Do's and Don'ts of Programming Your Welding Robot

Whenever someone tells me they have good and bad news, I usually ask for the bad first. I figure that while I may get hit with an initial bomb, the conversation will likely end on a high note. Sometimes, though, the bad news can overshadow the good—for example, if someone describes the bad practices they’ve followed for critical pipe welding systems.

There is good news for manufacturers, though. They can minimize the probability of mistakes or errors creeping into the pipe welding process by employing an orbital welding system. And the precision and accuracy gained through an orbital welding process can be further optimized with robotic welding. However, to leverage this advanced welding technology, manufacturers should follow the “dos and don’ts” for programming welding robots.

Programming Welding Robots: The Don’ts

Robotic welding systems are not new; in fact, they have been around for over half a century. Early beneficiaries of this technology were heavy industrial manufacturing factories such as automotive production companies. Advances in materials, electronics hardware, and computing have extended the range of robotic applications. However, there are welding robot programming practices that should be avoided, as listed below.

Welding Robot Programming: What not to do.

🚫 Don’t overcomplicate wire feed and movement instructions.

Although software increases control and flexibility while refining the robot's movements, manufacturers should avoid unnecessary complexity. Overly complex instructions can slow the process or reduce efficiency.

🚫 Avoid calculations that may not converge to a solution.

One problem with mathematical equations in computing programs is that an exact value or solution may not be determinable. This can lead to significant issues. For example, the weld head may freeze or movement may cease before the end of the weld.

🚫 Don’t write long weld programs.

Simplicity and brevity should always guide your welding robot programming. Failing to follow this advice can negate the quality, consistency, and productivity advantages of robotic welding.

🚫 Don’t reinvent the wheel.

You should create and use an arc file library. This resource should be well-organized, and it should include start, stop and weave files and be easy to reference when needed. It is also a good idea to keep this resource in the robot workcell. Heeding the don’ts in the list above will aid you in leveraging the advantages of robotic welding. However, it is also necessary to incorporate programming best practices to optimize your results.

Programming Welding Robots: The Do’s

Knowing what to do is at least as important as knowing what not to do. By following the suggestions outlined below, manufacturers will generate considerable benefits in their robot welding projects.

Welding Robot Programming: What to do.

✅ Rely on automated mechanics for motion control.

Instead of writing complex scripts for movement, it is better to rely on controls for mechanical movement, such as voltage and travel speed, to lower the probability of error.

✅ Be sure that software models are accurate for the equipment used.

Any software control program should, first and foremost, base itself on an accurate model or representation of the equipment under control. Therefore, you should always utilize manufacturer resources for your robot.

✅ Use equations with closed-form solutions.

Sometimes mathematical formulas or equations cannot be solved in closed form. This is unacceptable for control programs where an explicit solution or value is always needed.

✅ Keep weld programs small.

Long, complicated weld programs are a definite don’t. Strive for short, explicit scripts that require minimal instructions.

✅ Log and backup weld files.

To make the best use of your weld programs, record them and back them up. This makes them easy to reuse and maximizes consistency across welds.

✅ Take advantage of offline programming to institute code changes.

When making changes to weld programs, it is best to do so offline as this provides theopportunity to debug, test, and optimize your code.

✅ Utilize available programming resources effectively.

Although coding effectively is a skill that requires expertise, the right tools and resources can shorten the learning curve for optimizing robot weld programs.

As the above list indicates, effectively leveraging robots requires that manufacturers follow best practices. And one of the most important of these practices is to make use of the best software resources. For example, OCTOPUZ provides an offline environment for programming robot weld cells that virtually eliminates the need for any significant coding by the welder or operator. However, it is also necessary to ensure the equipment is in good working order by implementing a comprehensive daily maintenance checklist.

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