Six-axis friction welding robots – a riveting alternative

For years, the aero­space indus­try has researched ways to do away with riv­et­ing and the extra weight that it adds to an air­craft. This alter­na­tive may lie with six-axis fric­tion weld­ing robots that can weld var­i­ous thick­ness­es with good seam quality.

Accord­ing to an arti­cle from SAE Inter­na­tion­al, by using six-axis fric­tion robot­ic welders, as opposed to auto­mat­ed riv­et­ers, the aero­space indus­try can expect a 20 per­cent decrease in appli­ca­tion time, as well as a decrease in costs.

Grant­ed, even with machine fric­tion weld­ing, man­u­fac­tur­ers do have a choice between a fric­tion weld­ing machine and a robot fric­tion welder with six axes. How­ev­er, in the case of the aero­space indus­try, and their more com­plex part cur­va­tures, the six-axis fric­tion robot­ic weld­ing sys­tem may be the only way to go.

The six-axis fric­tion weld­ing robot can pro­duce all the force need­ed to com­plete the appli­ca­tion. The robot also has max­i­mum flex­i­bil­i­ty over oth­er options, with the capa­bil­i­ty to weld seams on three dimen­sion­al objects. This means that the robot’s six degrees of free­dom allow it to freely weld more than just lin­ear welds. It can also weld the cur­va­tures of fuse­lages and oth­er air­craft parts that are more com­plex in shape and size.

Robots​.com, a cer­ti­fied inte­gra­tor for Fanuc, Motoman, ABB, Uni­ver­sal Robots, and KUKA robot­ics, spe­cial­izes in weld­ing appli­ca­tions for dozens of indus­tries all over the North Amer­i­can con­ti­nent. Whether you are look­ing for a six-axis robot for fric­tion weld­ing, or some oth­er weld­ing appli­ca­tion, Robots​.com has the mod­el per­fect­ly suit­ed for your process. Our high­ly-skilled staff works direct­ly with cus­tomers to ensure the weld­ing robot sys­tem or work­cell is designed to their exact spec­i­fi­ca­tions. The com­pa­ny also pro­vides in-house train­ing on the robot at their Mar­i­on, Ohio facil­i­ty before it is inte­grat­ed into the customer’s facility.

For more infor­ma­tion on automat­ing your fric­tion weld­ing appli­ca­tion with a six-axis robot from Robots​.com, con­tact us today online or at 877−762−6881.