Automation & Controls

An exciting development in the area of robotics is the development and growing popularity of so-called collaborative robots, or "cobots". Cobots, in contrast to traditional industrial robots, are designed to interact with human workers in a shared workspace. They are typically smaller and less powerful than traditional factory robots and are equipped with a variety of proximity sensors, load sensors and other features designed to avoid dangerous collisions between the robots and the people working around them.

The Jacksonville Jaguars introduced FANUC America as a partner of the team and welcomed five new robots to TIAA Bank Field and the Jaguars family of game day staff this past Sunday during the team's victory over the New England Patriots.

Universal Robots pioneered the collaborative robot and continues to evolve its ground-breaking, collaborative automation technology with the introduction of its new flagship line the e-Series cobots: UR3e, UR5e and UR10e robot arms.

Universal Robots continues to address the automation skills gap with its new Application Builder tool that eases robotic cell configuration and deployment while raising robot literacy and capabilities. Application Builder walks customers through the entire process of building a successful UR robot application that is optimized for throughput and cost. The online configuration tool provides a step-by-step process to choose the right robot and end-of-arm tooling, to walk through the pros and cons of different configuration options, and to learn the skills required to complete a full solution.

SW North America demonstrates its new Gantry Robot that enables barrier-free access to the machining centers (MC). The component is rotated in the gripper and loaded into the MC from above.

HEIDENHAIN says its top-of-the-line lathe control, the CNC PILOT 640, has been impressing customers for many years with its numerous advantages and is now available with even newer upgrades. Most notably, a new TURN PLUS feature is now standard on new purchases that allows the creation of a lathe program by the push of a button with up to 90 percent time savings.

Many shops today are looking to automation and automatic part loading as a means to reduce costs, increase throughput, and cope with the ongoing shortage of skilled labor. The Automatic Parts Loader (APL) from Haas Automation Inc. is a fully integrated solution for automating turning operations on Haas ST-10 through ST-35 turning centers, including Y-axis models.

Marposs has announced its Brankamp X5 in-process, real-time monitoring systems for cold and hot forming, thread rolling and stamping operations. Building upon the capabilities of its X1 and X3 models, the X5 units feature a large 12-inch touch screen, as well as Tool Memory that stores data that can be used to quickly achieve precise machine setup for repeated production runs.

Marposs offers the new TTV (Total Thermal Vision) Die Temperature Monitoring solution for light alloys. This infrared vision system provides real-time measuring of the die surface temperature, allowing casters to quickly adjust and optimize the spraying process to mitigate issues that can occur when the die temperature is out of control.

Machining customers examining the productivity benefits of multiple-spindle, high-precision machining centers from SW North America will find even further advantages in the full range of automation and turnkey production systems the company provides.

Look-Ahead: Company pairs its change system with an industrial robot for full automation.

Kip Hanson delves into what it takes to make the machines that make machine parts.