Comparison of Fronius and Miller Electric Welders
Automated welding systems are on the rise as manufacturers look to combat the worsening welder shortage. The welding robot is an important component of an automated welding system, but there is another component that is equally as important and that is the power supply.
Power supplies do as their name implies, they supply the power, in the form of an electric current, to fuel an arc welding process. Power supplies are considered the center of a robotic welding system and may also be referred to as robotic welders.
There are many different brands of robotic welders. Two of the top brands include welders from Fronius and Miller Electric. Both brands are trusted by the top robotic manufacturers as they can be integrated easily with industrial robots from FANUC, Yaskawa Motoman, ABB, and KUKA. Deciding between these two robotic welder brands will mainly be determined by articulated robot compatibility, welding application, budget, and perhaps just personal preference.
Fronius
Fronius welders are typically integrated with welding robots from FANUC, Yaskawa Motoman, and ABB. In fact, both Yaskawa Motoman and ABB offer Fronius power supplies as options for their pre-engineered weld cells.Fronius welders standout from others with their innovative CMT (Cold Metal Transfer) technology. This technology produces high-quality, clean, spatter-free welds by limiting the amount of time heat is applied. The Fronius CMT3200 from Fronius features this technology and can be paired with the FANUC Arcmate 120ic as well as the ABB 2400. Eliminating spatter reduces post-weld cleanup, saving time from start to finish of a weld.
Fronius power supplies are considered to be some of the best for GMAW applications. In addition to MIG and MAG welding, Fronius welders can also be used for the automation of TIG and plasma welding. Fronius welders are particularly popular when it comes to welding thin metals, especially aluminum. Fronius welders are also commonly used when it comes to welding steel and stainless steel.
Miller Electric
Miller Electric has been manufacturing welding equipment for nearly a century and is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to welding automation. Their robotic welders are compatible with six axis robots from Yaskawa Motoman and ABB. The Miller Auto-Axcess 450 integrates nicely with the ABB 1600 and the Motoman MA1400. Like Fronius, Miller power supplies are often included with turnkey weld cells from Yaskawa Motoman’s ArcWorld series. Welders from Miller’s Auto Axcess series are some of the easiest to integrate for automated welding.Miller Electric robotic welders can be used for automating MIG and TIG applications. However, their welders are mainly preferred by users for MIG automation except when it comes to aluminum workpieces. Integrating the Miller Auto Continuum 500 with the Yaskawa Motoman MA1440 can be used to automate a MIG process.
Robots Done Right sells used robotic welders from both Fronius and Miller Electric. RDR carries power supplies from the Fronius TransPuls CMT series. Welders from Miller’s Auto Axcess and Auto Continuum lines are also available. RDR typically carries welders that can be integrated with the Motoman MA3100 and the FANUC Arcmate 100ic as well as those for other welding robots.