Doosan Cobots: The Buzz from Machine Shops

Ellison Technologies has been working with Doosan Robotics since 2019. We choose collaborative robots from Doosan because of their quality, impressive technical specifications, and broad product offering.

But rather than focus on specs and details, we’re going to share with you what we’ve heard from the machine shops that have taken the plunge and installed Doosan cobots.  

“We wish we’d done it sooner.”

There’s a misconception that automation and robotics are only for high-volume, high-production manufacturing facilities. Cobots are an easy and cost-effective way for shops to automate rote tasks like machine tending and part inspection. They can be profitable even on much shorter production runs.

The barriers to entry for a Doosan cobot are low and the upsides are high. They are inexpensive, easy to program, and ready to work. They do the tedious stuff that human operators don’t want to do or don’t have time to do, allowing them to focus on more important value-added tasks.

“Job changeovers are quicker than we expected.”

For shops that do smaller production runs, it’s a concern that changing from job to job will be time consuming and negate the cost savings promised from automation. But Doosan cobots are engineered to make changeovers quick and painless.

Doosan’s user-friendly teach pendant makes job setup a breeze. The optional mobile base integrates the cobots, controller, and accessories, giving operators the ability to quickly move the cobot from machine to machine. And a wide range of available end-of-arm tooling (EOT) brings a high level of flexibility right out of the gate.

“Our operators love them.”

There is understandably a fear amongst machinists and machine operators that robots are coming for their jobs. But we’ve seen it time and time again: cobots take on the boring and repetitive work and free humans up for more challenging, productive, and fulfilling work.

It may seem counterintuitive, but at Ellison, we’ve worked with shops where automation has actually helped them to keep the employees that they already have. In a labor market where employee retention is challenging, cobots can help to create a working environment where your team is more engaged and empowered.

Unlike other types of robotic automation, Doosan cobots are designed to operate safely without any safety fencing or barriers. All six joints are equipped with high sensitivity torque sensors to detect and avoid collisions, so operators can work side-by-side with the cobots.

“ROI is faster than we expected.”

The number one challenge that we hear from job shops is staffing. Productivity suffers because there aren’t enough operators to run the jobs that are currently in the queue. Lead times get extended, customers get antsy, and profitability suffers.

Simply put: Doosan cobots help shops to get parts out the door faster. They handle part loading and unloading while operators take on other jobs. They do batch part inspections and get parts ready to ship. For bigger production runs, they’ll work lights out on second and third shifts.

Results vary depending on the application, but we’ve seen ROI on Doosan cobots as short as three to six months.

“Ellison was a huge help.”

We wake up every day and strive to show shops how they can Make More, and Doosan cobots are one of the most powerful tools in our toolbox. The Ellison application engineering team is here to help you figure out how cobots can improve your shop’s operation. From the cobots themselves to choosing the right accessories to operator training, we’re with you every step of the way.

You can check out all of the amazing cobots we offer and do a deep dive here, and reach out so we can help you make more parts, more money, and more for the legacy you’re building.

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