Automation & Controls

Machine monitoring can make shop operations more efficient, especially in a pandemic.

Hermle AG's new automated HS flex heavy pallet-handling system has what it takes to handle large pallets.

BOLD Laser Automation put into development of a cost-effective, modular UR Cobot loader unloader for laser-based microfabrication applications called the LPF-UR5P Series (Laser Precision Fabricator – UR Cobot 5 – Pallet System), including options for laser drilling, trimming, welding, marking, and laser soldering. With a UR Robot part placement of ±0.030 mm (±0.0012"), the system is an excellent process automation choice. With onboard or remote camera alignment options, an assembly to be processed can be picked up, aligned, and inserted into a processing fixture automatically.

Highlights include a new customizable green sensor type called Green Flex. This versatile cyclic sensor monitoring type now allows for specification of the required state of the sensor at the start and end of the ready window. The sensor can be set to require a specific number of actuations inside the ready window.

Mitsubishi and Absolute jointly designed the plug-and-play cell. It consists of a Mitsubishi industrial robot, a wheeled stainless steel base, a clear polycarbonate cell enclosure featuring a safety door with an interlock switch, and a side table extension. The cell accommodates Mitsubishi 6-axis RV-series robots ranging in load capacity from 7 kg to 20 kg and reach up to 1,388mm. Integrating the robot cell with a CNC machine is a one-step process using a single Ethernet cable, Mitsubishi's Direct Robot Control function and the Mitsubishi M8 series control. The LoadMate Plus can also interface with other control types via remote I/O connectivity.

New CAM software from Mastercam in Tolland, Connecticut, is now available for a public beta testing.

Andretti Autosport announced that Applied Automation Technologies will serve as the team's official metrology solution.

Robot density in manufacturing hit a new global record of 113 units per 10,000 employees.

In the past decade, a California-based machine shop has relied on a flexible, honing tool for a range of automated CNC machining applications such as cross hole deburring, cylindrical honing, surface finishing, edge-blending and cleaning.

The FreeBSD system – and thus also TwinCAT/BSD – supports ARM CPUs up to Intel® Xeon® processors, providing a scalable platform from small embedded controllers to high-performance IPCs. With this scalable new solution, Beckhoff presents a new operating system that combines the advantages of Windows CE – low cost and small footprint – with the numerous features of large Windows operating systems. Therefore, TwinCAT/BSD is also an alternative to Windows 7 or 10 in many applications.

Both the Power Connect and Thermocouple I/O slices feature push-fit wire connections into a cage clamp. Increasing connection security, particularly for applications which could be subject to vibration, the cage clamp system improves reliability and also means faster, simpler wiring without the requirement to use additional tools for installation and maintenance.

Although these are most uncertain times, it is nonetheless advisable for machine shop owners to take advantage of automating their shops.