKA robots (600kg and 300kg capacity).
The jobs at ARC Specialties keep getting bigger and so do the robots.
Last week we discussed the hot wire process, its history, and applications. This week Dave Hebble and I demonstrate how to tune process variables to make sound welds. We show what we look for in the arc with the help of a Xiris Automation Inc. weld monitoring camera.
At ARC Specialties we have always welcomed school tours. What was unique about this one is that Johnny Tyler has taken on the responsibility of organizing and hosting these events.
Robots can’t weld/paint/cut/or grip a part that they can’t reach. An envelope study or reach study is one of the most basic steps in the design of a system. Yet even today with advanced tools like Robotmaster offline programming software we still see systems fail when envelope limitations are not considered.
