In the world of industrial automation, the use of collaborative robots, or ‘cobots’, is revolutionising production processes by offering flexible and highly efficient solutions. The TS Weld Mate, a compact and transportable welding cell equipped with the CL110N collaborative robot from Kawasaki Robotics, is a solution designed for companies seeking simplicity, productivity and safety.
One of the distinguishing features of the TS Weld Mate is its compact size, with a footprint of 1650 x 2400 mm, including work stations of 800 x 550 mm each.
Thanks to these small dimensions, the cell can be easily integrated even in limited production spaces. The TS Weld Mate is also designed to be fully transportable: thanks to its self-contained cabin and the integration of all essential components, it can be moved easily within the hall or to other production sites, offering extraordinary operational flexibility.
This versatility is particularly useful for production facilities that need to adapt their lines to different requirements or operate across multiple plants.
Designed for General Industry and those who need to weld small batches, the TS Weld Mate is the ideal alternative to manual welding. Instead of dedicating human resources to manual and repetitive operations, companies can outsource the work to the robot cell, achieving greater precision and improving the quality of operations.
At the heart of the TS Weld Mate is the CL110N collaborative robot
Designed to offer an intuitive and accessible user experience, with a maximum load of 10 kg and an outreach of 1000 mm, this cobot efficiently handles collaborative welding, handling and palletising operations.
Unlike traditional industrial robots, which may require advanced technical skills and more or less complex programming, this model stands out for its extreme simplicity of programming. In fact, the CL110N uses a block programming system, which allows the creation of paths and commands with drag&drop functionality, exploiting predefined macros and reusing parts of already created programmes. This significantly speeds up the configuration process and reduces the risk of errors. Once configured, the robot's path can be simulated within a virtual environment, where movements, trajectories and operations can be verified and optimised before moving on to actual production, reducing costs and time associated with any changes during the operational phase.
Even those with little experience with automation can therefore quickly learn how to operate it. This feature reduces the need for highly specialised operators, making automation accessible to a wider range of production environments.
The CL110N is part of the CL Series, launched by Kawasaki Robotics in 2023, which comprises four models designed to suit a wide range of applications. It features free orientation mounting and IP66 protection, which ensures it is resistant to dust and liquids. Like all robots from Kawasaki Robotics, the CL series cobots incorporate solutions that improve cable management and safety. All data and power cables pass through the robot arm, ensuring a clean and safe design, facilitating maintenance and cleaning operations.
Performance-wise, the CL110N is extremely efficient: with an industry-leading speed of 200°/s and a repeatability of ± 0.02 mm, it guarantees accuracy and speed in every operation. These results are possible thanks to integrated high-quality components such as 24-bit encoders, which offer one of the highest resolutions available on the market, and a lightweight yet robust construction typical of Kawasaki Robotics' industrial robots.
The introduction of the TS Weld Mate offers, in summary, a number of tangible benefits. Thanks to the dual manual rotary table workstation, operators can prepare one workpiece while the robot works on the other, minimising downtime and increasing overall productivity. The automation of the welding process also allows a significant reduction in operating costs, as it decreases the need for manual labour, while reducing errors and production waste. The CL110N robot ensures consistent quality, providing precise and uniform welds, reducing the variability typical of manual operations and improving the quality of the finished product. Finally, with the robot doing the welding, the risk of accidents for operators is drastically reduced, thus improving overall safety and working conditions in the company.