Top Robotic Applications for Automotive Manufacturing
The automotive industry was one of the first to adopt the use of industrial robots to their manufacturing processes. Today, they are still one of the top industries for industrial robots. Robots are used in nearly every aspect of automotive production. Industrial robots are ideal for working with the high production volumes of automotive manufacturing with their speed, reliability, and efficiency. The use of robots in automobile manufacturing is vital to the quality and safety of each vehicle produced. The following is a list of the top automotive applications automated by industrial robots.
Arc Welding
Arc welding robots increase the precision, throughput, and quality of vehicle components. Robotic MIG and TIG applications are commonly automated by the FANUC Arcmate 120ic or the Motoman MA1400, to weld together subassemblies including mounts and brackets. Arc welding robots are reliable and consistent, ensuring all parts welded are uniform, eliminating material waste due to welding errors. Their long arms and range of motion allows for welds to be completed easily on large workpieces or difficult to reach angles.Spot Welding
Cars with all metal components are welded together with spot welding robots. Spot welding robots are typically larger with longer reaches and higher payload capacities, which is ideal for welding together the heavy body panels of cars. Car frames can require hundreds of welds, but robotic spot welding eases the burden of this process with higher accuracy, quality, and throughput. The FANUC R2000ib is one of the top robotic spot welders used in automotive manufacturing.Assembly
Assembling the numerous components of a car requires precision, accuracy, and speed. This is why many automotive assembly lines consist of fleets of industrial robots. Articulated robots are deployed for tasks such as windshield installation, mounting steering wheels, or inserting screws to secure components. While pumps and motors benefit from the super speeds of delta robots for their assembly.Painting/ Coating
The painting and coating of vehicles requires extreme consistency and precision in order to produce even and smooth finishes. This can be difficult to achieve through manual processes and the chemicals can be quite toxic. Painting robots alleviate these issues for automotive manufacturers. They are programmed to follow exact paths and disperse accurate amounts of paint greatly improving quality.Machine Tending
Machine tending processes are being completed by robots such as the FANUC M710ic/50, for automotive production. Loading and unloading CNC machines, injection mold machines, or die casting machines can be dangerous for workers. Automating machine tending improves worker safety while also increasing productivity.Part Transfer
Part transfer robots can significantly speed up production times by being able to transfer parts several hundreds of feet within minutes. These robots can easily handle heavy automobile components, saving workers from back breaking labor. In addition, these robots can be integrated with tracks for even faster part transferring at longer distances.Material Removal
Material removal robots are often used for automating trimming and cutting processes. Their repeatability ensures all materials are removed accurately without deviation from one part to another. The ABB 4600-60 is commonly used for trimming flash from die castings or moldings. While the FANUC R2000ib/165F can be used for cutting fabrics for vehicle interiors.Robots Done Right is the place to start when it comes to used robots. Contact us if you are interested in buying or selling your used robot.