ARC-X / LARGE-STRUCTURE SYSTEM
ARC-X
Robotics at the Scale of the Ship
Multiple W7 robots on gantry, linear and vertical axes: 20+ coordinated system axes with 360° positioning capability.
OVERVIEW
A Coordinated System, Not a 20-Axis Arm
Two W7 robots contribute fourteen robot axes. Gantry, crossbeam, vertical, carriage and positioner axes complete the system. Control X moves them as one machine.
Actual configurations depend on the application.
ARCHITECTURE
Many Robots, One Machine
W7 robots ride gantry, vertical and carriage axes over the structure, and Catfish OS runs production.
W7 Robots
Multiple robots under one controller.
Gantry and Crossbeam
Carry the robots over the full structure.
Vertical and Carriage
Set height and position over the work.
Positioners
Turn heavy parts to the best welding position.
Catfish OS
Mission Control, Twin and Proof run production.
PROCESSES
Welding First, With Configurable Preparation and Inspection
W7 robots ride the gantry to the work and change tools for each step, so welding, preparation and inspection happen where the structure sits.
Stiffener Welding
Robots weld longitudinal and stiffener fillets while the gantry carries them down the panel.
WORKFLOW
From Structure Model to Weld Record
- 01
Import
Load the block or panel model into Catfish Studio.
- 02
Plan
Plan paths and robot assignments offline.
- 03
Sense
Locate the real joints on the as-built structure.
- 04
Weld
Control X coordinates every robot and axis.
- 05
Record
Proof records every weld for the structure.
FUNCTIONS
Coordination at Block Scale
Gantry Coordination
Gantry, crossbeam, vertical and carriage axes carry multiple W7 robots over the structure.
Block-Scale Planning
Weld paths are planned across complete hull blocks and large stiffened panels.
Multi-Robot Scheduling
Mission Control assigns joints to each robot and rebalances when one stops.
Production Twin
Twin tracks progress from vessel to block, assembly, panel, part, joint and weld.
Distributed Sensing
Seam sensors and 3D vision on each robot measure the as-built structure.
360° Positioning
Positioners and system axes present the work to the robots from every side.
Structure-Level Record
Proof assembles every weld record into one history for the block or module.
SPECIFICATIONS
ARC-X Spec Sheet
Large-Structure Robotic System
- 20+
- Coordinated system axes
- 360°
- Positioning capability
- 2+
- W7 robots
- 21
- Example configuration
- System motion
- 20+ coordinated system axes with 360° positioning capability
- Robots
- Multiple W7 robots on gantry, crossbeam, vertical and carriage axes, plus positioners
- Longitudinal gantry motion
- Supported
- Cross-structure travel
- Configuration dependent
- Robot carriage positioning
- Supported
- Workpiece positioners
- Optional
- Installation
- Engineered large-structure system
- System motion
- 20+ coordinated system axes with 360° positioning capability
- Robots
- Multiple W7 robots on gantry, crossbeam, vertical and carriage axes, plus positioners
- Longitudinal gantry motion
- Supported
- Cross-structure travel
- Configuration dependent
- Robot carriage positioning
- Supported
- Workpiece positioners
- Optional
- Installation
- Engineered large-structure system
- W7 A
- 7
- W7 B
- 7
- Linear A
- 1
- Linear B
- 1
- Vertical A
- 1
- Vertical B
- 1
- Two-axis workpiece positioning
- 2
- Gantry
- 1
- Total
- 21 axes
- Seam and part sensing
- Distributed seam sensing and 3D vision
- Applications
- Ship hull structures, hull panels, frames, stiffeners, longitudinal assemblies, bulkheads, foundations, ship modules, heavy structural components, large steel weldments, industrial modules
- Modules
- Studio, Control X, Weld, Mission Control, Fleet, Twin, Proof
- CAD-based programming
- Supported
- Offline simulation
- Supported
- Collision validation
- Supported
- WPS integration
- Supported
- Production scheduling
- Supported
- Manufacturing traceability
- Supported
- Twin hierarchy
- Vessel → block → assembly → panel → part → joint → weld
- Plant protocols
- OPC UA, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, MQTT
- Safety architecture
- Installation-specific industrial safety architecture
- Safety elements
- Emergency-stop circuits, safety-rated interlocks, safety PLC, perimeter guarding, access gates, area scanners, light curtains, machine-state monitoring, controlled zones, status towers, safe-stop functions
- Real-time loop
- Cloud is never in the real-time loop
Specifications are engineering targets for current Catfish systems and are confirmed per installation at acceptance. Product notice
APPLICATIONS
Built for Hull Fabrication and Heavy Structures
Hull Panels
Flat and curved stiffened panels from the panel line.
Frames and Stiffeners
Web frames, longitudinals and stiffener connections.
Bulkheads
Transverse and longitudinal bulkheads with stiffener grids.
Longitudinal Assemblies
Girders and members that run the full length of a block.
Ship Modules and Blocks
Subassemblies and blocks welded before erection.
Foundations
Machinery and equipment foundations built into the structure.
Heavy Structural Components
Thick-plate weldments for heavy steel and offshore structures.
Industrial Modules
Large fabricated modules for energy, infrastructure and process plants.
Hull Panels
Flat and curved stiffened panels from the panel line.
Frames and Stiffeners
Web frames, longitudinals and stiffener connections.
Bulkheads
Transverse and longitudinal bulkheads with stiffener grids.
Longitudinal Assemblies
Girders and members that run the full length of a block.
Ship Modules and Blocks
Subassemblies and blocks welded before erection.
Foundations
Machinery and equipment foundations built into the structure.
Heavy Structural Components
Thick-plate weldments for heavy steel and offshore structures.
Industrial Modules
Large fabricated modules for energy, infrastructure and process plants.
Every ARC-X is configured to the structure, the site and the production flow.
TALK TO US
Plan ARC-X Around Your Structures
Share your block sizes and drawings and we'll walk through a configuration.