Rice Automation
Robotic welding cells
A robotic welding cell is the robot, welder, positioner, fixture table, and guarding built as one unit. Rice Automation builds turnkey robotic welding cells around a new robot or a refurbished FANUC robot. Every cell runs at Rice Automation before it ships. Robotic welding is that robot and welder working inside the cell. The cell types are listed below.
Single Zone Weld Cell
DZSR-SD
Dual Zone Slide Front Door Work Cell
DZSF-PD
Dual Zone Single Side Work Cell
DZMTT
Dual Zone Manual Turn Table Work Cell
DZSTT
Dual Zone Servo Drive Turn Table Work Cell
DZPLT
Dual Zone Pallet Work Cell
DZ-ANG
Dual Zone Angled Work Cell
DZSR-DET
Dual Zone Tables Work Cell
DZSR-DT
Dual Zone Dual HSTS Work Cell
FW-1
Ferris Wheel Work Cell
Custom Cells
Which robot welding cell fits your parts
Match the cell to how the part is loaded and how large it is. The figures below are the ones printed on each cell page.
| Cell | Zones | Loading | Best for | Positioner or table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter stand | One skid | Robot, welder, and controller together | A first cell, or a table you already have | Joins to a welding table |
| Single zone | One | Load, then the robot welds | One fixture at a time | 36 by 89 inch table |
| DZSR-SD | Dual | Sliding door, weld and load together | Small to medium parts | 36 by 89 inch table |
| DZMTT | Dual | Manual turntable, air-locking shot pin | Load one side while the robot welds | Turntable |
| DZSTT | Dual | Servo turntable in the robot controller | Load while the arc stays on | Servo turntable |
| Pallet (DZPLT) | Dual | Two tables, pneumatic doors | Two fixtures, zoned safety | Dual fixture tables |
| Ferris wheel (FW-1) | Dual headstocks | Servo main turn | Heavier parts on a headstock | 500 kg (1,100 lb) per headstock |
| Custom | Quoted | Built around the part | One process or a whole line | Customer spec |
Single zone vs dual zone welding cells
A single zone cell has one opening. You load the fixture, close the cell, and the robot welds. The standard table is a 3 inch tubular fixture table, 36 by 89 inches, inside 79 inch two-tone walls. A personnel door sits on a safety interlock.
A dual zone cell gives you a second station. On the DZSR-SD, the manual sliding front door lets you weld, load, and unload at the same time. On the DZMTT, a manual turntable with an air-locking shot pin lets you load one side while the robot welds the other. On the DZSTT, the servo turntable is integrated into the robot controller, so you load while the arc stays on. The pallet cell has two work tables and pneumatic doors in the safety system.
That second station is how a dual zone cell keeps the arc on while the next part is loaded. The cell pages call this out as weld, load, and unload at the same time, or load while the arc stays on. The cell types above use those names.
What a turnkey cell includes
A turnkey robotic welding cell from Rice Automation is built and tested as one unit. Across the standard cells, the package includes the robot, the controller, and the welder, mounted so the cell can be moved. Most of those pages put the controller and welder on the rear. The DZSR-DT mounts them on the side. Cables and wiring run in a covered wire tray. Where a page lists a safety disconnect, the components are wired to it.
The workholding is the fixture table, a turntable, a pallet pair, or headstocks, depending on the model. Walls are solid steel. Doors that a person uses sit on a safety interlock. The starter stand is the small end of that list: controller, welder, and robot on one portable skid, ready to weld after installation, with connection plates for a welding table you already have.
The welder on a quoted cell is named when the cell is built. Lincoln Power Wave, Miller, and Fronius are power sources paired with these Fanuc robots. The quote names the one on that cell.
Safety and guarding
The cell pages describe the guarding that ships with each model. Standard cells use solid steel walls, including the 79 inch two-tone walls on the single zone and DZSR-SD. A personnel door, or a sliding side door, is on a safety interlock so the robot stops for maintenance access.
Where the cell uses scanning, the page says so. The ferris wheel has a dual area sensor, and those sensors are integrated into a safety-rated PLC. The DZSR-DT cell uses area scanners. The DZSR-DET cell uses a zoned safety light curtain. The ferris wheel uses an Allen-Bradley safety PLC and HMI. The cell pages that list a safety disconnect wire the incoming power to one.
From quote to a running cell
Custom cells are quoted from the part. Tell us what you weld, and whether the cell should use a new robot or a used welding robot, or ask us to match one.
Rice Automation builds the cell and runs it at Rice Automation before it ships. You can tour the shop Monday through Friday and watch a cell weld. Freight is quoted, and the cell ships nationwide. The starter stand is ready to weld after installation on your table. Training videos are free with a welding robot from Rice Automation.
Call (877) 855-7020 for the current price and for how soon the cell can ship.
New or refurbished FANUC robots in our cells
These cells are built around a new or refurbished FANUC robot. A refurbished robot is serviced here: the arm is checked, batteries are replaced, joints are greased, and the robot is run under power before it is offered. An as-is robot is labeled as-is.
The used welding robots library is sorted by controller, from R-J3iB to R-30iB Plus. The 120iC is the arm Rice builds the most cells around. If you already have a Fanuc robot, call and tell us the model and controller.
Robotic welding cell FAQ
How much floor space does a dual zone cell need? A dual zone cell is built to take little floor space. Call with the part and we will tell you what that layout needs.
Can one cell weld more than one part? Yes. Small cells with modular fixtures let you weld more than one product under the same robot. A dual-door cell lets parts move in one direction so load and unload time drops.
What welder comes in the cell? The controller and welder mount on the cell. The quote names the welder. Lincoln, Miller, and Fronius are the power sources paired with these robots.
Can I bring my own robot? Yes. Call (877) 855-7020 and tell us the model and controller you already have.
Do you ship the cell? Yes. Freight is quoted, and the cell ships nationwide. Call (877) 855-7020 for the current price and for setting the cell on your floor.
Download the cell brochure (PDF)
The brochure is the same cell list, including positioning equipment and how to get started. It is a secondary copy of the pages on this site.