Student Robotic Welding Competition

How Do You Qualify?

You need to be under age 23 as of October 12, 2019 and enrolled in an accredited secondary or postsecondary institution that provides robotic arc welding curriculum.

What’s The Challenge?

Compete against other students and the clock. 2.5 days. 6 sessions. 2 hours each. Execute 4 project - based activities to construct a functioning object using precut and formed materials with instructions. Complete 2 written exams on technology and industrial safety fundamentals

Whats Equipment Will Be Used?

Listed below are systems used during the competition 

1. Fanuc with Lincoln 
2. Motoman with Miller
3. ABB with Miller
4. Kuka with Miller

What’s in It for You?

Hiring Managers will be there looking for rock stars in robotic arc welding knowledge, ability, accuracy and quality. Maybe they’ll see someone with the skills who’s worth hiring.  Oh, and a cash prize: First place: $1,000 | Second Place: $500 | Third Place: $250

What Do You Get?

Bragging rights... for yourself and your school. Satisfaction... You’ve given the next generation the tools and skills to make them efficient and impactful in the future of welding manufacturing. That’s awesome.

• Normal sheet metal PPE consisting of proper attire should include proper work boots, jeans and long sleeve cotton shirts, and no loose fitting or ornamental clothing.
• Kevlar impregnated gloves, proper eye protection for arc sparks and UV.
• Depending on the fabrication process: Kevlar protective sleeves or welding jacket
• Depending on the use of overhead equipment during the preparation of the coupon sample or assembly: Use of ASTM hard hats
• Temperature sticks or temperature pyrometer.
• Breathing protection such as a personal filter type respirator may be worn for welding fumes.

Checklist: Confirm the review of D16.1, D16.2 and the AWS Z49 safety series.

Check Back Again for Information on our 2019 Competition Dates

The Student Robotic Welding Competition sponsored by the American Welding Society, Miami, Fla., was held October 9-11 at the Robotics Technology Park, Huntsville, AL.

Aidan McDonnell and Justin Grunsell, both students at Conestoga College in Canada, placed first and second, respectively. All students had 2.5 days to execute 4 project-based activities to construct a functioning object using precut and formed materials with instructions, as well as to complete 2 written exams on technology and industrial safety fundamentals.

Aidan McDonnell

Justin Grunsell

Sean Moran, the competition’s chairman, noted this event challenged students in various ways. “Each contestant was provided with materials and instructions to construct a functioning metal mail box in a series of four operations. Each of the operations was performed on one of four different brands of robots. Therefore, not only were the competitors challenged with the call out of assembly instructions, each of these instructions required the use of a different robot operating system,” Moran said.

All students were judged on comprehension, ability, and accuracy of the robot execution as well as the completed steel mail box quality. The welding project design was done by Chris Gandee of Lincoln Electric. The project assembly fixtures were designed by James Shelley of American Hydro. Judging was performed by Jeff Noruk of Servo Robot.