2022 February

New Tech for Robotic Fastening

Screwdriving is a perfect application for Cartesian, SCARA and six-axis robots.

February 8, 2022

An automatic screw feeder can greatly increase the efficiency of a manual screwdriving operation. However, to reach the next level of productivity, assemblers should consider a robot. Screwdriving is a great application for Cartesian, SCARA, six-axis robots and collaborative robots. Now, several suppliers have introduced robots for installing large screws and bolts. Here’s a look at some of the latest developments.

Three Tips for Testing EV Motors

The dawn of the EV era is changing motor testing.

David Suehs Matt Thiel

February 22, 2022

The internal combustion engine may not be dead, but it has lost its spot in the limelight. The global demand for energy without emissions is driving markets and policy. In response, the world has turned its attention to electrification as the future of transportation.

Mullen Ramps Up EV Assembly Line

Austin Weber

February 24, 2022

Mullen Technologies Inc. is a start-up company that's developing several types of electric vehicles, including a crossover, a sports car and a delivery van. The Brea, CA-based firm is led by an entrepreneur who formerly worked in the entertainment industry as a record producer.

Power Electronics Make EVs Run

Austin Weber

February 23, 2022

While batteries and motors are the "lead actors" in electric vehicles, power electronics play an equally important behind-the-scenes role. Vehicle power electronics primarily process and control the flow of electrical energy in EVs.

Eight Essential Steps to a Great User Requirements Specification

The success of an automation project depends on a well-written user requirement specification.

Charles Tschaggeny

February 4, 2022

People often ask me what makes a good user requirement specification (URS). Maybe it's my age or experience, or maybe they're just trying to make me feel good, but I always consider it a compliment when someone asks me. After working on automation projects for more years than I would like to believe, I think I can nudge people in the right direction.

Assembling the Future of Urban Air Mobility

Lightweight battery-powered aircraft are ready for take-off.

Nathan Eddy

February 14, 2022

Picture a flying taxi able to whisk passengers to their chosen destination within minutes, not hours. A noiseless aircraft free from carbon emissions, capable of vertical takeoff and landing in the heart of a major city. What once sounded like a scene out of a science-fiction novel is cruising toward reality, forever altering the way we move.

Leak Testing Battery Packs

In-process and end-of-line tests are equally important.

Austin Weber

February 16, 2022

Fire and ice don't mix. The same applies to water and batteries. In an electric vehicle, a tiny bit of water vapor can damage lithium-ion battery cells.

Spin Welding for Plastics Assembly

Enhanced data gathering and automation features complement spin welding’s ability to join plastic parts with a round-to-round interface.

Jim Camillo

February 1, 2022

Management theory and practice don't always match, and few people know this better than the individuals who oversee assembly lines. Their real-world experience has taught them that the best method to achieve success always depends on several application-specific factors. Among them are part size and shape, available automation, required cycle time and the materials being joined.

Innovation Is a Game Changer for US Manufacturing and Workforce Development

Harry Moser

February 23, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has propelled a national movement to strengthen domestic supply chains and reshore. Recruitment of the next generation of skilled manufacturing talent is paramount to this effort, but there is a widening gap between the skills needed by industry and the skills of job candidates.

Robots Assemble PPE

John Sprovieri

February 9, 2022

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry faced a large-scale shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), which put frontline workers at risk of infection.

Batteries Enable Manufacturer of Plastic Parts to Store Solar Power

Jim Camillo

February 17, 2022

It is safe to say that the debate about the environmental impact of plastic will continue. But, it is also a fact that many manufacturers of plastic products are quietly becoming greener.

Automated Coating System Increases PCB Production

Jim Camillo

February 17, 2022

Gentherm Inc. has been assembling a wide range of thermal management products for the automotive industry since 1991, when it was known as Amerigon. In 1996, the company created the industry's first thermoelectrically heated and cooled seat system (called Climate Control Seat).

Contract Manufacturer Assembles Components for Combat Aircraft

Jim Camillo

February 17, 2022

Above all else, electronic products for aerospace and defense equipment must be durable and reliable. Based in Gloucestershire, England, Ultra Electronics Precision Control Systems (UPCS) has been making such products for both industries since 1925.

Don’t Restrain Development of AI

John Sprovieri

February 9, 2022

Whenever a new technology is introduced, it's often viewed with suspicion and distrust, if not outright hostility.

On Demand Learn how manufacturers are bridging the gap between the shop floor and ERP systems to gain real-time visibility, streamline operations, and kick-start digital transformation—without waiting years.

Sponsored by:

On Demand In this presentation, Dr. Herman Tang shares practical insights from his industry experience and research on buffer management in manufacturing operations.

Assembly eMagazine

Cover Story

New Tech for Robotic Fastening

Features

Three Tips for Testing EV Motors

Mullen Ramps Up EV Assembly Line

Power Electronics Make EVs Run

Eight Essential Steps to a Great User Requirements Specification

Assembling the Future of Urban Air Mobility

Leak Testing Battery Packs

Spin Welding for Plastics Assembly

Columns

Innovation Is a Game Changer for US Manufacturing and Workforce Development

Robots Assemble PPE

Batteries Enable Manufacturer of Plastic Parts to Store Solar Power

Automated Coating System Increases PCB Production

Contract Manufacturer Assembles Components for Combat Aircraft

Don’t Restrain Development of AI

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