Automation & Controls

Products • December 7, 2017

EK1000 EtherCAT TSN Coupler

Beckhoff announced the new EK1000 EtherCAT TSN Coupler, expanding the industrial Ethernet capabilities of the EtherCAT I/O system. The EK1000 enables communication among EtherCAT segments with remote EtherCAT controllers via heterogeneous Ethernet networks.

Products • December 6, 2017

CoroPlus Collision Detector

Sandvik Coromant Co. says the CoroPlus Collision detector is a reliable solution that will help you avoid or minimize machine tool and workpiece damage in case of a collision. The solution is installed inside the machine tool, connected to the PLC (programmable logic controller) and will detect a collision and stop the machine within 5 milliseconds.

News • November 30, 2017

FANUC has produced its 500,000th Robot

FANUC Corporation, supplier of robotics, CNC and factory automation has announced the production of its 500,000th robot. The company is working toward ramping production up from 6,000 to 11,000 units per month. To that end, FANUC is building a new factory, which is scheduled to open in August 2018.

Products • November 29, 2017

SCARA Robots

FANUC's new SCARA robots feature high-speed, precise operation for pick and place, assembly, testing/inspection and packaging processes in a wide range of industries including consumer electronics, auto component, plastics, food and beverage, lab automation, appliances and medical device manufacturing. A compact, lightweight design provides significant space savings.

Products • November 22, 2017

Flexium+ CNC Platform helps Star Cutter

NUM's latest-generation CNC systems are helping the Star Cutter Co. to maintain its position as a world leader in cutting tool machines. Star Cutter's new 5-axis tool and cutter grinding machine – the NTG 6RL – is based entirely on NUM's Flexium+ CNC platform, and fully automates the high-speed production and reconditioning of complex cutting tools.

News • November 17, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

Are you ready to ‘Integr8’ IIoT technology?

Earlier this week we shared the conclusions of the McKinsey Report, which concluded that it may be possible for U.S. manufacturing to grow by 20 percent and add more than 2 million jobs by 2025. That was the good news. It can only happen, however, if manufacturers embrace Industry 4.0 technology. The Integr8 conference in Detroit showed how to get started.

News • November 17, 2017

Mazak Corp. partners with MachiningCloud Inc.

Mazak Corp., Florence, Ky., and MachiningCloud Inc., Camarillo, Calif., announced their partnership.

News • November 17, 2017

United Grinding North America Inc. opens new headquarters

Just over a year after breaking ground, United Grinding North America Inc., Miamisburg, Ohio, opened its new 110,000-sq.-ft. headquarters.

News • November 14, 2017

Molten aluminum 3D printing penetrates commercial market

A novel 3D printing process that relies on melting aluminum wire and manipulating it with electromagnetism is no longer just another lab project. Vader Systems, which developed the process, has announced the first commercial sale of its signature Mk1 3D printer to Becker CAD-CAM-Cast, a tier-one supplier of engineered aluminum automotive components.

Products • November 7, 2017

M80W Computer Numerical Control

Mitsubishi Electric Automation introduces the M80W computer numerical controller, the latest in its M8 series CNCs. The M80W features a touch screen Windows-based display that is separate from the control unit, providing expandability and flexibility.

News • November 3, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

Controls and networking: a reader responds

My October 20 post on adding capabilities to your current CNC brought a response from a reader who who shares a problem. "We have a few Kitamura MyCenter 4XiF VMCs with FANUC 16iMB controls running daily on our shop floor," he writes, "The control hasn't given us a single problem since they powered on for the first time. However, we haven't been able to get the machines onto our network and we have given up trying."

News • November 3, 2017

Questions and answers on digitization

Walter Dunkmann, head of the vacuum automation business area for J. Schmalz GmbH, Glatten, Germany, answers queries about digitization.