Case Study

ADS Laser Cutting

Universal Robot MIG Welding Cobot

ADS Laser Cutting is the premier metal laser cutting, folding, fabrication, finishing & assembly provider in the UK. Providing bespoke to volume solutions all under one roof, they offer a full design and engineering service and will cut, fold, fabricate, finish, and assemble your project before sending it anywhere in the UK.

After encountering inconsistent welds and facing challenges associated with human unpredictability, ADS Laser Cutting made the decision to invest in their future and purchase a cobot welding system. Through a recommendation from Foster Industrial, they were introduced to Olympus Technologies and after a successful demo, purchased the Olympus Universal Robot Welding Cobot.

The Challenge

Prior to adopting the cobot, ADS Laser Cutting encountered challenges with inconsistent weld accuracy in repetitive tasks. These inconsistencies often led to rework, wasted materials, and delays. Additionally, the reliance on highly skilled operators made the process resource-intensive and difficult to scale, especially during periods of high demand. These challenges underscored the need for a more reliable, efficient, and scalable solution.

The Solution

The installed solution compromised of a Universal Robot UR10e welding system integrated to control the ESAB Aristo Mig 500ix pulse welding machine together with a DINSE robotic torch package. To ensure their welds were as accurate as possible, ADS Laser Cutting created personalised jigs and fixtures tailored to their specific requirements, which together has fully maximised the robot's capabilities. This combination of precision fixtures and robotic automation has not only eliminated errors and inefficiencies but has also reduced reliance on skilled labour, streamlined production, and enhanced overall product quality.

The Benefits

The integration of the Universal Robot Welding Cobot has provided impressive benefits to ADS Laser Cutting:

- Project turnaround times have been cut by approximately 50% on some tasks

- Human errors in welding have been eliminated, ensuring precise and uniform results across all tasks.

- High-quality welds are being consistently achieved, reducing defects and rework.

- Material waste has been reduced by minimising errors and defects.

- Maintained performance consistency over time, offering a dependable solution for manufacturing needs.

"The Cobot has become an invaluable part of our operations, consistently delivering high-quality, repetitive tasks on time without the challenges associated with human unpredictability, like absenteeism."

Andy Smith, Production Director