Automation & Controls

Products • November 2, 2017

Slewing Ring Bearing

Slewing rings from igus are used in applications that handle high cycle speeds and loads, including control desks, welding equipment, indexing tables and chainsaws. Therefore, the slewing rings need to be extremely durable and reliable.

Products • October 31, 2017

M800 EDM Control

The new M800 EDM control is now included in Mitsubishi wire EDMs to increase productivity and help keep track of production jobs. MC Machinery Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp., says it continues to invest in technologies to better serve its customers and make them more competitive.

News • October 30, 2017

Michigan governor visits FANUC America Corp.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder toured FANUC America Corp.'s North American headquarters and technical center in Auburn Hills, Mich., accompanied by Dr. Kiyonori Inaba, executive vice president and general manager of FANUC Corp.'s robot division, and Michael J. Cicco, president and CEO of FANUC America.

Products • October 26, 2017

drylin ZLW eco Belt Drive Axes

Mechanical engineers often need a basic, space-saving linear guide when designing technology that performs simple tasks, such as vending machines. Since such technology does not handle high loads, high speeds or high positioning accuracy, intricate linear guides are not necessary. However, most solutions on the market are advanced, leaving manufacturers forced to either pay for features they do not need or develop their own linear guide.

Products • October 17, 2017

Control System Delivers 50kHz Servo Rates

Polaris Motion's control system delivers 50kHz servo rates and all the motion axes are synchronized to nanoseconds using Mercury, its real-time Gbps motion network. The result is superior form accuracy, surface finish and better throughput in parts/hour, according to the company.

Products • October 17, 2017

StateMonitor for CNC Manufacturing Personnel

HEIDENHAIN Corp. announces the availability of the new StateMonitor for CNC manufacturing personnel who are implementing connected systems as part of the Industry 4.0 initiative. This new software is an option with HEIDENHAIN TNC controls and connects with PC systems to allow the user to view data and evaluate control processes remotely and in real-time.

Products • October 12, 2017

C-884.6DC 6-Axis Servo Motor Controller

PI (Physik Instrumente) has released a new 6-axis servo motor controller – the C-884.6DC. Most modern precision motion systems are driven by servo motors, because they provide high torque, fast acceleration, smooth motion with a wide dynamic speed range and fast start/stop performance.

News • October 4, 2017

MC Machinery Systems hosts grand opening at new headquarters

MC Machinery Systems Inc. hosted more than 1,000 customers, visitors and team members for the grand opening of its new headquarters in September. The event was one of the first opportunities for customers and partners to explore the 175,000-sq.-ft. facility, which includes a 50,000-sq.-ft. showroom among many other modern amenities.

Articles • October 3, 2017

Three unexpected machine monitoring benefits

Like a broken record, decision-makers at parts manufacturers continually hear that monitoring machine tool utilization rates helps improve productivity. That's true, but the phonograph needle frequently skips over three other benefits of machine tool monitoring.

News • September 28, 2017

World Bank: Tech, trade changes disrupting manufacturing-led development

Advances in technology and changing trade patterns are affecting opportunities for export-led manufacturing. Smart automation, advanced robotics and 3-D printing are new factors influencing which locations are attractive for production. While these shifts threaten significant disruptions in future employment, particularly for low-skilled workers, they also offer opportunities, according to a new report released today by the World Bank Group.

News • September 28, 2017

IFR forecast: 1.7 million new robots by 2020

In 2017 robot supplies in the Americas will surge by 16 percent from 2016, according to the International Federation of Robotics. IFR estimates that by 2020 the worldwide stock of operational industrial robots will increase from about 1,828,000 units at the end of 2016 to 3,053,000 units—an average annual growth rate of 14 percent between 2018 and 2020.

Products • September 28, 2017

GT25 Wide Human Machine Interface

Demand for operational efficiencies such as greater visualization into a factory's automation solutions portfolio has prompted Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. to introduce its latest human machine interface (HMI). The GT25 Wide HMI is an interface that monitors and controls machine components with a graphical touchscreen that connects to equipment such as PLCs, VFDs and servos.