At Spartan Robotics, we talk to fabrication shops every day about automating their welding operations. One thing we hear over and over?
“We’re just not ready for robots.”
The truth is, robotic welding—especially collaborative robotic welding—has become much more accessible and practical for shops of all sizes. But old assumptions die hard.
Here are some of the most common myths about robotic welding we hear, and the reality behind them:
Myth 1: “Robotic welding is too expensive for small shops.”
Truth: Upfront costs for collaborative welding systems have dropped significantly. Compared to traditional industrial cells (which can run $200k+), a cobot welding system is far more affordable—often a fraction of the price.
More importantly, ROI is real. Shops see payback in as little as 6–18 months thanks to reduced labor costs, improved quality, and higher throughput.
Myth 2: “It’s too complicated to program.”
Truth: Programming has changed dramatically. The Spartan Cobot Welder is built to be intuitive, even for shops with no prior automation experience.
Operators can teach weld paths by simply guiding the robot by hand. Our interface is user-friendly, with settings for weld parameters, speeds, and sequences laid out clearly.
No advanced coding or robot programming background is required.
Myth 3: “You need a huge floor space.”
Truth: Traditional robotic welding cells often take up lots of room with safety fencing and dedicated lines.
But collaborative robots are designed to work right next to people. The Spartan Cobot Welder has a compact footprint and doesn’t need big safety cages (subject to a risk assessment).
That makes it ideal for smaller fab shops or crowded production floors.
Myth 4: “It’s only for high-volume production.”
Truth: Cobot welding truly shines in high-mix, low-volume work.
Need to weld small batches, custom jobs, or frequent changeovers? A cobot system lets you reprogram quickly for new parts, with minimal downtime.
Instead of being locked into long runs, you gain flexibility to take on more varied work with consistent, repeatable weld quality.
Myth 5: “It’ll replace my welders.”
Truth: Robotic welding doesn’t replace skilled welders—it helps them.
In fact, most shops use cobots to free up their best welders from repetitive or awkward welds so they can focus on high-value, custom, or tricky jobs.
It also helps address labor shortages by letting one operator supervise multiple cells or handle tasks more safely and ergonomically.
The Bottom Line
Robotic welding isn’t just for big factories anymore.
At Spartan Robotics, we built the Spartan Cobot Welder specifically to make automation easy, practical, and cost-effective for shops of all sizes.
If you’re curious about how cobot welding could work for you, let’s talk.
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Common Myths About Robotic Welding (And the Truth)