Automation has undoubtedly been a welcome addition to the welding industry. It has helped address the persistent gap in skilled labor and delivered precise, repeatable welds that ensure the uniformity needed for high-volume part production.

We are transitioning into a digital workforce economy, perhaps even approaching the point where robots become a common fixture in every home. Routine, repetitive tasks such as cutting, welding, and polishing — tasks that can be expressed as procedural instructions — are already widely accepted as suitable for robots or cobots.

Every December, my sister dusts off her trusty stand mixer, and we dive into cookie-making season. Last year, I found myself in the middle of a sugar explosion with my two-year-old nephew as we decorated cookies under mountains of rainbow sprinkles.

KR CYBERTECH nano edition robots perform synchronized welding on an automotive part.

Synchronized automation is becoming a defining capability in modern welding operations. With manufacturers facing increasing pressure to improve quality, accelerate production, and manage labor demands, multirobot cells are proving to be essential, especially those where welding robots work in parallel with robots completing other tasks.

Additive manufacturing (AM) of metals is an exciting new field ripe for innovation. It also has roots over 1000 years old, dating back to the first time two pieces of iron were forge welded to form a larger body. Welding has always been an additive process, making it readily adaptable to the 3D printing of metal parts.

Always use the right tool for the work. This maxim sticks with me, particularly when I try to take a shortcut. We have all taken shortcuts, and they sometimes lead us operators to have to start over — a sure-fire route to a much longer job.

Advances in fiber laser technology have generated significant attention in recent years. Today, when a shop considers investing in a new CNC cutting machine, the much-publicized benefits of fiber laser may make it seem like the sensible choice.

Plasma cutting demonstrates its strength on 64-mm (2.5-in.) mild steel, reinforcing why it's the preferred choice for thick-section applications over fiber laser.

Q: How do I choose the most suitable filler metal for welding a particular aluminum base metal? There are many aluminum base metals used in the industry, and multiple aluminum filler metals are available. I have also been informed that some base metals can be welded with several different filler metals.

Teradyne Robotics will open a new U.S. operations hub in Wixom, Mich., in 2026 to manufacture UR cobots and support advanced robotics deployment.

AWS, Miami, Fla., is reinforcing its workforce development efforts through two key initiatives: offering $2.7 million in welding scholarships via the AWS Foundation and partnering with an industry trade association to develop specialized training and certification for the heat transfer and diesel emissions sectors.

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