Automation & Controls

Doosan Robotics Inc. (Doosan), a leading global manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), announced plans to establish its first U.S. office in Buford, Georgia, by the end of 2019 to accelerate its distribution efforts. The new office will serve as the headquarters for sales, marketing, training, and customer service in the Americas.

Energid released Version 5.5 of the Actin software development kit (SDK), an even more powerful and easier-to-use version of the industry's only real-time adaptive robotic motion control and path planning toolkit. Actin Version 5.5 adds Actin Viewer enhancements, Motion Script updates and G-code support, making it even easier for robotic systems developers to focus on the robot's tasks rather than joint movement and paths.

The Safe Robotics Area Protection (SRAP) safety system from SICK provides process-based protection for collaborative robot applications. The safety system provides machine operators with unrestricted, yet safe, access to a robot's working area at any time, by adapting the operating conditions to the position of the person.

If you use a CNC lathe or machining center to set tool lengths, you may want to go offline.

Transor Filter announces that they have surpassed the 25,000 drum mark in shipments of TransOgrind TG-250. Introduced in 2000, this quality grinding oil has become popular for manufacturers of carbide cutting tools due to its performance characteristics and overall value.

Since 1992, RobotWorx has been refurbishing industrial robots, restoring the workhorses of manufacturing environments to like-new condition. Robots are commodities today, performing everything from welding tasks to handling intrinsic materials in solar panel clean room environments. For RobotWorx, opportunity beckons when companies upgrade their plants, close their facilities, or when old robots are replaced. Regardless of their condition, RobotWorx gives used robots new life.

As manufacturers continue to be challenged by a shortage of skilled workers and the need to boost productivity, automation remains a topic of significant interest. That was certainly the case at the Wisconsin Manufacturing & Technology Show. The biennial trade show took place Oct. 8-10 at the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wisconsin.

Heidenhain Corp.'s Acu-Rite brand introduces new software for its versatile 300 series digital readout (DRO) that now allows users to control a sinker EDM. This new development broadens this established DRO's use to include all of the most common manual shop machines such as milling, turning, grinding and now EDM in a single DRO.

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. – GF Machining Solutions has announced that it will expand distribution channels and regional sales to further invest in its capability to deliver advanced manufacturing technology to customers throughout North America.

SCHUNK will now be assembling grippers in the US.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Okuma America Corporation, a builder of CNC machine tools, announces the completion of the company's newest production facility Dream Site 3 (DS3) located in in Kani, Japan.

The human hand is still regarded as the benchmark when it comes to flexibility of gripping tools. Humanoid manipulators that enable the widest variety of gripping variants will be more and more in demand in future, particularly when it comes to service and assistance robotics. In addition, the factor of economical viability is increasingly important.