Automation & Controls

Mazak Corp. Applications Engineer Dan Dasilva offers an overview of the company's "Done in One" approach as he provides a guided tour of the Variaxis i-600 and Multi Pallet Pool (MPP) 500.

John Lucier, National Automation Manager for Methods Machine Tools, offers a guided tour of the company's post-machining process deburring cell, which was on display during IMTS 2016 held at McCormick Place in Chicago last week.

FANUC America Corp. brought a new look and feel to CNC operations with the introduction of the FANUC iHMI. iHMI, or intelligent Human Machine Interface, provides a simpler, more efficient and intuitive way to interact with the FANUC series 30i/31i/32i-MODEL B CNCs, according to the company.

ABB Robotics unveiled its latest foundry robot for material handling and machine tending, the IRB 1200 Foundry Plus 2. This compact robot can increase flexibility and reduce cycle times for precision die casting processes such as smartphone cases and other electrical components.

Doosan Machine Tools America offers a range of automation devices to enable customers to extend machining time during staffed shifts and for "lights out" operations, such as the "LPSII" linear pallet system.

Cellro offers most compact and versatile automation solution: Xcelerate X20. According to the company, Xcelerate is renowned for its flexibility, user-friendly interface, modest floor space (starting at a mere 0.8m2) and surprisingly large storage capacity.

"Manufacturers who conduct a lot of machining know that the cost of productivity of a machining operation is inextricably connected to the selection of the cutting tool and the process for managing them," writes GE Industry Analyst Andy Henderson in a GE Digital blog post. "In the utopian future, the manufacturing intelligence system will automatically control how cutting tools are used and automatically optimize the cost of machining operations."

Sandvik Coromant has unveiled its CoroPlus suite of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions aimed at helping manufacturers prepare for Industry 4.0. The concept is designed specifically to improve the control of productivity and costs through a combination of connected machining and access to manufacturing data and expert knowledge.

Haas Automation's Next Generation Control (NGC) is the latest evolution of a user-friendly CNC. It reportedly features a significantly improved user interface, more consistent and intuitive navigation and vastly improved connectivity.

Automation equipment manufacturer FANUC America Corp., Rochester Hills, Mich., named Mike Cicco president and CEO and Rick Schneider chairman.

Comau presents the extension of its small robot family for quick applications in restricted spaces, including handling, assembly and pick and place, by introducing two new robots: Racer5-0.63 and Racer5-0.80. Both are controlled by the R1C 19" rack-mounted controller, which can be integrated into a single cabinet to control an entire line.

With rising salaries, labor unrest, environmental devastation and intellectual property theft, China is no longer an attractive place for Western companies to move their manufacturing, writes Vivek Wadhwa. "Technology has also eliminated the labor cost advantage. [China] built its dominance in manufacturing by offering massive subsidies, cheap labor, and lax regulations. With technologies such as robotics and 3D printing, it has no edge."