WHAT ARE FUME EXTRACTION SYSTEMS FOR WELDING ROBOTS?

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) data, the number of industrial robots in operation increased from 3 million 904 thousand in 2022 to 4 million 282 thousand in 2023.

Again according to IFR data, the number of industrial robots in operation in Turkey increased by 15% in 2023 compared to the previous year and reached 26 thousand 413 units. Turkey ranked 16th in the world according to robot stock.

Of course, not all of these are welding robots. Approximately 25% of industrial robots in Turkey operate in the automotive sector and 15% in the machinery / metal sector.

The use of robots in production is increasing rapidly in Turkey as in the whole world. Unfortunately, most of the robots used in welded manufacturing do not have fume extraction systems.

However; these robots, which provide more arc time than manual welding processes, cause much more particles to be emitted into the working environment. These welding fume particles produced by robots actually damage the robots themselves. These particles penetrate the sensitive mechanical and electronic parts of the robots and increase the failure rates.

Let's take a quick look at fume extraction systems in welding robots.

1. Fume extraction from robots working inside the cell:

Some welding robots operate in completely enclosed cells. If these cells are designed correctly, there should be a pipe connection on the upper side and there should be grilles of appropriate size on the lower side of the walls of the cell to allow outside air to enter. Please consult our experts for the calculation of the required air flow rate for a completely closed cell.

Smoke suction is provided to a filter unit by pipe connection through the pipe connection hole on the upper side. Ambient air enters naturally through the air inlet grilles on the underside of the cell walls. In some cases, all or part of the clean air coming out of the filter unit can be fed back into the cell at very low speeds from the floor level of the cell.

Welding robot cell

Some robot cells are designed with a completely open top. Different fume extraction systems can be designed for such cells.

• Fume extraction can be provided with the hood. Please contact our experts for flow rate calculation according to the size of the hood and the height at which it will be hung.

  

  Welding fume extraction hood

• If parts are to be loaded continuously from the top with a crane, mobile hoods can be designed.

  

  Movable fume extraction hood

• The cell ceiling can be opened/closed completely. Thus, material transfer from the top can be done easily and when this ceiling, which is also designed as a hood, is closed, smoke extraction can be done in a healthy way.

  

  Welding robot cell with opening roof

• High vacuum extraction can be provided through the torch.

  

  Fume extraction on welding robot torch

• If the design is suitable, bottom suction can be provided.

• If the robot is slider type, hood connection can be made using special suction ducts.

  

  Hood for slider welding robots

• A small push-pull device can be installed inside the cell.

Push-pull system in welding robot cells

2. Fume extraction from robots operating in a completely open environment: Different options are available to absorb the welding fumes produced by such robots.

   • Fume extraction can be provided with the hood. Detailed calculations are required when designing the hood. Please contact our experts for flow rate calculation according to the size of the hood and the height at which it will be hung.

     

     Welding robot fume extraction with fume hood

   • If parts are to be loaded continuously from the top with a crane, mobile hoods can be designed.

   • High vacuum extraction can be provided on-torch

   • If the design is suitable, bottom suction can be provided.

   • If the robot is slider type, hood connection can be made using special suction ducts.

     
     

   Robot integrators can also design very different systems according to the demands of their customers. Whatever the design, we always have a solution to maximise the absorption and filtering of welding fumes.

   
   

   We can also produce efficient solutions for different applications such as plasma/laser cutting robots, grinding robots, painting robots.

   
   

   Companies investing in robots should definitely proceed by taking into account smoke and dust extraction systems before their orders. Much more successful results can be obtained when smoke and dust extraction system design is added at the beginning of the design.

   
   

   Robot integrators must cooperate with expert companies for smoke and dust extraction system designs.