Automation & Controls

Products • April 4, 2017

6-Axis Sensors Create a Sense of Touch for Robots

Easy-to-install, light-weight and robust, the OptoForce 6-axis sensors create a sense of touch for robots required to perform high-precision work, such as polishing, box insertion and other finer assembly tasks. Currently compatible with robots from Universal Robots and KUKA, and soon with ABB and Yaskawa, OptoForce sensors automate these tasks, increasing efficiency, speeding project development and decreasing overall production costs.

Products • April 4, 2017

MMC2 Automated Pallet-Handling System

Automation is essential in helping manufacturers achieve maximum return on investment from their machine tools. Makino offers the availability of a new design configuration for its MMC2 automated pallet-handling system, which enables full compatibility with the company's a61nx-5E 5-axis horizontal machining center.

News • March 28, 2017

FANUC America Marks 35 Years of Manufacturing Robots in the U.S.

FANUC America has marked the 35th anniversary of manufacturing its line of painting robots at the company's Rochester Hills, Mich., headquarters. In 1982, FANUC America produced its first NC Painter, a hydraulic paint robot using key components from parent company FANUC Corp. in Japan. Now, 35 years later, FANUC America remains globally responsible for all paint robots and door openers of the FANUC robot lineup.

News • March 27, 2017

Mazak, Muratec join forces in MAZATEC SMS smart manufacturing system

Yamazaki Mazak Corp. and Murata Machinery, Ltd. (Muratec) have collaborated in the development of the MAZATEC SMS, an advanced manufacturing system designed to provide efficiency by performing unmanned machining. It incorporates the internal factory material handling technology of Muratec with the advanced horizontal machining centers and multi-tasking machine tools of Mazak Corp.

News • March 24, 2017 • Alan Richter

On Robot introduces grippers for cobots

On Robot ApS, a Danish manufacturer of grippers for collaborative robots (cobots) that was founded in 2014, is introducing its technology to the North American market and has appointed Gary Eliasson as its general manager for North America. He will be based in Charlotte, N.C. "My goal is to set up a North American distribution channel," he said.

Products • March 20, 2017

Two-Finger RG2 Grippers

On Robot is bringing its technology to North America to provide manufacturers with more user-friendly, safe and flexible grippers for collaborative robots (cobots). On Robot's two-finger RG2 grippers—available in both single and dual versions—mount on the arms of cobots without any external wires; for robots that have infinite rotation of the last joint, this enables unprecedented flexibility and productivity, according to the company.

Articles • March 17, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

Look Ahead: AI robot finds its way

Omron Adept Technologies Inc.'s LD-series mobile robot can gather information about its surroundings and automatically generate a map with just one run through any given environment.

Products • March 17, 2017

MTConnect Adapter

In its continuing effort to help manufacturers leverage Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) opportunities to improve productivity and reduce manufacturing costs, Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. introduces an MTConnect adapter to facilitate shop floor monitoring. MTConnect is an open standard that allows the sharing of a common language between machines and other electrical equipment from various manufacturers.

News • March 16, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

Survey: U.S. manufacturers ready to embrace Industry 4.0

The U.S. manufacturing industry is rushing to embrace technology as a critical part of its processes and plans to make new technological investments in 2017, but barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption still exist, according to Automation Alley's 2017 Technology Industry Report. According to the report, 85% of national manufacturing executives said their company plans to increase budgets for technological advancements; nearly a third of them plan to increase their budgets by 10% to 15%.

Articles • March 9, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

EDM focus turns to throughput, ease of use, automation

The major wire EDM builders are still in competition, of course, but on other playing fields. The latest developments in wire electrical discharge machining focus on throughput, ease of use and automation.

Products • March 7, 2017

United Grinding flexLoad standard automation cell

For machine types STUDER S31 and STUDER S33, United Grinding offers a loader solution featuring a portal loader system with dual grippers. The loader system is said to be suitable for shaft components up to a part length of 300mm and a grip diameter of 4mm to 75mm, which covers the majority of the spectrum of parts produced on these machines, according to United Grinding North America.

News • March 1, 2017

Looking Ahead: Jobs That May Never Be Automated

In a recent article, a few Forbes Technology Council members examined what jobs they think will be automated in the next five to 10 years. But what about the flip side of the issue: What kind of positions or work will be safe from the automation process?