KUKA.ArcTech

The products from the KUKA.ArcTech family turn the KUKA robot into a welding robot. With the practical option packages, you can operate and program your welding application conveniently and intuitively while safeguarding quality.

Easy start-up and programming of welding robots

KUKA.ArcTech adds intuitive commands, structured menus and practical status keys to a KUKA robot system for robotic arc welding. For simple and convenient operation, several practical status keys are added to the familiar KUKA smartPAD user interface to control the welding process and the power source. By mirroring the integrated EasyTeach status keys to the KUKA.ready2_pilot keys of the 6D mouse, welding technology commands can be programmed without taking your eyes off the weld seam.

Easy configuration of power sources

Preconfigured welding source profiles ensure high compatibility with all common power sources and enable uncomplicated integration. The flexible design enables control of power sources via job/program mode (setpoint values via program numbers) or characteristic/channel mode (setpoint values via several weld parameters).

The robot controller communicates with the power source via the field bus, e.g. the EtherCAT available as standard. With just a single mouse click, the holistic configuration is conveniently created with KUKA.WorkVisual and predefined configurations for power sources (e.g. for Binzel, ESAB, EWM, Fronius, Kemppi, Megmeet, Miller, Lincoln, Lorch and SKS). Optimize your configuration to meet your requirements by means of customized parameterization.

KUKA.ArcTech: integrated simplicity, performance and quality

Reaction to welding faults
- Configurable fault strategies for:
  - − Ignition faults
  - − Seam faults
  - − Check for wire stuck to part at end of seam
- Advanced Error Recovery enables automatic robot motion to a service position
- PLC interface
Torch collision / TCP check
- Collision monitoring and automatic system shutdown
- Integrated manual TCP check for quick and easy monitoring and correction of the TCP
Learn more in the video
Online/offline optimization
- Weld parameter management
- Robot TCP velocity
- Weave parameters
- Mirroring of welding programs on external axes

KUKA.ArcTech welding software is modular in structure and can be adapted to your needs.

The option packages offer a wide range of functions to allow for easy operation of arc welding processes as well as efficient and fast programming. This enables targeted implementation of a broad variety of requirements for the arc welding process.

KUKA.ArcTech Basic

KUKA.ArcTech Basic is the basic module of the product family. It comprises all essential functions to accomplish all standard welding tasks. It makes no difference whether the power source to be controlled is a MIG/MAG, TIG or plasma device.

KUKA.ArcTech weld parameter management ensures simple programming and optimization of weld parameters. This is achieved by mapping the weld instruction or welding procedure specification (WPS) in a weld data set.

Functions of basic module KUKA.ArcTech Basic:

One-click start-up via preconfigured welding source profiles
Control of power sources in job/program mode (setpoint values via program numbers) or characteristic/channel mode (setpoint values via several welding parameters)
Weld parameter management for ignition, weld and end crater parameters to implement WPSs
EasyTeach function for quick and easy programming of welding and motion commands
Editors for online/offline optimization of weld parameters in application programs
Freely definable window for displaying production-relevant process parameters
Display of power source websites for visualization and configuration of weld parameters
TCP check routine for quick manual corrections
Creation of documentation with all weld parameters as a system handover report

KUKA.ArcTech Advanced

KUKA.ArcTech Advanced expands the functional spectrum of KUKA.ArcTech Basic. The additional option makes it possible to tackle welding tasks that place higher demands on welding technology, e.g. to achieve high-grade metallurgical properties and to provide extended process monitoring functions.

Functions of KUKA.ArcTech Advanced:

Welding in a robot team: combined with the KUKA.RoboTeam software for synchronized welding with up to 4 robots
Programmable weld-specific error recovery
Seam length monitoring
Advanced Error Recovery
Sloping of weld parameters
Support of SKS Synchroweld and Fronius Dynamic Power Control
PLC interface for weld seam sequence control
Engineering interface for user-specific expansions

KUKA.ArcSense

KUKA.ArcSense expands the functional spectrum of KUKA.ArcTech Basic.

KUKA.ArcSense analyses the feedback signal of the welding current and compensates for process-related deviations arising, for example, from heat distortion or workpiece inaccuracies.

The application software KUKA.ArcSense is a through-the-arc seam tracking (TAST) sensor for TCP position correction on fillet and V welds with a plate thickness of > 3 mm. A suitable MIG/MAG welding process with a constant voltage characteristic (CV) and an appropriate checkback signal for the arc sensor are required for reliable functioning.

KUKA.ArcSense can also be combined with a shunt box if the intended weld power source does not provide an appropriate checkback signal at the field bus interface.

Areas of use:

Horizontal and vertical control during MIG/MAG welding, e.g. for fillets and V welds
Horizontal and vertical control for MIG/MAG welding with constant torch distance (stick-out)
Horizontal and vertical control for TIG welding, plasma welding and plasma cutting

KUKA.ArcTech MultiLayer

KUKA.ArcTech MultiLayer expands KUKA.ArcTech Basic to include user-friendly functions for quick and easy programming of multi-layer weld seams. The position for the filler and cover layers is determined via specific offset values based on the root layer programmed in a predefined program structure. In addition, KUKA.ArcTech MultiLayer also allows for specific weld parameters to be defined for each programmed section of a weld seam.

To maximize productivity, KUKA.ArcTech MultiLayer can be combined with KUKA.ArcSense or KUKA.SeamTech Tracking. For the purpose of optimizing heat input, it is possible to perform other welding tasks after individual filler and cover layers.

Functions of KUKA.MultiLayer:

Programming multi-layer weld seams with up to 99 layers
Customized modification of parameters for each filler or cover layer:
- Layer direction
- Root layer offset (translational and rotational)
- Weld parameters such as velocity and weaving
- Offset for individual points

KUKA.ArcTech AdaptiveWelding

KUKA.ArcTech AdaptiveWelding expands the functional spectrum of KUKA.ArcTech Basic.

KUKA.ArcTech AdaptiveWelding processes measured variables such as seam volume, gap width or even the offset of edge heights in order to automate corresponding adjustments to weld parameters. It does not matter whether the deviations are detected in advance or during the welding process. The continuous adaptation of the parameters ensures consistent and reliable weld seam quality and boosts the productivity of the application.

With KUKA.ArcTech AdaptiveWelding, weld parameters can be continuously or gradually adjusted to component tolerances and other irregularities in the ongoing welding process via a configurable interface.

Functions of KUKA.ArcTech AdaptiveWelding:

Adaptation of weld parameters and weave parameters during program execution based on tolerance values detected by sensor systems
Consideration of the configured parameter limits of the data set used
Predefined modules simplify the integration and processing of sensor data
Predefined characteristics can be configured in combination with the KUKA.SeamTech Tracking option package