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MFP Automation Engineering has partnered with AUBO Robotics USA to equip our customers with simple and precise welding cobot solutions. We recently helped one of our machine manufacturing customers get up and running with an AUBO's SwitchWeld Navigator™ and the results have been exceptional! Our customer now has a simpler process and capacity to scale up production. Here's how we did it.
The Challenge: Welding Labor Shortages Bottlenecking Production
Lomar Machine & Tool designs and fabricates a variety of standard and custom machines and tooling. One of their high-volume parts, a hydraulic reservoir, required a certified welder working full-time, all year round to keep up with customer orders.
However, as a rural Michigan shop, our client was having trouble hiring enough skilled welders to keep up with production. That's where AUBO comes in.
The Solution: AUBO SwitchWeld Navigator Integrates into Welding Process
MFP proposed using an AUBO SwitchWeld Navigator, an enterprise-ready cobot designed for users with minimal robotic or programming experience. We presented a demo and welded several sample parts. Our customer agreed that this was an ideal application for a SwitchWeld Navigator cobot. Even though welding reservoirs requires precision, it's a fairly repetitive process that uses the same weld over and over again. The SwitchWeld Navigator cobot transformed a pain point into a seamless part of the process.
Easy Cobot Set-Up Took Less Than A Day
The SwitchWeld Navigator comes preconfigured so Lomar didn’t have to worry about purchasing third-party licenses, messing with unreliable software integrations, or purchasing additional hardware. The system uses the same electrical connections as a handheld torch, making it compatible with existing welding power sources.
MFP and AUBO experts were on site to help our customer unbox and set up the SwtichWeld and train staff. Thanks to AUBO's focus on simplicity, we had everything ready to go in just half a day of work!
AUBO Features User-Friendly Software For Welding Precision
AUBO's user-friendly software sets it apart from other cobots. Operators do not need previous robotic experience or programming knowledge in order to work with the cobots. The user interface is easy to navigate and allows you to fine-tune settings with minimal software interaction.
Our customer's welder trained the cobot by using the intuitive software to guide the path of the training welds and make adjustments to dwell, gas flow, weave, and more. It only took about two and a half hours for the cobot to learn to make welds that consistently met the Lomar's rigorous quality standards.
The Result: Reduced Cost Per Part and Increased Productivity
The SwitchWeld is now fully integrated into Lomar's process. With the help of an operator to load and unload the parts, the cobot can complete a full week's worth of work in half the time! Not only has the customer reduced their cost per part, but they can easily scale up production to meet demand. Their certified welders are also free to work on more complex projects that require creative thinking and problem-solving.
"MFP and the Aubo cobot helped us be more repeatable and save time," said Ron Geisman, Lomar's CEO. "We can complete our weldments in half the time as before since we can have someone clean them up while the Aubo cobot welds the next set. Another key benefit is weld quality. Our welds with the robot come out the same size and quality on every part."
Work With MFP To Get Started With Your Own Cobot Welding Solution
Interested in how the AUBO SwitchWeld can optimize your production? Our experts would be happy to give you a demonstration! Call us at 616.538.5700 or contact us here to get started.
