Manufacturing Equipment and Components Reference Materials
Reference Articles 201 - 300 of 471
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How 3D Printing Turns Art Concepts into Real Scenes
Description: 3D printing has become a medium for expressing and transforming an artist's creativity into a visible and tactile entity. ...
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How to 3D Print Tooling, Jigs and Fixtures
Description: Custom jigs and fixtures are considered one of the most promising implementations for enhancing manufacturing productivity, operator satisfaction, and safety. However, the high labor, time, and costs ...
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How to Optimize 3D Model Partitions When 3D Printing
Description: As 3D printing technology becoming more mature and cheaper, it is commonly used in prototyping, production, and other scenarios. However, there is one limitation for the large object printing: print ...
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How to Start a 3D Printing Business
Description: The 3D printing industry offers different niches in which to develop a business. While each type of 3D printing business will have specific requirements to start, there is general information that can ...
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What Are Dual Extruder 3D Printers and IDEX 3D Printers?
Description: A comprehensive understanding of a dual extruder 3D printer's mechanical setup and functionality is crucial for businesses to decide whether they need a dual extruder 3D printer, and if so, what type ...
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What is 3D Printer Filament?
Description: 3D printer filament is a certain kind of printing material used by the FFF type 3D printer. It is one of the most commonly used 3D printing material categories in the world now. ...
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Why Businesses Need 3D Printing
Description: 3D printing is an effective technology that can both lower costs while speeding up production. Depending on its intended purpose, it can create customizable pieces or lower excess material waste. ...
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Advantages of Robots in Industry: Robotics Applications
From: item America, LLCDescription: Robots have all kinds of advantages in industry. Amongst other things, they enable the automated production of small batch sizes, ease the strain on staff, improve quality standards, and boost ...
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Sonmak Adds Flexbility to Production Line with 3D Printing
Description: Sonmak Diamond Tools is a company that produces diamond-cutting tools for the natural stone industry. They manufacture cables for extracting blocks from mines, gangsaws for dividing these blocks into ...
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Safe Autonomous Vehicles in Semiconductor Manufacturing
From: SICKDescription: Within semiconductor manufacturing, robotics provides a lot of assistance in the day-to-day work within the production process and in cleanrooms. Line-guided, stationary, or mobile: autonomous ...
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3D Printing Enables Advanced Radiation Medical Treatment
Description: The Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences uses a Pro2 Plus dual-extruder professional 3D printer in its laboratory. The team, led by Dr. Jonah Choi, makes use of the Pro2 Plus to ...
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Collaborative Robots in Industrial Automation
Description: Collaborative robots ("cobots") is the fastest growing segment in industrial automation. Cobots interact with humans in a shared workspace, whereas traditional robots function in relative isolation ...
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KIDO Sports Innovates Helmet Prototyping with 3D Printing
Description: KIDO Sports combines 3D printing technology with design aesthetics to create more high-tech and artistic helmets, successfully working around prototyping limitations. KIDO Sports is committed to ...
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White Paper: Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic 3D Printing
Description: Fiber-reinforced thermoplastic is an emerging industrial material category with high-performance properties, making it a valuable solution for high-end industrial application. It is typically created ...
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Artitek Prefers 3D Printing Over Traditional Production
Description: Artitek provides professional CNC machining services, that mainly focus on motorcycle part design and manufacturing. The company uses 3D printing to make the prototyping process more efficient, and ...
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Raise3D Ecosystem Realizes More Refined Models
Description: JKWind purchased several Raise3D Pro2 Plus 3D printers to help produce end-use architectural models. ...
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Sneaker Giant Deeply Steps into 3D Printing Manufacturing
Description: PEAK is a leading sportswear brand, established in China in 1989. In 2015, PEAK's revenue surpassed 3 billion RMB. Two years later, PEAK became one of the pioneers in making shoes using 3D printing. ...
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Designing Linear Motion Tracks for Robotic Positioning
Description: Robot positioning systems are long tracks in warehouse, aerospace, and automotive facilities to let one robot perform multiple tasks. Also called robot-transfer units or RTUs or 7th-axis systems, ...
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3D Printing Elevates Cost-Efficiency of the Molding Process
Description: The molding process is formed by core making, mold making, and casting. The first phase is the most time-consuming, which is a challenge for the design and assembling process, requiring hand-making ...
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3D-Printed Shoe Uppers Accelerates Small Batch Production
Description: Almost every major shoe manufacturer is exploring different methods to achieve faster market times without having to face extraordinary tooling costs. ...
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XO Armor 3D Prints Custom Protective Guards for Athletes
Description: XO Armor provides athletics trainers and sports medicine professionals an all-inclusive 3D printing solution to create 3D-printed protective gear for athletes. ...
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Zetamix 3D Printed Foundry Filters for Energy and Aerospace
Description: For years, molten metal was filtered by ceramic foam. Ceramic foam filters have a hollowed-out structure. However, hollowed-out parts are impossible to create with regular industrial shaping ...
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Linetamer® Offers Productivity Solution for Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp.
Description: The versatility of the LineTamer® offers an operator many options for handling coiled pipe on the jobsite. With its capabilities to straighten and re-round 3” to 6” IPS coiled pipe to ...
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What are Cartesian Robots?
Description: Cartesian coordinate geometry is an excellent method for mapping three-dimensional space in a simple, easy-to-understand numerical system. In the Cartesian system for three-dimensional space, there ...
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Design and Technology - 3D Prosthetics
Description: “Thanks to the 3D printing technology, it is now possible to create customized and one of a kind prosthetics. The patients are then able to get a new perspective on their prosthetics and on the ...
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How is 3D Printing Transforming the Automotive Industry?
Description: Applications of 3D printing in the automotive industry have evolved from printing relatively simple prototypes and a low production of parts, to 3D printing of entire cars ...
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Irreplaceable Parts? Replicate with Low-Cost 3D Printed Molds
Description: In order to replace the water manifold on a 1913 Dennis Fire Engine, Raise3D Forum user Caxton3D created CAD models and molds for sand casting to create an aluminum part for an otherwise irreplaceable ...
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What to Know About Pick and Place Robots
Description: Haven’t most of us, during childhood, once hoped for a robot that could pick up our toys, place them back and organize them so that our parents wouldn’t scold us for making a mess? Today, ...
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Case Study: Dual Fastening Robot Assembly Machine Blazes Production
Description: An automotive manufacturer was re-tooling their line for a new front grill model. Having been successful with Visumatic for nearly two decades, we partnered again to tackle this latest fastening ...
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Robots: How to Choose the Right One
Description: Available in a range of performance capabilities and prices, robots are becoming ubiquitous in all types of industrial production operations. Understanding the capabilities of each robot type is key ...
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What is a Cartesian Robot?
Description: First, a Cartesian system is one that moves in three, orthogonal axes — X, Y, and Z — according to the Cartesian coordinates. (Although it should be noted that a rotary axis — in the ...
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City of Tulsa Uses HDPE for Sewer Project in Upscale Neighborhood
Description: Woody Crest Neighborhood in Central Tulsa, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, features beautiful multi-million-dollar homes. While the majority of houses are already tied into the ...
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A Robot Made for the Service Industry
From: SICKDescription: Four students from Michigan Technological University participated in SICK’s TiM$10K Challenge for the 2020-2021 school year. Travis Momsen, Alex Langerak, Jared Smith, and Adam Misch created a ...
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Agrus: A Product Built to Reduce Small Farm Waste
From: SICKDescription: According to the USDA, 88 percent of American farms are classified as “small” and only 41 percent of small farmers make a profit each year, leaving the rest failing to break even and ...
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Ultracompact Mobile Robot Used to Optimize the Process Chain
From: SICKDescription: Loading and unloading is the core business of mobile robots and the company Braun Sondermaschinen GmbH has developed a mobile robot that can do this autonomously. ...
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THK Advancements in Surgical Robotics
From: THK America, Inc.Description: As the world's largest supplier with opportunities for quick customizations and fast turnaround time, THK has been instrumental in sustaining surgical robotics practices. ...
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Island State of Mind: Improving Bermuda's Water & Wastewater Systems
Description: The tropical paradise of Bermuda has been in dire need of finding a way to provide potable water, sanitary sewer and reclaimed water infrastructure for the Parish of St. George's. The current ...
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How Robot Transport Units Can Extend Reach and Add 7th Axis Capabilities
From: Isotech, Inc.Description: Robots have become pervasive in manufacturing worldwide. According to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the North American robotics market has set new records this year, which aligns with ...
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Creative Setup for the McElroy Polyhorse®
Description: This picture, shared by Jonathan Lachapelle of Irrigation Plus Inc. in Quebec, demonstrates a creative setup for the productivity enhancing PolyHorse. McElroy first introduced the PolyHorse in 2007 to ...
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What is the Difference Between Industrial Robots?
Description: As the world of robots expands in the industrial space, it's prudent to get to up to speed on the multiple types available and their capabilities. ...
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Contract Packager Uses Paxton's CanDryer to Remove Residual Beer and Dry Cans
Description: Established in 2015, a Contract Packager goes beyond making great products for their clients: they are committed to seeing their clients' brands grow. They aim to become a one-stop shop for their ...
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Game Changer at Soda Canning Facility
Description: A major step forward in air-rinsing products has generated a buzz among companies selling canned and bottled products. The experience of a Facility Manager at a canning plant for one of the world's ...
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Global Leader Pipes in Savings Using a Paxton Drying System
Description: A global leader provides a full range of pipes used in the oil and gas sector, the chemical and petrochemical industries, energy, machine-building, construction, municipal housing, shipbuilding, ...
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Paxton Blower Gives Dairy Mix Company a Sweet ROI
Description: Meadowvale, Inc. provides premium frozen dairy mixes to more than 500 frozen custard and ice cream retailers. The employee-owned company has been in business for over fifty years. In 2017, Meadowvale ...
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Paxton PX Proves Plenty for Pharma Pouches
Description: Since 1986, a Packaging Company has been providing a total solution approach to packaging challenges for Fortune 500 companies in the pharmaceutical, beverage, distillery, chemical, electrical, ...
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Racks and Racks of Medical Devices
Description: Elimination of manual drying of racks for medical device components improved throughput and increased safety, due to mitigation of ergonomic issues, with the help of Paxton air knives providing faster ...
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Tire Production Rolls Faster with Paxton Technology
Description: The world's largest tire manufacturing facility, rolling out tires 24 x 7, requires the most efficient and up-to-date equipment. That's why the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's production facilities ...
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McElroy Optimized Cooling™ Elevates Productivity and Profitability
Description: Your search for efficiency, competitive advantage and elevated productivity on your jobsite never ends. But what if you could achieve your HDPE pipe fusion specifications in reduced time, without ...
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FedEx Introduces Robots to 'Most Difficult' Job in Sorting Facility
Description: FedEx has installed industrial robotic arms to do what is considered the "most difficult" job to automate in a sorting facility in Memphis, USA. ...
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Intuitive and Versatile - Collaborative Robot Assembly System in Use at item
From: item America, LLCDescription: In an effort to take some of the strain off staff working in manual assembly and boost efficiency in its production processes, item has developed an innovative, modular collaborative robot system. The ...
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The Future of Autonomous Vehicles, Robots & Drones Rides on Evolution & Protection of LiDAR
Description: Developed over four decades ago by NASA and the U.S. Military, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is now considered a viable, safe solution for mass production of autonomous vehicles, robots, ...
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10 Benefits of Using a Pick-and-Place Machine
Description: Ball screw nut pair is only used to bear the axial load, radial force, bending moment will make the ball screw nut auxiliary surface contact stress and other loads, which may cause permanent damage to ...
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How to Specify Pulleys for Synchronous Belt Drives
Description: When designing a belt drive system, the first step is to choose the most suitable belt for the application. But the pulleys also play an important role in the performance of the belt - especially in ...
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Top 5 Industrial Robotics Applications
Description: From food processing to automotive production, industrial robots are becoming ubiquitous. Highly-automated and programmable, these machines execute repetitive tasks with high precision, reliability ...
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Don't Overlook These Factors When Choosing a Linear System
Description: When sizing a linear system, the first application parameters that come to mind are probably travel, load, and speed. In addition, details about the load's placement, the move profile, and the duty ...
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How Many Axes Should My Robot Have?
Description: If you have already shopped for a robot you have probably already been confronted with the number of axes that are included in the robot. Perhaps, if you are new to the robotic world you may wonder: ...
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How to Design a Linear-Motion System?
Description: The shortest path between two points is a straight line. But if you're designing a linear-motion system, you'll have to consider structural support, guides, drives, seals, lubrication, and accessories ...
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How to Use Tools/Bits of Wood CNC Router Machines?
Description: The selection and use of tools/bits and fixtures are very important in the process of engraving and cutting works with CNC router machines. Incorrect use can easily cause damage to the tools, even the ...
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Linear Motion for Robotic Handling in Automated Warehouses-Pick and Place Arm
Description: When designing and configuring an automated warehouse, one design goal is to keep the system as light and compact as possible. Depending on the size of the load being moved, there are two common types ...
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Switching from Robot Systems to Cartesian Handling Systems
Description: The trend in conventional linear and rotational applications is moving away from robots to energy-efficient and cost-optimized systems, as manufacturers often don't require all the functions, large ...
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The Difference Between Cartesian, Six-Axis and SCARA Robots
Description: To pick a robot, first evaluate the application's needs. That starts with profiling the job's load, orientation, speed, travel, precision, environment and duty cycle, sometimes called LOSTPED ...
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Tips for Selecting Pre-Engineered Cartesian Robots
Description: Cartesian robots operate in two or three axes along the Cartesian coordinate system of X, Y, and Z. While SCARA and 6-axis robots are more widely recognized, Cartesian systems can be found in nearly ...
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What is Linear Robotics?
Description: With automation on the rise, the case for linear robotics, has expanded. Linear robots are a type of industrial robot with two or three principal axes that move in a straight line rather than rotate, ...
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What Made You Choose Cartesian Robot Used in Automatic Product Line?
Description: With automation on the rise, the case for linear robotics has expanded. Linear robots are a type of industrial robot with two or three principal axes that move in a straight line rather than rotate, ...
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What Makes a Robot a Cartesian Robot?
Description: First, a Cartesian system is one that moves in three, orthogonal axes - X, Y, and Z - according to the Cartesian coordinates. (Although it should be noted that a rotary axis - in the form of an end ...
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When Do You Need a Gantry Robot?
Description: Articulated robots like these are widely recognized, thanks to car company commercials and robot dance sequences. SCARA (Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm) robots are also well-recognized due ...
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A New Standard for Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Safety
Description: Automated Guided Vehicles, or AGVs, are a type of industrial mobile robot platform that are designed to operate, at least in part, automatically with the assistance of a guidance system. When AGVs ...
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Assessing the Safety of Collaborative Robots
Description: Industrial robots have historically been separated from humans by cages and other types of guarding systems, protecting people from interacting with the machines. Collaborative robots, or cobots, are ...
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Collaborative Robot Safety Features - Q&A with Universal Robots
Description: Collaborative robots have the ability to be integrated into shared workspaces where the robot system can perform tasks concurrently alongside a human operator. ...
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Evolving Requirements for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
Description: What is an AMR? ...
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Important Standards for Collaborative Robotics Design
Description: When designing a collaborative robotic cell, engineers must take into account the intended application of the cobot and the environment it might be placed in, then develop a safety plan for each use ...
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Industrial Applications and Safety
Description: These days, robotic cells can be found throughout production facilities. Robotic cells are used for automated material handling, warehouse or logistics automation, robotic welding, robotic assembly, ...
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Introduction to Personal Care Robots
Description: The world is changing at a rapid pace and robots are moving from the factory floor into our everyday lives and homes. Far from being novelties, robots offer many potential applications that can ...
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Key Changes to the UL 1740 Standard
Description: The Fourth Edition of UL 1740 "Standard for Robots and Robotic Equipment" was released at the beginning of 2018. The publication of the revised edition marked a significant shift from RIA R15.06 ...
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NRTL FAQ Series 3: Are NRTLs Government Agencies?
Description: Are NRTLs Government Agencies? ...
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NRTL FAQ Series 4: Are Some NRTL Marks Better Than Others?
Description: Are Some NRTL Marks Better Than Others? ...
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NRTL FAQ Series 5: Can Manufacturers Choose Which NRTL They Work With?
Description: Can Manufacturers Choose Which NRTL They Work With? ...
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NRTLs: Market Access for the US, Canada, & Mexico
Description: we will break down the process of entering the North American market in two parts: market access to the US and Canada using TÜV Rheinland's cTUVus mark and market access to Mexico by way of the US. ...
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Power and Force Limited (PFL) Collaborative Robotics
Description: Industrial robots are transforming factories, production facilities and manufacturing plants around the world. Incorporating new collaborative robots (cobots) has allowed companies to boost ...
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RoHS Compliance Requirements for Robotics
Description: The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, also known as the RoHS Directive, was originally published as Directive 2002/95/EC and restricted the use of six hazardous materials in electrical ...
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Rules for IATF 16949 During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Description: The International Automotive Task Force extended deadlines for companies certified to IATF 16949 during COVID-19. Learn more about the rules & requirements. ...
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Safety is Still Top Priority - 3 New Robotics Predictions for 2020
Description: At the end of 2019 through to the beginning of this year, robotics experts across multiple industries and stages of development and manufacturing began placing their bets on what the future of ...
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Simplifying Custom Robotic Cell Certifications
Description: The demand for custom robotic cells is growing as companies continue to integrate industrial robots into their processes for everything from assembly lines, to complex machining, to picking/packaging, ...
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Why Pairing a Paxton Blower to a Paxton Air Knife is Important
Description: In order to maximize system performance and efficiency, Paxton application engineers utilize both blower performance curves and air delivery device resistance curves to properly size a Paxton blower ...
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What Does a Responsible Restart Look Like for Manufacturing Companies?
Description: Even though companies are eager to open their doors and allow workers to come in, it is imperative that they follow all the new rules and regulations put in place. ...
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Why Choose a Paxton Belt-Driven Blower Over a Direct Drive Blower?
Description: Why does Paxton Products offer a belt-driven blower, rather than a high speed direct drive blower? The answer may surprise you. ...
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What Is a Gantry Stage / Cartesian Robot?
Description: A precision gantry stage or gantry system is sometimes called a linear robot or Cartesian robot. Gantry robots typically provide overhead motion in 2 or 3 linear degrees of freedom (X-Y and X-Y-Z) and ...
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Computer Vision and Robotics Expand Industrial Capabilities
From: Wind RiverDescription: Cobots, or collaborative robots, are a new step in industrial robot technology. Unlike most robots, which act as replacements for human workers (and often operate in cages to prevent injury to ...
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Electrical Engineers in Automation: What are the Success Stories?
Description: The following technical discussion is part of an occasional series showcasing the ISA Mentor Program, authored by Greg McMillan, industry consultant, author of numerous process control books, 2010 ISA ...
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Making Legacy Machines Smart
Description: To begin with, let's define what "legacy machines" mean in this context. These are machines or industrial assets that do not intrinsically support real-time communication with a third-party system. In ...
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Robotics Advance with AI Technologies
From: Wind RiverDescription: Despite surging interest in industrial robotics, fundamental challenges still exist when trying to perform business operations and automate workflows across hybrid network environments and disparate ...
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Case Study #1: Andantex USA Provides Complete Automatic Lubrication System for Robotic 7th Axis
From: Andantex USA, Inc.Description: Our client had a challenge. They were using a Robotic 7th Axis system, meaning their robots not only handled painting, welding and machining of parts but also moved horizontally from station to ...
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Case Study #2: Andantex Provides Critical Components For One of the World's Top Aerospace Companies
From: Andantex USA, Inc.Description: Electroimpact came to us because they had some unique challenges with the design of an Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) machine, which was to be used for the manufacture of large commercial aircraft ...
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Case Study #3: Andantex Develops a Less Expensive, More Effective Solution for VTL Turntable Drives
From: Andantex USA, Inc.Description: The MSR VTL turntable drive system is a relatively new technology that allows for high power turning and precise C-Axis motion for milling. Previously, the turntable had been composed of a main drive ...
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Sleek Robotic Assembly Cell Packs a Punch
Description: A screw driving robot machine for production where floor space is premium and quality control counts. ...
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Cobot Workstation Jump Starts New Product Production
Description: An electronics manufacturer was rolling out an updated product design and they wanted to prove out a new form of process automation at the same time. The part had compound angles for which the ...
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McElroy Equipment Plays Key Role in Honolulu Dredging Project
Description: Two TracStar® fusion machines. Two DataLogger® 6s. A series of McElroy Pipe Rollers. And two McElroy certified fusion technicians. That's all it took for Pacific Pump and Power to fuse ...
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Creating Innovative Products and Solutions using SICK LiDAR Technology
From: SICKDescription: For the second year, students from around the United States submitted projects for SICK's TiM$10K Challenge. With each project, students develop industry-changing products using LiDAR technology from ...
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How to Clean and Disinfect Your DataLogger® 6
Description: Those using the DataLogger 6 may be wondering how to properly clean and disinfect this device for the prevention of coronavirus and other pathogens. Here are the best practices recommended by the ...
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A Case Study: Why item
From: item America, LLCDescription: A Robotics Manufacturer provides an in-depth analysis and explanation to why they switched to item for their machine frames. ...