Robotic Systems News

May 26th, 2006 - Volume 1 Issue 4

Almost all robot manufacturers today are talking about robots that are safe enough to operate without safety barriers. The theory is that, by removing the fences that surround robots, space is saved and operators can collaborate with the robots to complete tasks more efficiently. But is the market ready for this momentous step? Here is a questionnaire that enables you to contribute your views...

The EPSON Micro PowerDrive™ RC170 controller is a low-cost, high performance robot controller that provides the ultimate experience in ease-of-use, compact size, and reliability at an incredibly low price. By combining tremendous power and flexibility the Micro PowerDrive is ideal for stand alone, PLC Slave, and PC driven robot applications.

Weldon Solutions has engineered a compact, portable robotic cell to automatically deburr small parts. Compliant tooling, programmable robot path, and an ID/OD gripper provide the flexibility to deburr a broad range of part profiles with a single machine. Learn more about this and other Weldon robotic automation solutions...

The heavy construction industry is an unusual habitat for robotics, but one cutting application has proved to be an exception. The workpiece, a massive hemispherical vessel measuring almost 50 ft. (15.24 m) in diameter, with a wall thickness of 2 7/8 in. (73 mm), required 28 holes to be cut out of it. There was no dedicated machine, and cutting by hand was not an option. The solution was to rent a robot for just 10 days. Read the hole story here...

Many electronic parts are fragile and easily damaged. Standard high-speed picking robots capable of more than 100 cycles per minute would not be suitable for these delicate products. One manufacturer has, however, implemented a robotic solution to package and palletize delicate electronic units. To achieve high throughput without subjecting parts to high g forces, the robots use vision to pick parts off a moving conveyor. Specially-designed end-of-arm tooling is capable of handling several parts at once. For further details...

The robots operating at this automotive supplier 24 hours a day, five or six days a week, are equipped with vision systems to guarantee good quality assemblies every time. At some stations, vision is used for checking parts before, during, and after each step. At others, it verifies the correct application of a primer bead or checks the presence and position of an adhesive strip. In some cases, the camera actually mounts on the robot arm. This report in Assembly magazine describes the full range of vision use.

Welding was one of the earliest applications to benefit from 3D vision. The technology is now proven and the benefits numerous, despite the harsh environment. This article provides a comprehensive overview of machine vision and its specific application to welding, including discussion of the different types of vision systems available and the different applications possible. The benefits of employing vision with welding are also outlined.

The new Keyence CV-2600, high-speed machine vision system, with a two Mega-Pixel CCD (1620x1220), is the most advanced vision system available today. The new CV-2600 incorporates numerous "first-in-class" features, one of which is the 2 mega-pixel CCD built into the industry's smallest camera housing. Read more...

A+F Automation's TwinLine Two-Axis Robot provides both speed and flexibility to end-of-line packaging systems. Specifically designed to overcome the limitations of standard robot packaging machines, the TwinLine features an exclusive gripper arm drive with two pairs of drive arms made of lightweight carbon fiber and driven by two servo motors.

Choosing the right safety interface technology is an important aspect to any robot application. Three main alternatives exist today; each has its individual features. For example, traditional safety relays may not be the best solution in the long run, as they have to be replaced every one or two years. Other alternatives are safety-rated controller devices, and safety fieldbus networks. To make an informed decision, follow this link...

Lockheed Martin is to build the F-35 fighter aircraft at a rate of one a day for the next 15-20 years. Robots will be used to paint them. The painting operation is, however, very challenging. This is partly because of the tight cycle time and aircraft size, and partly because of its complex surfaces. Read how Lockheed Martin is using a suite of software tools to optimize the design of the paint facility, the robot systems, and the coating programs.

Connect this laser welding head to an industrial robot and you'll have a useful tool for welding complex 3D joints. The welding head includes all the functionality required for the task, including joint finding and tracking. It also provides functions for weld bead inspection, process and system monitoring, and adaptive weld parameter control. And, as this article explains, the welding head is compatible with any ND:YAG or fiber laser.

For applications requiring the continuous transfer of 200 kg per meter, this compact and sturdy conveyor is the solution. The critical components of the heavy-duty conveyor are made from steel rather than synthetic materials. The conveyor profiles for flat top and accumulation roller chains are also reinforced and protected from stray small parts. For added safety, the mounting brackets for the inductive proximity switches are designed to be destruction-proof. Read all the specs here...

The use of machine vision technology is growing very rapidly, spurred by the need of manufacturers for increasingly fine control over the quality of manufactured parts. Melles Griot is a leading supplier of machine vision components and custom vision modules. Machine vision systems typically are fast enough to inspect 100% of the product being processed without slowing up the manufacturing line.

Constellation is the software development platform for robotics and unmanned-vehicle applications. It provides end-to-end development support for these complex, distributed systems by offering a comprehensive combination of facilities, services, and tools to speed system design and implementation, ease integration, and manage process complexity. Contact Real-Time Innovations, Inc. for more information.

Serious financial difficulties at the start of this millennium forced one of the world's largest robot manufacturers to restructure its operations. This article reviews ABB's new and profitable slimmed-down organization, outlining how the corporate culture had to change. The four key levers to drive the automation business strategy are now operational excellence, core competencies, strategic marketing, and people power.

How does your salary compare with others in the industry? Are you being properly rewarded for your skills and experience? Is your level of pay commensurate with your responsibilities? In this salary survey of automation professionals, the results are broken down in many ways including industry, job function, work experience, company tenure, age, gender, and ethnicity.

The U.S. Navy is adapting a remote-controlled toy truck to transform it into a tool for detonating explosive devices. The end-result is the 20 in. x 20 in. BomBot, with a 10 lb. payload and 35 mph maximum speed. The Navy is supplying 2,500 of these tiny four-wheeled trucks for deployment in Iraq. Using the BomBots, soldiers will be able to deposit a packet of explosive close to the device to be detonated and then blow it up, all by remote control.

Those long trudges around airports with heavy luggage and big bags could soon be mere memories. A new airport in Japan is testing a pair of porter robots. The two-wheeled, box-shaped machines come in two sizes. One is for the luggage. The other is for the passenger. While the luggage porter follows pre-determined routes round the airport, the passenger is able to steer his/her own course. Read on for additional details... (Simple registration is required.)

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