Robotic Welding and Tracking

[Holly]

I'm a small manufacturer in the U.S. building aluminum fuel tanks for eighteen wheeler trucks

I want to make a new type of fuel tank but need welding robot to weld it.  To complicate it further, we need a laser seam tracker to follow the weld joint.  I priced out a used robot from a dealer at $60K, and a new Canadian made laser seam tracker for $40K.

We started building tanks sixteen years ago and made almost all of our equipment from scratch.  We need to come up with a more cost effective way to track and weld. 

I hope someone can give us some ideas.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Skeeter

[Industrialrobotix]

Is there any reason that you cannot use through-arc seam tracking?  What are some of the specifics of the welds, and material?

[rzapo]

Tray to Motoman dealear in your area. Motoman are the best producer for welding cell in the world, and they have a lot of application in AL welding field.
You can choose also a second hand welding cell.
Best regards
Radu

[Robo Guru]

For your laser seam tracking... I am assuming you've priced out ServoRobot as they are made in Canada.  They are very expensive!!!!  But there equipment is extremley powerful!

60K sounds expensive though for a used robot???

[robots101]

Was the used robot a whole welding cell, robot and weld equipment, or just the robot?  $60K for just a used robot is outrageous considering you can get a new one for as little as $29K with a welding interface depending on the reach you need.

Have you tried Kawasaki Robotics?  They did a presentation at the national AWS robotic welding conference last may on adaptive welding.  Part of their presentation was on vision tracking using robots.  They may have some input.  At the very least they may be able to give you some alternative pricing for a reality check.