Automation

Armed with automation

12/01/2012

Author:

Lightweight and easy-to-program robotic arms.

One constant fear in regard to automation is that it will make human workers obsolete. Citing a 2013 University of Oxford study, University of Cincinnati Assistant Professor of Economics Michael Jones wrote that almost half of those employed in the U.S. are at risk of being replaced by automation over the next 10 to 20 years, with transportation, logistics and administration as the most vulnerable occupations.

Pallet changers help VMCs hold their own in production environments

04/01/2016

Author:

Evan Jones Thorne

Vertical machining centers are machine shop mainstays, owing in no small part to their versatility, small footprint and relatively low cost. However, in high-volume environments, they tend to lag behind their horizontal counterparts. Fortunately, a pallet system provides a fairly simple fix.

Read Article

Haas Automation covers MQL advantages

The Haas Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) system delivers a steady flow of compressed air and a small quantity of cutting oil directly to the cutting tool or tap, which reduces heat, removes chips and provides lubrication, according to the Haas Automation Inc. website, which features a video report looking at the key features and benefits of MQL.

Putting a forklift into the industrial Internet of Things

Forklifts—the workhorses of the plant floor—are more valuable than ever at ITAMCO (Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Cos.). The Plymouth, Ind.-based manufacturer of gears and other precision components connected its forklifts to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which integrates machine tools and other manufacturing equipment with networked sensors and software.

A control system for quickly programming industrial robots

03/01/2016

Author:

William Leventon

Teach your robot well: A new control system can reduce the time to set up and program industrial robots from an hour or more to just minutes, according to the Finnish research organization that developed it.

Read Article

Chips Away

03/01/2016

Author:

Alan Richter

The chip collection bin at a shop’s turning center is full, so a worker grudgingly begins the mundane task of moving the bin via a forklift to the chip collection station at the opposite end of the plant. Unfortunately, the bin leaks and coolant drips on the shop floor, causing the shop’s biggest customer to slip and fall while visiting to check on his latest order. There’s got to be a better way.

Read Article