The independent welding-cobot authority
What is a welding cobot?
A welding cobot is a collaborative six-axis robot arm fitted with a MIG or TIG welding package — power source, wire feeder and torch — that lays consistent weld beads alongside a human operator. Fab shops buy them to offset the certified-welder shortage: payload (typically 10–20 kg) and reach define the work envelope, and a deployed cell welds repeatably across long runs and small batches.
In short
A welder that works beside your team.
A welding cobot (a collaborative welding robot) pairs a six-axis arm with a MIG or TIG welding package and a force-limiting safety system, so it can run repeatable welds next to an operator instead of behind a full cage. For small and mid-size fab shops fighting the certified-welder shortage, it turns a hard-to-hire skill into capacity you can schedule.
- Repeatable welds. Consistent beads across long runs and small batches alike.
- Collaborative by design. Force- and speed-limited under ISO 10218 / ISO/TS 15066.
- Fits existing benches. A compact cell deploys without rebuilding the shop.
- Payload and reach driven. Typically 10–20 kg payload; spec the arm to your parts.
Explore welding cobots
- Buying guides Best welding cobots by use case: small fab shops, value picks, MIG vs TIG, cobot vs traditional welding robot.
- Cost & TCO What a welding cobot really costs: bare arm vs deployed cell, freight, duty and integration — total cost of ownership.
- Comparisons Which to buy: UR10e vs FANUC CRX vs AUBO, cobot cell vs traditional welding robot, by payload and reach.
- Models & specs The spec database: every welding cobot by payload, reach, repeatability and ISO 10218 rating, with compare matrices.
- Safety & compliance ISO 10218 / ISO/TS 15066, risk assessment, force/speed limits and welding-fume extraction — done right.
- Sourcing & importing Importing welding cobots: Alibaba deposit terms, FOB vs landed cost, freight, customs and CE verification.
Why trust this site
We answer the questions buyers actually ask before signing off a welding cobot cell, in plain English, with honest ranges instead of invented figures.
Edited by Daniel Hartley, drawing on integrator interviews and manufacturer specifications. We do not sell cobots, so the advice answers to you, not a sales target.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a welding cobot?
- A welding cobot is a collaborative six-axis robot arm carrying a MIG or TIG welding package that produces repeatable welds while working safely beside an operator. Unlike a caged industrial welding robot, it is force- and speed-limited under ISO/TS 15066, so smaller fab shops can deploy it without full guarding.
- How much does a welding cobot cost?
- The bare six-axis arm runs roughly $3,300–$6,000 FOB on Alibaba (MOQ 1, 30% deposit). A fully integrated, deployed cell — arm, welding package, fixturing, safety and commissioning — typically retails $35,000–$65,000. Integrators report freight, duty and integration are the costs buyers most often underestimate.
- Which welding cobots should a fab shop consider?
- The brands automation engineers evaluate most are Universal Robots (UR10e, UR20), FANUC CRX, AUBO, JAKA and Standard Bots. Choice comes down to payload, reach, repeatability and ISO 10218 rating for your part sizes — compare on the spec database before requesting quotes.