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Skip the Heavy Lifting

Modular positioning improves safety, efficiency and quality

Author: Wendy Calcaterra

Published: January 13, 2021

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Industry

Mining

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Challenge

Unusual Parts

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Challenges

Some parts just seem to be the perfect storm of all the attributes that make them difficult to weld: an irregular shape, enormous weight, a lack of any good hook points, and rounded areas that make it hard to hold without rolling. Add to that some hidden welds that have to be made before the next piece can be added. How do you hold a piece like in the correct position to weld? 

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Solution

  • Powered Manipulator 
  • Teach Controller 

The answer is to start with positioning. No matter what, a heavy part is always going to present challenges unless you can move it into whatever position is necessary. For that, a powered manipulator provides the ability to lift, tilt, and rotate your part in its fixturing. Irregular shape and lack of hook points are no longer issues, and you get weld access from every angle. Adding a teach controller allows you to save positions for efficient, repeatable moves. 

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Result

This solution increases safety and improves welder comfort by eliminating heavy lifting and positioning the part more ergonomically. It also allows the part to be tacked together in the positioner, freeing up a tack cell and fitter for other work. Modular fixturing enables a progressive build of the part while it’s still in the fixture, which results in higher quality welds and faster throughput. 

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Getting Started with bluco

1. Share your challenge

Upload a description of your workholding application and a CAD model of your part to our secure online portal. Submitting your info doesn’t mean you’ve made up your mind, it just starts a conversation.

2. Talk With Us

Within 1-2 days, an application engineer will call to set up a design consultation. We never contract out, so you’ll deal directly with Bluco and communications will be kept strictly confidential.

3. Review Your Proposal

Once we understand your challenges and goals, we’ll develop custom modular solutions. Then, we’ll review designs as well as purchase and rental options virtually. Check out the rest of our process here.