Product News

MVTec Software GmbH announces the release of the new version 19.05 of its standard software, HALCON. This release will further improve machine vision processes with a number of new and revised features.

It is no secret that e-mobility is a growing market. A current study by the consulting firm Strategy Analytics, predicts the production output of “electric vehicles” will increase to 25% of the global market by 2025. It should be noted that the study uses “electric” as an umbrella term that covers all aspects of e-mobility, i.e. hybrids, fuel cell drives, and pure electric vehicles, and that the markets are highly heterogeneous. It is expected that 50% of the production will take place in China, and the other 50% will be throughout the rest of the world.

Siemens introduces Manage MyMachines, one of the MindApps within the rapidly emerging Mindsphere concept. This cloud-based “platform as a service” enables the full data tracking of machine kinematics, as well as production data, and Manage MyMachines serves as the initial point of entry into this digital world, combined with edge technology.

Extend the life and performance of carbide and HSS cutting tools dramatically by honing their edges and polishing their flutes. These hard materials are still susceptible to breakage. Edge prep processes have been shown to make cutting tools significantly less brittle.

Doosan Robotics (Doosan) offers a versatile lineup of collaborative robots (cobots) that are engineered to meet the needs of today’s automation market. Doosan cobots have been particularly popular in France and Italy due to their strong capabilities and intuitive and easy application.

Comau introduces MATE, its first innovative wearable exoskeleton. MATE has been designed to improve work quality in an efficient and highly ergonomic manner by providing consistent and advanced movement assistance during prolonged overhead, as well as daily tasks.

EXAIR's new Hazardous Location Cabinet Cooler Systems have achieved the UL classified designation for Div1 environments. They have been tested by UL and passed their stringent requirements for use upon classified purged and pressurized electrical enclosures within Class I Div 1, Groups A, B, C and D; Class II Div 1, Groups E, F and G – and Class III environments.

Walter has added two new cast iron insert grades to its Perform Line family of turning tools, the WKV10 and WKV20. These new negative geometry grades are versatile, cost-effective inserts and are ideal for those who machine small or medium batch sizes. These new grades in the Perform Line supplement corresponding grades for steels that were introduced last year.

Mobile Industrial Robots launched the MiR1000, the company’s largest autonomous mobile robot (AMR). The MiR1000 can automatically pick up, transport and deliver pallets and other heavy loads up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs) through dynamic environments.

Hoffmann Group USA announced that its Web-based eForm configurator has been optimized for free-form surfaces. Using eForm, Hoffmann Group USA customers can design their own customized rigid foam inlays, whereby individually placed tools are not only positioned next to each other, but also above one another. This enables a larger number of tools to be stored in tool cases, drawers and cabinets, in an orderly manner.

Coating, adhesive bonding, sealing, painting – these are just some manufacturing operations calling for profoundly clean, and sometimes activated, part surfaces. It is with these requirements in mind that Ecoclean has developed a set of new cleaning solutions. One of them combines wet chemical and low-pressure plasma cleaning in a single machine. Another innovation consists in integrating diverse applications for partial or full-surface cleaning or activation – e.g., atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, laser, CO2 snow blasting and/or surface inspection operations – into one processing system. This toolkit enables operators to cover virtually all pre-treatment needs.

With AI capabilities, MiR robots can efficiently and appropriately react to different types of obstacles to improve navigation and efficiency. They can now distinguish between e.g. AMRs from other manufacturers, AGVs, forklifts, humans, groups of people and adjust their driving pattern accordingly.

Limitations of using milling tools to prepare holes for finishing become apparent as hole depth and volume increase. This is where BIG KAISER’s Series 319SW Twin Cutter boring head showcases its capabilities and can solve the issue along with virtually any other holemaking problem for the range of 0.787" to 8.000”.

For years, OCTOPUZ has provided the robotics market with an intelligent offline programming and simulation solution ideal for a wide range of industrial robots including KUKA, FANUC, ABB, and Yaskawa Motoman. OCTOPUZ 2.1 redefines the standards in offline robotic programming by offering a simplified approach to solving toolpath trajectories. The new OCTOPUZ PathFinder suite of tools, automatically identifies and solves limits and errors within the program.

The SCHUNK Co-act EGL-C long-stroke gripper is a milestone on the way to a comprehensive human/robot collaboration: The long-stroke gripper developed for collaborative operation achieves high gripping forces up to 450 N, and combines them with a long stroke of 42.5 mm per finger. The intelligent 24 V powerhouse is suitable for handling workpiece weights of up to 2.25 kg and can be flexibly used in a wide range of applications.

READY Robotics announces the launch of the Forge suite of products unifying cross robotic platform programming and control. The Forge suite consists of a hardware controller (Forge/Ctrl) running robust software (Forge/OS), which together empowers anyone to intuitively control industrial and collaborative robots.

PI’s new L-505 linear translation stage family is available with integrated linear encoders providing 0.05 microns and 0.005 microns resolution, respectively. The new design allows for very compact multiple-axis assemblies, at affordable prices. Many motor and drive variations are available, from fast DC-servomotors with linear encoders and low-friction ballscrews to simple open-loop stepper motors.

GTI Predictive Technology announces numerous updates to its award-winning VibePro 24/7 online vibration and temperature monitoring - now combined with Route Data Collection - to improve data collection for rotating equipment and bearing health. Updates include advanced alerts from route collected data, superior corporate visibility, advanced report creation, integrated thermal images and Bluetooth sensor capabilities for hazardous area monitoring.

NCCS Corp., developer of NCL multiple-axis machining software that is used extensively in the aerospace, automotive and turbo-machinery industries has further developed an add-on module to NCL for high-speed bulk material removal.

KISSsoft provides a number of useful tools for gear manufacturing throughout the design process.