February 2021 Volume 3

AUTOMATION

Who Is Going to ProgramMy Robot? By Brennan Palmiter

There are so many different things we can discuss about automation or robotics. My strong suit is robotic welding in a job shop environment, so I’m not going to pretend to know a lot about automation in forging. However, one topic that I find myself discussing about robotics no matter what the purpose of the robot, is how to find someone to program robots or who are suitable candidates for programming robots ( hint: it has nothing to do with PlayStation). Prefix, my background is mostly in the welding field. I picked up a Mig gun and started burning arcs at 10 years old back when I was a racecar driver. Welding and fabricating attracted my attention to manufacturing. At one point, I was even the youth’s public spokesperson for the Fabricator and Manufacturers Association, where we traveled around to speak to kids

applications engineers that can program your robots to your specific application. Let me specify, “turnkey” meaning when the system is installed a program has been pre-written, and the system is ready to operate (drop in place and hit start). With a “turnkey” system, you have several benefits and a few limitations. Among the benefits of “turnkey” programming, having an experienced programmer take the first approach to programming seems to be the most notable mention. Often those that are programming regularly see approaches differently. Having a “pro” look at operations can help by utilizing functions in a system that an average operator may not know exist. In working with job shops, I have different tricks or tools I’ve learned in programming that help in a job shop environment. However, programmers that work with automotive know different

of all ages about getting involved in a career in manufacturing and working with their hands. In 2017, I started to notice robots in manufacturing and pursued a career as a robotic welding applications engineer. From which I have had the great opportunity to work with a broad range of companies producing a variety of parts. I’ve helped companies looking at their first robot to their 3rd or 4th system, helped shops reviewing applications and identifying part candidates to be robotically welded, and trained well over 100 students to program robots. Coming from the guy who was a manual welder and transitioning to the guy who trains folks to program and operate their robots. I’ve worked with companies from the introduction of capabilities and limitations of a robotic system, down to the implementation of the systems on the shop floor and ongoing success of the system. Let’s start here: you hired a robot that is going to do a job! Now how do we get it to do the job (i.e. program it)? It is not uncommon to find an integrator that offers a “turnkey” solution. In fact, most integrators or manufacturers have several

sets of functions or capabilities towards their applications. Having these tricks can make it simpler to use or decrease cycle time. It is definitely something to consider depending on the complexity of your application. The biggest point that stands out to most is the cost, ordering a system turnkey is basically asking an integrator to learn and perfect your cycle of operations while consuming resources, dedicating them to your parts. But with that, your system can drop into place and begin production with fewer touch-ups. The cost can vary significantly from integrator or manufacturer, depending on the complexity of the parts. You might take into consideration that you can lose out on valuable learning experiences that will add to the capabilities of the system. For example, in a robotic welding system, I might take a fewdifferent approaches to programming in order to reduce cycle time, spread heat input, and dial in parameters. These details a programmer would learn in programming your parts you might not learn in a “turnkey” delivery.

FIA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2021 24