Automated Friction Stir Welding Process
September 1, 2022
KUKA recently held a demonstration of its robotic friction stir welding (FSW) process as it welded an assembly from aluminum parts. The demonstration featured the company's new KR 10 CYBERTECH Nano and KR 500 FORTECH robots enhanced with Roboception and SICK PLB 3D vision technologies. KUKA's advanced FSW joining process is suited for nonferrous metals and mixed metal combinations frequently encountered in fabricating EV battery housings and trays.
In the demonstration, the heavy-duty KR 500 FORTEC picked and placed parts to be welded by the compact KR 10 CYBERTECH Nano. With a reach of up to 3,326 mm and payload capacity of 340 kg to 500 kg, KR 500 FORTEC combines power, precision and efficiency for a wide range of applications.
The 6-axis KR 10 CYBERTECH Nano offers a repeatability of 0.04 mm and mounts in any installation position for maximum flexibility. "With the smallest in-line wrists in their class, these new robots enable work to be carried out in positions inaccessible for other robots and provide maximum performance with minimum disruptive contours that open up previously unreachable workspaces," said a company spokesperson. "They can cover long distances with an extremely large workspace to the rear and a long downward reach." The CYBERTECH Nano family of robots are protected against uncontrolled electrostatic discharging (ESD) and are suitable for use in humid or harsh environments.
KUKA's FSW process is used in a variety of industries from automotive, eMobility and aerospace to electronics. "Even materials that are difficult to weld or dissimilar materials such as aluminum with magnesium, copper or steel can be friction stir welded. FSW is cost-effective, sustainable and provides superior weld quality with high seam strength, minimal distortion and no welding defects," said the spokesperson.
For more information contact:
KUKA Robotics Corporation
51870 Shelby Parkway
Shelby Township, MI 48315-1787
800-459-6691
kukainfo@kukarobotics.com
www.kuka-robotics.com
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