As welding robots have become more economical, productive, and reliable, their use has expanded from automobile assembly plants into small jobshops. But sometimes it takes an outsider to manufacturing to show just how far robotic-welding technology has come in recent years. For example, two Motoman UP-series robots looked at home in the action film "Paycheck" starring Ben Affleck and Lima Thurman. Originally, the Motoman robots were slated to be in the background of the 5 million dollars high-tech biosphere laboratory set, but after the film's director, John Woo, saw their speed and capabilities, the two robots were given action roles, even interacting with Ben Affleck and other actors in several key scenes. To the movie's director, the robot's speed and motion translates to visual excitement. To manufacturers, this speed translates into more parts/hr and higher profits.
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