New Automated Welding System Technology Solves Production Problems
Productive Robotics LLC introduced new technology to a record number of visitors at Fabtech 2025. In addition to its Blaze and Blaze Max robots configured with the new Miller OptX laser welder, Productive Robotics unveiled its new 7-axis Blaze plasma cutting system. Unlike conventional 6-axis robots, the 7-axis collaborative robot reaches around large, complex parts and fixtures to perform cuts from multiple angles in a single setup.
“There are industrial 7-axis robots but we are currently the only U.S. company to provide 7-axis collaborative robots,” says Zac Bogart, president of Productive Robotics LLC. “Our arms have seven degrees of freedom from the shoulder to the hand. A welder is used to being able to manipulate the torch where needed. The OB7’s extra “wrist joint” not only continuously re-orients the robotic arm while it moves the torch along the welding path, it also works continuously, and can eliminate the need for additional setups.”
The company designs and manufactures industrial collaborative robots, robotic welding systems, and accessories for a wide range of applications. Its OB7 and Blaze series models are built on Productive Robotics’ proprietary, no-programming user interface, which allows manufacturers to teach a collaborative robot by simply showing it a job’s steps. “The elimination of user programming and the development of our 7-axis systems are the core technologies our company was formed around,” Bogart says.
Productive Robotics uses feedback from fabricators and job shops to engineer solutions such as the Blaze laser with Miller OptX, which performs high-speed, high-quality welds with minimal heat input and superior repeatability. Able to boost productivity by up to 500 percent, the plug-and-play machines are designed to be user friendly. For companies new to laser welding, complex safety requirements can be challenging. Productive Robotics’ self-contained laser cell enables welding without the need for a laser-safe room or personal protective equipment.
“We also added an eighth axis with full synchronized motion to our Blaze welding robotic system because our customers had parts they couldn’t weld without rotating them,” says Bogart. “They said they had looked at other positioners but found they didn’t integrate with their robot and were too difficult to program. We also increased the speed of Blaze to meet or exceed that of industrial welding robots. We’re constantly evolving our technology while keeping it simple for customers to use. That’s the combination that is helping customers stay competitive.”
