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How To Guides

Select the Right Test Method to Leak Test Your Products

Selecting the best leak test method is an economic decision that balances the cost of meeting the leak test specifications within the conditions and requirements of production. There are several major factors that influence the right decision.


Set Up a Torque Wrench Control and “Error Proofing” System

Bolt tightening is an important part of the assembly process and is often performed by workers with a torque wrench. A torque wrench is not only a tool for tightening bolts but is a “torque measuring instrument”. Using a torque wrench to apply the correct amount of torque to a fastener is a critical part of assembling a high quality product.


Improve conveyor reliability and control... and reduce maintenance costs with right-angled photoelectric sensors

The ability to reliably and effectively detect parts presence/absence on conveyor systems is critical to most manufacturing and assembly processes. However, because conveyors are often close to equipment and pedestrian traffic, frequent damage to vulnerable conventional barrel sensors used in this application can result in unreliable conveyor control and costly down time.


Validate a UV Spot Lamp Light Curing Process

Since their initial introduction into manufacturing processes over 25 years ago, UV curing adhesives and coatings have continued to gain recognition as significant drivers for improved productivity and overall process cost reduction. In fact, they have become the preferred assembly method in many manufacturing industries.


Choose the Right Workbench Or Workstation For Your Application

On the surface, you might think that purchasing a workbench or workstation is simple. However, to ensure that you’re getting the right workbench, here’s is a step-by-step approach to selecting the right workbench for all your needs.


Create Ergonomic, Efficient Workstations...Design & Build Custom Tables, Benches And Part Storage

Succeeding in today’s competitive markets means creating the optimum manufacturing environment, one that’s lean, agile and responsive. In part, that can be achieved by outfitting assembly workstations that are ergonomic, efficient, safe, comfortable, and productive structures.


Access Difficult Screw Locations With Autofeed Tooling

No autofeed application is identical to another! Each product surface should be evaluated to ensure accessibility for the screwdriver, and special tooling may be necessary.


Choose A Single Spindle Fixtured Screwdriving Head

Single spindle screwdriving heads are used in a wide variety of automated applications to install fas-teners into many different parts. Screwdriving heads incorporate two strokes; the stroke to part, and the drive stroke. The stroke to part is used to advance the screw jaws up to the part. The drive stroke drives the screw to proper torque or depth (as required).


Specify End-of-Arm Tooling for Packaging & Palletizing Automation Cells

In relation to an entire automation project, the Robotic End-of-Arm Tool (also called EOAT or end effecter) is one of the most critical and dynamic aspects to getting more out of your robot.


Select a Robotic Tool Changer

Robotic tool changers provide flexibility to robotic applications by enabling the robot to change end-effectors automatically (e.g.; grippers, vacuum cup tooling, pneumatic and electric motors, weld guns, etc.). Tool changers consist of a master plate, which is mounted to the robot arm, and a tool plate, which is mounted to the end-effector. The tool changer passes utilities such as pneumatics, electrical signals, fluids, and more from the robot arm to the end-effector.


Error Proof Your Assembly

When providing the best possible error solution for assembly lines in the fastening process, many companies look to “zero-defect” philosophy or “getting it right the first time.” What is the right way to ensure that you have the right torque, required amount of fasteners, required amount of load, and that your product meets end-user expectations? In error proofing, the five main areas to consider are: torque OK, bolt counting, joint OK, collecting data, and zero-fault fastening.


Choose the Right Benchtop Press for Your Application

Whether your process is manufacturing or assembly, choosing the right benchtop press for your appli-cation is crucial. Options vary from manual arbor presses, to advanced hydraulic & electromechanical models that can be integrated with PLC control modules.


Improve Product Design and Manufacturability with the Coiled Pin

In any assembled component there are three ways to reduce the overall cost of the assembly: reduce the cost of the individual components, reduce component preparation cost, and reduce the cost to as-semble the components.


Surface Mount Fasteners Onto PC Boards

New families of fastener types have been developed specifically for mounting to printed circuit boards (PCBs) using the same soldering processes that mount other electronic components. Surface mount fastening eliminates any need manually to place hardware on a populated PCB.


Dispense Cyanoacrylates

The advantages of using cyanoacyate (CA) adhesives in bonding materials are well recognized, “super glues” having been in use for almost 50 years. The high bond strength of CAs and the rapid cure rate of the material without the need for heat, light, or catalysts have led to their widespread use in indus-try.


Increase Output and Reduce Production Costs With a Benchtop Dispensing Robot

Benchtop dispensing robots are a cost-effective way to automate manual production processes that in-volve repeated application of adhesives, lubricants, sealants and other assembly fluids. By increasing productivity, reducing costs and improving quality, they can provide assemblers with a significant competitive edge.


Increase Efficiency in Intralogistics and Production

Intralogistics and production processes are usually optimized down to the last second: No product should have to wait at any point in the process. The processing operations are highly standardized sequences with the goal of optimizing cycle times and lowering costs. But often, there is still a potential for optimization...


Get Instant Changeover

The machine is an investment that may provide great return while it is running. But it is sitting idle while operators slowly make changeover adjustments. Downtime during changeover is an accumulation of minutes–and dollars!


Implement a Barcode System

Over the past 50 years, barcodes have changed the way we purchase goods, transmit data, administer medications, and more. Implementing the latest barcode technologies helps companies promote the lean manufacturing principles of right time, right place, right quantity production, improving their operations for better quality and profitability.


Use Sharpshooter™ — The First Vision-based Optical Sensor

When it comes to the level of quality that is acceptable in today’s manufacturing marketplace, one fact stands out. Advanced manufacturing assembly operations can only meet the requirements of these customers by making 100% perfect parts all day, all the time, and at constantly reduced cost and higher productivity.


Use Standard Modular Components to Simplify Machine Design

There was a time not so long ago when engineers had to design automation systems completely from the “ground up” using basic unguided actuators. Shock absorbers, hard stops, sensor and pneumatic plumbing solutions, bearing rails and other guides had to be custom-fitted for an individual system.


Use Automation to Become Lean

Automated production or, in other words, the automated transfer of parts, is always the "leanest" choice if you can cut costs and increase process reliability compared to a manual solution for the same application.


Design Lean Cells for Flexibility

Becoming lean means more than putting together a few U-shaped work cells. It's a philosophy that drives you to reduce waste. To implement lean, you need to consider how materials, people and information flow through your manufacturing process.


Select the Proper Fastening Solution for your Application

Fastening two parts together is the root of almost every conceivable production known to manufacturing. Whether it be welding, screwing, riveting, staking, or any other joining technology, fastening is the core process. All other processes, such as pick and place, testing, vision, etc..., are essentially supporting the fastening process.


Increase Efficiencies in Assembly & Parts Picking

Lean Manufacturing is a discipline to eliminate waste in a process, operation or function. One of the most basic areas in which a Manufacturer should apply Lean principles is the storage mediums used for assembly and parts picking.


Decelerate Loads, Prevent Impact Damage, Dampen Noise, Improve Product Performance and Increase Cycle Speeds

Virtually all manufacturing processes involve movement of some kind. In production machinery this can involve linear transfers, rotary index motions, fast feeds, etc. At some point these motions change direction or come to a stop.


Select Press Equipment by Deciding How Much Control is Needed

The terms CONTROL and MONITOR are often confused and misunderstood when dealing with press equipment.


Ensure Effective Riveting Process Control While Lowering Manufacturing Costs

The Baltec STF-1 Expert is based on revolutionary new hardware and intelligent software; this system offers users a broader application spectrum for continuous quality assurance allowing for effective monitoring of any riveting variable in assembly applications.


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