Automation engineers have developed ingenious ways to mechanically singulate and orient parts in a feeder bowl.

INDIANAPOLIS—Vibromatic Co. Inc., a supplier of parts handling and feeding equipment, has been inducted into the Indiana Manufacturers Association’s (IMA) Hall of Fame.

The spark plug is an essential component of an internal combustion engine. A well-designed plug can maximize fuel economy, reduce emissions, increase engine performance and minimize maintenance.

As of May 26, more than 5.6 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 235 countries. Worldwide, nearly 349,000 people have died from the disease, but 2.4 million have recovered.

How do you singulate and orient a conical washer made of soft metal only 0.005 inch thick and almost 1 inch in diameter?

Many engineers mistakenly believe that vibratory bowl feeders can only be designed to feed one specific part, but that's not quite right.

The manufacturer needed to present thin steel blades down an assembly line in a specific orientation. However, the parts were essentially symmetrical, with the exception of a small notch that had to be presented on the right side. With no real differences in the part other than this notch, feeding them to an assembly mechanism with 100 percent accuracy was a challenge.