Welding robot is an industrial robot engaged in welding (including cutting and spraying). Welding robot mainly includes robot and welding equipment. The robot consists of the robot body and the control cabinet (hardware and software). Welding equipment, taking arc welding and spot welding as an example, consists of welding power source (including its control system), wire feeder (arc welding), welding gun (clamp), etc. The intelligent robot shall also have a sensing system, such as a laser or camera sensor and its control device. Figures 1a and b show the basic composition of arc welding robot and spot welding robot.
According to the definition of welding robot in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Industrial Robot Terminology Standard, industrial robot is a multi-purpose, repeatable programmable automatic control manipulator with three or more programmable axes, which is used in the field of industrial automation. In order to adapt to different purposes, the mechanical interface of the last axis of the robot is usually a connecting flange, which can be connected with different tools or end actuators. Welding robot is to install welding tongs or welding (cutting) guns on the end shaft flange of the industrial robot to enable it to carry out welding, cutting or thermal spraying.
With the development of electronic technology, computer technology, numerical control and robot technology, the automatic arc welding robot workstation has become increasingly mature since it was used in production in the 1960s. It has the following advantages:
1) Stabilize and improve welding quality;
2) Improve labor productivity;
3) Improve the labor intensity of workers and work in harmful environments;
4) The requirements for workers' operation skills are reduced;
5) It shortens the preparation period for product upgrading and reduces the corresponding equipment investment.
Therefore, it has been widely used in all walks of life.
