Many welders are afraid that robotic welding will actually take the place of all welding jobs sometime in the near future. While it is true that many welding jobs are done by robotic welders – for reasons of cost, time, efficiency and various other factors – it is not true that robots are going to replace all welders. There are some things that a robot simply cannot do. Robots can't put their heart and soul into their work, they can't make judgement calls and change what they are doing when something is no longer working, nor can they try new equipment or techniques because they feel it will be better. Instead, they just have to do whatever they are programmed to do.
One way that welders can stay on top of their game is to learn how to program the welding robots. Someone has to adjust wire feeders, input welding commands, and adjust power sources. Someone will need to decide how the robot's arms move, where the positioner is, where the welding torch is and when it turns on. So why not you? It doesn't have to cost you a fortune to learn how to program robotic welders.
RobotWorx is a company that offers free training in welding robot programming. They offer one on one training to everyone in the program and everyone from novices in the field to those who are already experts in robotic welding but who want a refresher course to learn about new software and programs can benefit from their program.
There are no classrooms or textbooks at the RobotWorx training classes. Hands-on training is provided as it has been proven to be the best way to learn any skill. Instruction is given from certified robot technicians and covers safety features, programming, maintenance, and more. Usually those who want the training are paired with those who are not only technicians but are engineers who have built or integrated the system they are teaching about. These sessions provide a great opportunity for people to ask questions, observe, and learn.
The training occurs at the Marion, Ohio facility. After two days of learning from a certified technician, students can then take additional time to learn more and perfect their programming without having direct supervision, but still with access to technicians at any time.
Best of all, this program is free. The catch? You have to purchase a robot welding system from RobotWorx. This may not be feasible for some, but for many this is an excellent chance. Some employers may also pay for the trip to be trained or for new robot systems to get employees free training.
