Using Robots in Machine Shops, 3D Printing, and Beyond with KUKA's Nate Brazelle

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of robots and what they can bring to the manufacturing world here on Manufacturing Happy Hour.

So, we invited fellow robot enthusiast Nate Brazelle, VP of Sales and Marketing at KUKA, onto the show to share his predictions on robots in the future of the industry, where they fit in now, and why they could be the answer to the labor shortage.

Nate explains how he first took a step into the world of robotics and shares the challenges and realities of working with cobots. We hear about the different areas cobots excel in and how they can work alongside human workers. Nate also lets us in on KUKA’s future plans for industrial robots and how its operating system aims to make deploying robots even easier.

In this episode, find out:

• How Nate first got into robotics
• The top challenges in robotics
• The rise of cobots in manufacturing
• How cobots can help with additive manufacturing
• Why cobots could fill in the gaps of the talent shortage
• Why you should let your team make mistakes
• How to get comfortable with new tech
• Future plans for KUKA

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Tweetable Quotes:

• “Skilled labor is still going away, and we can't find it. So we're thinking of applications like welding, which is great skilled labor, but it's just going away.”
• "I think the real big benefit of 3D printing is the value and benefit of the cobots and 3D printers in ARM tooling and the grippers. I think that's a really big value.”
• “I think in the next couple of years, if we focus and look at the areas where we simply can't find the skilled labor, that's going to be where the markets continue to grow.”

Links & mentions:

• KUKA, global robot and automation solutions company offering tailor-made solutions for your industry
• Buddy Guy’s Legends, a classic blues club with up-and-coming and famous acts plus New Orleans-style pub grub, located in Chicago, IL 

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.