Automation & Controls

With Kitagawa/NorthTech Worlkholding's automated pallet jaw system, robotic automation is a viable solution for low- and moderate-volume parts production in a CNC lathe.

For cost-effective, customizable robotic systems, igus has further updated the Robolink D modular robotic kit with new strain wave gearings in two installation sizes. The gearing, available as an individual component or with integrated NEMA motor, consists of an outer ring gear and flexible, wear-resistant inner ring gear made from self-lubricating, wear resistant iglide plastic.

Arevo Labs hopes its new RAMP leads to better 3D-printed componets for the defense and aerospace industries. Arevo touts RAMP (Robot-based Additive Manufacturing Platform) as the first system of its kind optimized for 3D printing of composite thermoplastic parts. The system includes a 6-axis robot arm and end-effector hardware for deposition. RAMP can accommodate build envelopes from 1,000 cu. mm to 8 cu. m, depending on the size of the robot used. The end effector consists of a deposition head with special thermal management technology for processing carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics.

Until I started working for Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, lifting parts was never a consideration in daily production. Previously, the parts I dealt with were small, usually never larger than a dinner plate. Lifting equipment, such as forklifts and pallet jacks, were often employed, but only to move raw materials to a machine tool or to load and unload trucks—never as part of the production process.

FiberMaxHP is a second-generation 3-6 axis photonics alignment platform built on Aerotech's proven ANT nanopositioning product line. It is designed for critical photonics alignment in a highly automated, 24/7 production environment with no compromise in speed, accuracy and resolution, according to the company.

Dake Corp. introduces their line of NC feed systems, giving shops everywhere the ability to increase productivity, decrease setup time, reduce operator error and reduce waste. Using the Dake feed systems, any semiautomatic ironworker, cold saw, drill press or punching machine can easily be turned into a fully automatic production tool, according to the company. A free-standing control panel with an easy-to-read LCD digital display and infinitely variable programming gives operators endless opportunities to enhance their metalworking capabilities.

Vertical machining centers are machine shop mainstays, owing in no small part to their versatility, small footprint and relatively low cost. However, in high-volume environments, they tend to lag behind their horizontal counterparts. Fortunately, a pallet system provides a fairly simple fix.

The MIL-Spec 5015 series from Mencom Corp. was originally designed for severe aeronautical and tactical service applications. Due to the rugged and versatile design, these connectors are widely used in a range of commercial and industrial applications, such as factory automation, robotics, instrumentation, medical equipment and power applications.

Marposs Corp.'s Brankamp CMS system for collision monitoring is designed to reduce or even eliminate machine collisions that generally lead to high repair costs and long downtimes. The Brankamp CMS system detects dynamically increasing forces with damage potential within milliseconds and sends a stop signal to the machine drives.

HALTER's LoadAssistant is a robotic system for loading workpieces into CNC machines. It is a universal for both CNC lathes and machining centers, with a rotating loading system that can handle a large range of workpieces quickly. It assists in increasing production output and improves profit immediately, even when dealing with small batches, according to the company.