2018 November

Options for Pick and Place

As electromechanical units and robots increase in popularity, pneumatic and cam-driven systems remain staples in pick and place operations

Jim Camillo

November 5, 2018

No Comments

The No. 1 application for robots, be they Cartesian, SCARA, delta or six-axis models, is also the easiest: pick up a part from one location and place it in another.

Random Bin Picking Comes of Age

New technology enables robots to see and act more like humans.

Austin Weber

November 7, 2018

No Comments

Ordinarily, parts are presented to a robot for pick up at fixed locations, the escapement of a feeder bowl, for example, or the pockets of a thermoformed tray. To save space and eliminate the cost of trays and feeders, manufacturers would like a robot to pick randomly oriented parts out of a bin, box or tote.

Robots Strike Right Tone With Guitar Maker

Taylor Guitars relies on robots to help assemble precision electronics for its world-famous acoustic guitars

Phil Baratti

November 9, 2018

One Comment

Assembling an acoustic guitar of world-class caliber requires more technology than you might realize. Hand craftsmanship is still the hallmark of Taylor Guitars, which has been in business nearly 45 years.

The hydraulic fluid in pulse tools must be changed regularly

Best Practices for Tool Maintenance

Even the most technologically advanced fastening tools require regular maintenance and calibration

John Sprovieri

November 8, 2018

No Comments

Fastening tools are the workhorses of any assembly operation. Consider a high-volume automotive plant. If a vehicle contains 1,000 threaded fasteners and an assembly line is turning out 250,000 vehicles annually, that’s more than 250 million run-downs each year.

Industry 4.0 Maturity Index

A new index provides companies with guidance for carrying out the transformation to Industry 4.0

Bertolt Gärtner

November 6, 2018

No Comments

Businesses increasingly recognize the growth opportunities offered by digitalization and interconnectedness. These technologies are enabling new business models, efficient use of resources, and cost-effective production of highly customizable products. These developments are collectively referred to as "Industry 4.0."

Clemson Leads the Lightweight Vehicle Charge

Austin Weber

November 12, 2018

No Comments

Engineers at Clemson University are tackling the lightweighting challenge by developing new applications for carbon-fiber composites and other nontraditional materials.

Rethink Robotics Gets Rethought

John Sprovieri

November 5, 2018

No Comments

Rethink Robotics, the pioneering manufacturer of the Baxter and Sawyer collaborative robots, closed for business Oct. 3, just 10 years after it started.

Manufacturing Is Cool at GE Appliances' Refrigerator Factory

John Sprovieri

November 6, 2018

No Comments

In June, GE Appliances, a Haier company, announced plans to invest $115 million to expand its refrigerator assembly plant in Decatur, AL. The investment will add 255 new jobs to the plant, bringing the total number of full-time employees there to nearly 1,300.

Visibility Systems Will Help Guide Autonomous Cars

Austin Weber

November 7, 2018

No Comments

In the early days of air transport, pilots relied on a nationwide network of beacons for night time navigation. A hundred years later, the first generation of autonomous vehicles may also rely on light beams to navigate safely.

EPLAN Software Bolsters Machine Manufacturing, Performance

Jim Camillo

November 8, 2018

No Comments

Heinrich Witzenmann's influence on manufacturing may have begun in 1885, when he invented the metal hose, but it continues to this day.

Surface Treatments Ensure Adhesion Consistency on Laminate Furniture

Jim Camillo

November 9, 2018

No Comments

As a senior research scientist at Sauder Woodworking Co. in Archbold, OH, John Beck has dealt with many surface treatment challenges.

Linear Mini Lights Brighten up Butterfly Valve Inspection

Jim Camillo

November 12, 2018

No Comments

In many automotive parts, a small defect can cause big problems. This explains why Tier 1 suppliers increasingly use machine vision to inspect parts used for steering, air bags, seat belts, brakes, electronic controls and exhaust.

Machine Shop Increases Efficiency With Collaborative Robot

Zoe Leduc

November 13, 2018

No Comments

Fitzpatrick Manufacturing, a CNC machine shop and custom manufacturer founded in 1952, supplies parts to more than a dozen sectors, including aerospace, automotive, medical equipment and oil and gas.