Automation

A one-stop robot shop

As useful and commonplace as robots are in manufacturing, buying one is rarely a one-stop shopping experience. However, robot manufacturer Universal Robots A/S has launched a new service, UR+, which may change the way robots are bought and sold.

ROBONANO comes to America

For 10 years, FANUC Corp.’s highly accurate ROBONANO automated milling machines have been in use in Japan’s semiconductor industry. Now the newest iteration of the machine is in the U.S. to help researchers studying emerging materials and manufacturing processes.

Taking a break from breakdowns

12/01/2016

Author:

Alan Richter

END USER: lllinois Carbide Tool Co. Inc., (800) 323-2414, www.crobaltusa.com, www.brakedrumtool.com. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Agathon Machine Tools Inc., (203) 730-8741, www.agathon.com. CHALLENGE: Keep up with increasing production demands for carbide brake lathe inserts. SOLUTION: A 4-axis grinding machine that enables lights-out production.

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Performance Micro Tool is in the Chips

The Janesville, Wis., micromanufacturer Performance Micro Tool is part of a Janesville Gazette feature on local companies increasing their use of automation. The article notes that a recent source of revenue for the company is a tool contract with a company that makes the tiny housings in credit cards that hold those now-ubiquitous micro chips.

NIST: Fortify Manufacturing, Save $100 Billion, by Closing Tech Gaps

To spur significant innovation and growth in advanced manufacturing, as well as save over $100 billion annually, U.S. industry must rectify currently unmet needs for measurement science and "proof-of-concept" demonstrations of emerging technologies. This is the overall conclusion reached by economic studies funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of four advanced manufacturing areas used to create everything from automobile composites to zero-noise headsets.

ERD 150L Linear Automation System

With the introduction of the ERD 150L, EROWA offers a low-cost, linear automation system that is flexible and can easily be expanded at any time. This virtually eliminates the need to purchase additional components before they’re needed.

Collaborative robots boost Whirlpool's Mfg. capabilities

In the past 18 months, several Whirlpool Corp. plants have added collaborative robots to the assembly process. Collaborative robots are at the forefront of manufacturing technology and are designed to work alongside their human counterparts. "Collaborative robots allow us to be much more flexible,” says Eric Howe, Whirlpool senior engineer and automation lead.

RB-9 Robotic Blasting System

Guyson has just completed another one of its popular RB-9 robotic blasting systems. The customer had a demanding surface preparation specification that could only be achieved by precise robotic gun manipulation and part fixturing and the use of high-performance model 75/12 media cyclone.

Nmark GCL Galvo Scanner Control

The Nmark GCL controls Aerotech’s AGV series scanners, reportedly resulting in industry-leading settling times, long-term thermal stability and micron-level tracking accuracy due to advanced features such as full-state feed-forward, 200 kHz servo rates, and look-ahead-based velocity control. The Nmark GCL uses advanced interpolation electronics to provide up to 26-bits of effective resolution.

LOXrail Round Rail System

Launching the LOXrail program, German manufacturer Losyco provides a round rail system that increases assembly line efficiency for large machine and product manufacturing processes. The new system, characterized by minimal rolling friction, is brought to the market by a team of accomplished intra-logistics industry experts, led by managing director Derek P. Clark. Loads as heavy as several tons can be moved manually or with a small auxiliary drive with much lower energy consumption and much less equipment compared to standard procedures using overhead cranes, SGVs or pallet trucks.