Machine tending is, by far, the most popular application for collaborative robots. It’s a perfect fit for a cobot’s unique ability to work alongside or together with people without safety fencing.

Welding of one sort or another has been the No. 1 application for industrial robots almost since the technology was invented.

New technologies are making MIG welders a good option for joining aluminum.

Welding allows engineers to join lightweight materials.

Letters matter to welders. A, B and C, for example, are grades that employers use to determine a welder’s current ability, work assignments and pay scale. Letter A is the highest grade, followed by B and C.