Archives for May 1, 2020

Guide to 3D Printing for Beginners: How to Get Started

May 1, 2020 by Polly Leave a Comment

Thinking of taking up 3D printing for yourself? Follow this guide to 3D printing or beginners.

Ever since 3D printing emerged in the 1980s, it has revolutionized our society. Businesses use it for a variety of reasons, from creating replacement parts to entirely new products. However, many consumers are now turning to 3D printing as a hobby or side hustle.

Thankfully, the 3D printing process is actually pretty simple once you understand it. If you are considering 3D printing for personal or business use, follow this guide to 3D printing for beginners. [Read more…] about Guide to 3D Printing for Beginners: How to Get Started

Alio says its Hybrid Hexapod addresses ‘critical weaknesses’ of traditional motion systems

May 1, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Alio Industries says its patented Hybrid Hexapod was developed by Alio to address the critical weaknesses of conventional legacy hexapod designs, as well as the weaknesses of stacked serial stages, and to achieve nanometer-level accuracy, repeatability, and high-integrity flatness and straightness during motion.

It utilizes a tripod parallel kinematics structure to deliver Z plane and tip/tilt motion, integrated with a monolithic serial kinematic structure for XY motion.

A rotary stage integrated into the top of the tripod (or underneath it, depending on application needs) provides 360-degree continuous Theta Z rotation. [Read more…] about Alio says its Hybrid Hexapod addresses ‘critical weaknesses’ of traditional motion systems

ABB expands RobotStudio with ability to control SCARA robots from PC

May 1, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

ABB says it has “simplified” the use of its popular SCARA robots by giving users the ability to commission and control the robots from their PC through RobotStudio, ABB’s simulation and offline programming software.

Robot Control Mate is an add-on to RobotStudio, enabling users to jog, teach and calibrate robots from their computer, making it easier than ever to control a SCARA robot’s movements.

For the first time, ABB’s offline programming software can be used to control the physical movements of a robot in real-time. Robot Control Mate also makes robot programming possible when a FlexPendant is not in place. [Read more…] about ABB expands RobotStudio with ability to control SCARA robots from PC

Realtime Robotics unveils new robot controller computer

May 1, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Realtime Robotics, which specialises in motion planning for industrial robots and autonomous vehicles, has launched what a robot controller solution it calls “Realtime Controller”.

The solution dramatically reduces and simplifies the programming required to safely integrate robotic workcells, speeding up the time to deployment.

As the pressure intensifies to improve margins it will accelerate the adoption of robotic automation. [Read more…] about Realtime Robotics unveils new robot controller computer

Productive Robotics launches fourth collaborative robot model

May 1, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Productive Robotics has launched a fourth model of its next-generation teachable collaborative robots, the OB7-Stretch.

Productive says the OB7-Stretch is the cobot that customers have been asking for – “simple, affordable, and with a longer reach to handle parts and machines with longer distances”.

OB7-Stretch is similar to the standard OB7 5kg model, but longer with a reach of 1.25 meters and a slightly lower payload of 4kg. [Read more…] about Productive Robotics launches fourth collaborative robot model

ATI partners with 3M to present webinar about material removal tools

May 1, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

ATI Industrial Automation and 3M will co-present a free webinar, Three Pillars of Successful Material Removal, on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 12pm ET.

The event, hosted by the Robotics Industries Association, will identify key concepts for successful robotic material removal.

The presentations by Dan Merritt, ATI’s material removal product manager, and Sarah Mullins, 3M global applications engineer, will feature real-world examples of the benefits of robotic material removal and illustrate how common challenges are overcome with the right application design. [Read more…] about ATI partners with 3M to present webinar about material removal tools

SICK continues to grow despite ‘challenging market’

May 1, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Sensors giant SICK says its business has continued to grow despite a “challenging market environment”.

Group sales by the sensor producer increased by 7 percent to €1,750.7 million during the 2019 fiscal year (2018: €1,636.8 million).

Growth was considerably higher than the average for the sensor industry, estimated as having shrunk by 1 percent for 2019 by the AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement. [Read more…] about SICK continues to grow despite ‘challenging market’