Estudo de caso comparativo entre robô colaborativo de solda e solda manual

Abstract

Welding is one of the main manufacturing processes used in the metalworking industry and plays a fundamental role in joining structural components. Traditionally performed manually, this operation relies directly on the operator's skill, which may lead to variations in quality and repeatability. With the advancement of industrial automation, collaborative robots have been introduced as an alternative for welding processes, offering greater operational consistency and potential for standardization. In this context, the present study aimed to conduct a comparative case study between manual welding and welding performed using a collaborative robot, evaluating their performance under real production conditions. The analysis focused on process repeatability and the assessment of the macrographic characteristics of the welded joints, allowing the consistency and internal quality of the welds produced by each method to be verified. The adopted methodology was based on data collection in an industrial environment through direct observation of operations and analysis of the welded parts. Parameters such as weld bead uniformity, the occurrence of discontinuities, and variation among samples were considered. The results obtained made it possible to identify the main advantages and limitations of each process, contributing to the assessment of the feasibility of using collaborative robots in welding and supporting decision-making in industrial applications.