Integrated electrode maintenance for robotic welding cell

A method of operating a welding station comprising the steps of:

• providing a welding station having a robot arranged within a perimeter fence defining a production area;
• arranging a pedestal supporting a base to which at least at least one maintenance tool is mounted and to which a welding gun is pivotally supported;
• pivoting the welding gun relative to the base from a welding position located inside the production area on one side of the fence to a maintenance position located outside the production area on another side of the fence opposite the one side and away from the robot;
• and
• performing a maintenance operation on the welding gun with the at least one maintenance tool, the maintenance operation performing steps including at least one of the following:
• dressing a welding cap on the welding gun in the maintenance position;
• extracting a worn welding cap from the welding gun in the maintenance position;
• and
• installing a new welding cap on the welding gun in the maintenance position.