Technology is Revolutionizing Welding and Fabrication Processes

metal welding
March 30, 2023

Robots seem to be taking over the world, but it’s not what you think. Steelway Laser Cutting uses machines (otherwise known as robots) for laser cutting, welding, and metal fabrication. Furthermore, how is this technology revolutionizing the welding and fabrication process? 

What are the pros and cons of automated fabrication versus manual fabrication? 

Machines and robots are our friends. They allow us to work better, faster, and easily create more complex projects. 

Let’s discover the industries that use welding and fabrication and how they benefit from the technology that’s changing the welding and fabrication process. 

Overview of Welding and Fabrication in Various Industries 

Welding and fabrication are two different processes used during the manufacturing process of metalwork. Welding is the process that combines two or more pieces of metal. In addition, fabrication refers to the overall complete metal fabrication process.  Metal manufacturers are highly trained individuals that you’ll find in various industries to create the incredible metal machines and wonderful structures we see today. 

Even though a plethora of industries use welding and fabrication, here are a few that heavily rely on it. 

Construction Industry 

 Welding with steel is used in many construction projects worldwide, from residential buildings to skyscrapers. The construction industry relies on welding services to start and finish each task. 

Automotive Industry 

 The automotive industry is gigantic. They use metals to weld everything from motorcycles to vehicles. Even the smallest of car parts need some type of welding services. 

Aerospace Industry 

 Every airplane and helicopter also need welded parts. Even SpaceX requires welding. Therefore, the aerospace industry uses welding services to get the job done. 

Maintenance and Manufacturing 

 Anything that needs maintenance and manufacturing requires welding. Buildings and even some computer parts require the assistance of welders. 

With so many industries relying on welding services, it’s no wonder welding and fabrication technology are becoming more common. But how does this transform the welding and fabrication process as a whole? 

Let’s review the difference between manual and automated fabrication and discuss their pros and cons to get a better understanding. 

What is the Difference Between Manual Vs Automated Fabrication Processes? 

Automation, sometimes called robotic welding, has several advantages and disadvantages over manual welding. However, choosing one is primarily due to the application process. 

Nevertheless, here are the pros and cons of manual and automated welding processes. 

Automated Fabrication Welding 

Automated welding has two different options. Option one is a fully automated welding procedure where the machine guides the entire process. The second option is a semi-automated welding process. With the help of a person, the individual loads the metal and removes it once it’s complete. 

Pros of Automated Fabrication 

Accuracy 

 Automated welding gives you excellent weld quality due to the electronic weld process controllers. An automated process ensures consistency between replicas. 

Speed 

 Automating your welding project produces a quick turnaround. You can create consistent projects with more efficient results than a human. 

Less Waste

 The accuracy of the automation process allows for fewer scraps and less waste. 

Lower Production Costs 

 An automation process is less expensive than paying workers to do the same thing. Although a semi-automated process involves a person, you still save money. 

Efficiency

The automated fabrication process uses machinery to produce maximum productivity using less time and effort. 

Cons of Automated Fabrication 

Less Flexibility 

 An automated process allows the machine to repeat tasks. However, if you need to do something slightly different, you must reprogram the automation, which takes extra time and money. 

Machine Repairs

 If a machine needs repairs, it can be down for hours or days. 

Manual Fabrication 

Manual fabrication is done by humans, not machines. 

Pros of Manual Welding 

Flexibility 

 An employee, by nature, is flexible enough to understand different rules, parameters, and project types. Therefore, there is no need to re-train or reprogram. 

Replaceability 

 If one of your employees calls out sick, another employee can take over. If a welding machine breaks, you will have to stop production until it’s repaired. 

Human perception

 Machines don’t look around and see if anything is missing, but employees know what to look for and be aware of certain issues. 

Cons of Manual Fabrication

Risk 

 Injuries at work are bad. It puts employees out of work for days, weeks, or sometimes months. 

Slow Speeds

 Depending on the project, humans sometimes work slower than machines.  

These pros and cons allow us to examine how technology has changed the welding and fabrication process across all industries. This includes laser-cutting machinery. 

How Has Laser Cutting Changed Welding Techniques? 

Laser cutting has revolutionized the welding and fabrication process throughout all industries. However, many prefer traditional welding and fabrication techniques over the latest technology. 

Nevertheless, let’s examine how laser cutting has advanced over the years.  

Versatility 

 You can use lasers for various materials. You can cut steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and titanium using a laser. However, you can also cut wood and plastics. A laser provides great versatility. 

Optimum Precision

 A laser gives you great precision. You can also control the size of the laser beam, which allows you to perform micro welds for smaller projects. 

Set up at a Distance 

 Setting up your laser at a distance from its component is an option that doesn’t hinder the precision you receive. 

Less waste

 Welding with a laser produces less waste created throughout the process. 

Strength

 Laser welding produces strong welds with significant width-to-depth ratios. 

Less Heat Affected Zones (HAZs) 

 Even though lasers create heat, it makes less HAZ. Once the machine is turned off, HAZ dissipates quickly, allowing the area to cool fast.  

Steelway Laser Cutting Uses Advanced Technology for All Your Welding and Fabrication Needs 

Welders can be assisted with complex projects, allowing us to produce better, faster, and more accurate results with the use of advanced technology. 

Steelway Laser Cutting uses a state-of-the-art TruLaser 1030 Fiber Laser to precisely, quickly, and accurately cut through metal. 

Our additional machinery allows us to bend and weld. The TrueBend Series 3000 is a fast metal bending piece of tech. 

Let’s begin your laser cutting, welding, and fabrication objectives. 

Contact us today.