ROKAE’s Intelligent Welding Solutions with Graphical Programming

Source: ROKAE news, September 9, 2025 rokae.com

Summary

ROKAE unveiled — at the 2025 Construction Machinery Smart Manufacturing Conference — a new set of intelligent welding solutions. The headline innovation: a collaborative arc welding graphical programming software package designed so that users can become proficient in just two hours and achieve competent usage within a day. Key features include:

• Fully Chinese graphical interface with guided programming, so non-expert operators can quickly set up welding tasks without deep robotics or coding knowledge. rokae.com

• Advanced arc welding functions such as Arc Tracking, External Axis Synchronization, Multi-Layer / Multi-Pass welding, 3D vision-based teaching-free welding, etc. These are sophisticated features even in high-end robotics systems. rokae.com

• Smart drag teaching handle: integrates process parameter setting, point interpolation, and capability to switch between simulated and actual welding. This improves human-robot interaction. rokae.com

The system is targeted at high-mix, low-volume production, where welding jobs vary frequently and cannot justify long programming times or specialized robot programmers. rokae.com

Understanding and Analysis

This innovation by ROKAE is interesting for several reasons:

1. Democratization and usability: One of the biggest barriers in robotic welding adoption is complexity: programming robot paths, fine-tuning weld parameters, and dealing with different part geometries all require expertise. A graphical, guided system that reduces this learning curve means more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can use robotic welding without needing a large team of robotics engineers.

2. High-mix/low-volume applications: Many companies no longer run huge production volumes of identical parts; instead, they have smaller batches, more customization, or frequently changing designs. Systems that minimize setup time, reprogramming time, and operator training time have more value in such environments. ROKAE is addressing that market need.

3. Advanced features in accessible form: Arc tracking (compensating for deviations in part alignment or geometry), external axis synchronization, vision-based welding—all are advanced features. Integrating them under a user-friendly interface is not trivial. Ensuring that these features work robustly in varying conditions is challenging (lighting, part geometry, misalignment, etc.).

4. Human-robot interaction improvements: The drag teaching handle and real/simulated switching are nice touches. They help operators understand and validate welding paths without burning metal or risking safety. It allows for prototyping, adjustments, and quicker calibration.

5. Effect on productivity and cost: By lowering training times, reducing mistakes due to misprogramming, and enabling quicker job changeovers, such systems can significantly reduce downtime and overheads. Though the initial investment might still be substantial, the operating cost savings and increased utilization of robot cells can pay off.

Possible Challenges

• Robustness and error handling: Low-volume, high-mix work means many edge cases—different materials, joint geometries, fixtures. The system must handle variation reliably.

• Quality assurance: While simplifying programming, ensuring weld quality (penetration, consistency, avoiding defects) remains essential. There may need to be sensor feedback, non-destructive testing, or verification built in.

• Integration with existing infrastructure: Many factories have legacy fixtures, tooling, or constraints. The new system must interface well with those, or the cost to change may be high.

• Operator acceptance and training: Even with simplified interfaces, operators must trust the system. Mistakes in welds may have safety or regulatory implications. Training for recognizing when manual override or expert intervention is needed is required.

Conclusion

ROKAE’s approach aligns with broader trends in automation: making advanced robotics more user-friendly, lowering technical barriers, and enabling SMEs to use high-end welding tech. If well implemented, this kind of system can accelerate adoption of robotic welding beyond large OEMs. Also, it likely helps with flexibility and shorter time-to-market for industries with varied product designs.