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Baumüller and Lemo to partner on building brand new bag machine

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Baumüller, a drive and automation systems manufacturer, has received an order from Lemo Maschinenbau to design a cost-optimized, efficient and sustainable foil bag machine that also affords the manufacturer maximum flexibility and quick commissioning in the production process due to its modular structure.

Baumüller says its engineering specialists were able to meet Lemo’s requirement for modularity and a work cycle increase with the help of a new automation concept.

Among other things, a modern and streamlined drive and control architecture was used for this purpose. This means an integrated fieldbus system, minimum number of devices and a reduced control structure.  [Read more…] about Baumüller and Lemo to partner on building brand new bag machine

Comau provides glimpse into Maserati plant in Italy

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Comau has provided RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com an insight into its production processes at the Torino, Italy plant of the prestige car marque Maserati. 

Comau is part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, which also owns Maserati, along with a number of the world’s most famous and celebrated marques such as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo.

In this picture story, Comau shows its industrial robots performing complex tasks relating to body-in-white operations, spot welding and other crucial assembly functions.  [Read more…] about Comau provides glimpse into Maserati plant in Italy

Collaborative robotic system makes ‘monotonous and physically demanding tasks’ at BMW easier

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bmw dingolfing kuka robot
A worker at BMW Dingolfing, with the Kuka collaborative robot

The employees at BMW Group’s Dingolfing Plant have a new, highly responsive assistant: an LBR iiwa lightweight robot from Kuka, which they say takes over “monotonous and physically demanding tasks”. 

Previously, BMW employees had to lift a differential case which weighed up to 5.5 kg, and had to manoeuvre it with millimeter-precision, in the assembly of the front axle.

Now the robot is taking over this “ergonomically demanding work”.  [Read more…] about Collaborative robotic system makes ‘monotonous and physically demanding tasks’ at BMW easier

Pepperl+Fuchs launches incremental rotary encoders with new BlueBeam technology

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pepperl+fuchs incremental rotary encoders bluebeam
The new ENI58IL with BlueBeam technology

Pepperl+Fuchs has launched blue emitter LEDs which it says ensure increased efficiency.

The new BlueBeam technology for incremental rotary encoders with optical sensing principle increases efficiency when generating signals, says the company.

Specially developed blue emitter LEDs, combined with modern and more finely structured sensing chips, allow a more energetic penetration depth of the blue light in the chip.  [Read more…] about Pepperl+Fuchs launches incremental rotary encoders with new BlueBeam technology

Control Techniques enhances Unidrive M drives

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General Purpose drives - nidec

Control Techniques has enhanced its range of Unidrive M general purpose variable speed drives.

The range, launched earlier this month, now offers much improved setup and installation methods, says the company.

Parameter settings on the drives are more accessible; users will now find information relating to each parameter on the front of the unit, while the keypad has been laid out in a way that makes setup easy.  [Read more…] about Control Techniques enhances Unidrive M drives

Why automated parts inspection is important in manufacturing

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precision ball actuators

Inspection in manufacturing is a process that involves the testing, gauging, measuring, and examination of a material or specimen, with the express purpose of determining whether or not it is in proper condition.

Typically, specified standards are set, against which the results of the inspection are compared to establish if the material being inspected is able to pass this stage of quality control.

In the past, inspection used to be performed solely by human agents, a special workforce that was commonly equipped with the necessary paraphernalia, and sometimes, simply by their bare senses.  [Read more…] about Why automated parts inspection is important in manufacturing

Oticon uses Universal Robots machine to manipulate tiny little components inside hearing aid

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New robot lends precision and reliability to the production of hearing aids, says Oticon

Hearing aid device manufacturer Oticon required a more flexible robot to handle the tiny hearing device components in its production.

The company had been using robot technology for the past 10 years. But, as the minute components became increasingly smaller in order to make the hearing aids more comfortable, the existing two- and three-axis robots used in manufacturing were no longer suitable.

They could not perform the required lateral and vertical movements sufficiently. If for instance a small part is stuck in a mould, the robot should be dexterous enough to tip it out.  [Read more…] about Oticon uses Universal Robots machine to manipulate tiny little components inside hearing aid

Ready Robotics launches ‘first’ robotics-as-a-service solution

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ready robotics 1

Ready Robotics has launched what it claims is the first robots-as-a-service solution, detailing its pricing, along with some IP54-rated TaskMate Hardware, at ATX East. 

The company says it is a “plug-and-play robotics platform” which brings industrial automation to tasks at a fraction of the cost in less than a day.

Ready Robotics says this is “the first robots-as-a-service solution tough enough to handle real industrial tasks and flexible enough to be deployed in mere hours”.  [Read more…] about Ready Robotics launches ‘first’ robotics-as-a-service solution

Epson showcases new Flexion industrial robot and printer built using SCARA robot

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Flexion at tradeshow
Epson’s Flexion 6-axis industrial robot

Epson Robots is showcasing a range of new technologies for a wide variety of applications in factory automation at the Automation Technology show, ATX East.

ATX is currently under way, running from June 13-15, and is being held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, in the US. Epson’s booth is number 2405.

Epson’s showcase will feature the new and “revolutionary” Flexion N2 6-Axis robot as well as an assembly demo of an Epson Point of Sale printer built with a high precision SCARA robot and a compact 6-Axis robot.  [Read more…] about Epson showcases new Flexion industrial robot and printer built using SCARA robot

Harvest Croo Robotics field tests autonomous strawberry-picking vehicle

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Harvest Croo Robotics is field testing an autonomous vehicle designed to help plant and pick strawberries, according to a report on ThePacker.com. 

The new vehicle looks rather unlike your typical farm vehicle, and is designed to straddle six strawberry beds as it moves along. It uses GPS navigation, LiDAR vision and carries 16 robots which will do the actual planting and picking of the strawberries.

The robots will use a proprietary vision system which will identify which strawberries are ready to be picked (probably based on colour as robots can’t smell or taste yet as far as we know). Picked strawberries will then be moved to the platform level for further inspection and grading.  [Read more…] about Harvest Croo Robotics field tests autonomous strawberry-picking vehicle