From the first part to mass production – what does the implementation of a cobotic welding station look like?
The robotization of welding has ceased to be a solution reserved exclusively for large manufacturing facilities. More and more small and medium-sized enterprises are looking for ways to boost efficiency, improve quality, and address the shortage of qualified welders. Nevertheless, many companies still find themselves asking the same questions.
What does the implementation of a welding robot look like? Is its programming difficult? How much time does it take to set up the workstation? What does the operator's daily work involve
In this article, we want to answer precisely these questions. This will not be a catalog description or a presentation of technical specifications. We will show you the entire implementation process of a cobotic welding station—from preparing the first part and programming the DOBOT CR10A collaborative robot, all the way to mass production and the workstation in action at our client's facility.
It is the process itself that matters most. The robot is simply the tool that helps execute it.
On the showcased workstation, we used the DOBOT CR10A collaborative robot; however, the main hero of this article is not the robot itself, but the entire implementation process—from part preparation all the way to mass production.
Stage 1. Every good weld begins with a well-prepared part
Many people think that a robot implementation starts with its startup. In reality, the first stage looks completely different. Before the robot makes its very first move, the workstation and the tooling must be properly prepared. It is the tooling that is responsible for the correct referencing and repeatable clamping of every consecutive part.
In the video, you can see how the operator sets up the modular welding table, mounting the locating elements and clamps. Each of them has its own task—to hold the part in the exact same position during subsequent production cycles. This might seem like a minor detail, but this is precisely where the quality of the entire process begins. The robot will always execute the exact same movement. If a part is placed in a different location than during programming, the weld will end up in a different place as well. That is why properly designed tooling is one of the most important elements of the entire workstation.
💡 What is worth remembering?
The robot will always execute the exact same movement. It is the tooling that determines whether each consecutive weld is placed precisely where it should be. |
Stage 2. Robot programming does not have to be complicated
One of the biggest concerns for companies planning robotization is robot programming. We often imagine complicated lines of code and the necessity of hiring a specialist. However, modern collaborative robots work in a completely different way.
On the showcased workstation, we used the DOBOT CR10A collaborative robot, whose programming primarily involves guiding the robot to consecutive points and building the welding trajectory. Step by step, the operator teaches the robot the course of the process, saving the key positions.
The video also demonstrates that creating a program is not a one-time action. Each trajectory is verified, and minor adjustments are made if necessary to achieve a smooth torch movement and proper weld quality. It is precisely at this stage that the program is created, which will later be executed hundreds or even thousands of times with the exact same accuracy.
💡 What is worth remembering?
Programming a collaborative robot is primarily about teaching it the right process. The better the program is prepared, the easier it will be to launch mass production. |
Stage 3. Once the program is ready, the real work begins
After programming is complete, the stage that matters most to most companies begins—daily production.
In the video, you can see the workstation's full operating cycle. The operator removes the finished part, places the next component into the fixture, secures the clamp, and starts the program. From this moment on, the robot performs all programmed welding operations, maintaining the exact same trajectory and sequence of movements.
This is where the significance of the earlier stages becomes most apparent.
Thanks to the proper preparation of the workstation and correct programming, the operator does not have to set up the robot from scratch every time. Simply swap the part and start the next cycle. The robot handles the repetitive work, allowing the operator to prepare the next component or inspect the quality of the finished parts.
In practice, this translates to a more structured process and greater production predictability.
💡 What is worth remembering?
Mass production is not about the robot working faster than a human. Its greatest advantage is repeatability and the ability to manufacture consecutive parts in an identical manner. |
Stage 4. How to simplify the preparation of new parts?
Every new part requires preparing a new program or modifying an existing one. That is why the ease of work when launching new projects is just as important as the production itself.
The DOBOT Welding Assistant was created specifically to make this stage easier.
The device allows for convenient control of the robot without the need to constantly move back and forth between the control panel and the workstation. The operator can precisely set consecutive points while keeping a close eye on the part and the position of the torch.
This solution does not replace the operator's experience, but it significantly streamlines their work and reduces the time needed to prepare new elements for production.
This is especially valued by companies that change their product range regularly or manufacture shorter production runs.
💡 What is worth remembering?
Properly designed tools support the operator and simplify daily work. It is precisely these seemingly small improvements that make up an efficient welding workstation. |
Stage 5. The best test is daily production
The greatest value of any implementation is not a demonstration, but daily work in an actual manufacturing facility.
In this final video, we present the workstation already operating at one of our clients' facilities.
You can see the robot executing consecutive welds, smooth transitions between individual stages of the process, and the finished part after the cycle is complete.
This is the best proof that the entire preceding process—from tooling preparation and programming to production launch—delivers the expected results.
For us, this is what a completed implementation looks like.
Not when the robot performs its first weld during a demonstration.
Only when it supports our client's production day in and day out.
What is worth remembering?
The most important element of robotization is not the robot itself.
The most important thing is a well-prepared process.
It is the process that determines whether the workstation operates stably, whether the operator can change parts quickly, and whether every single weld is executed in exactly the same way.
The DOBOT CR10A collaborative robot is just one component of this process. Equally important are properly designed tooling, appropriate programming, workstation ergonomics, and the experience of the team responsible for implementation.
That is why at GM Automatyka, we look at robotization holistically. Our goal is not merely to deliver a robot, but to provide a complete solution that offers real support to your production.
If you are wondering whether a similar workstation would work for your company, feel free to contact our team. We will be happy to show you what the entire implementation process looks like and help you choose a solution tailored to your production needs.
Bring the vision of tomorrow to your production today.