Hi Rolands!
You are in a very unique situation with respect to the knowledge and experience you already have and what you are currently seeking!!!
Time to think like a sponge!!! Soak up as much as you can, graduate, get some experience under your belt... Then consider combining your new field with what you had nine years of experience with!!!
I believe Gerald already pointed this out to you in an earlier post and I would just like to add that there's pretty good money to be made as a robotic programmer with the necessary understanding of welding technology!!! Do yourself a favor and visit this website:
http://www.weldreality.com Read it in it's entirety! Most of all ask Ed som questions as to how a person like yourself could get prepared to enter the field. Btw, have you looked into how much dough robot programmers are starting out at? Check that out also!!!
Bottom line is, marry your knowledge and skills, both past and present and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the possibilities that lie ahead!!!
Respectfully,
SSBN727 Run Silent... Run Deep!!!