Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Industry

The Rubik’s Cube phenomenon: One for the all-time pop charts

by

lockTo date, more than 400 million Rubik’s Cubes have been sold around the world. As such, the puzzle game is one of the biggest-selling products in history.

Not bad for a toy which its inventor, Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik, says he didn’t even plan to make.

He was working as a professor of architecture at the Budapest College of Applied Architecture at the time, in 1974, and built the cube with the intention of “searching to find a good task for my students”.  [Read more…] about The Rubik’s Cube phenomenon: One for the all-time pop charts

US will regain top spot from China in manufacturing by 2020, says report

by

The United States will regain its lead as the world’s most competitive manufacturing nation by the year 2020, according to a report by economic analyst Deloitte. 

Deloitte made its forecast after surveying the opinions of manufacturing industry executives for its 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index.

Deloitte says “executives expect the US to assume the top position before the end of the decade”.  [Read more…] about US will regain top spot from China in manufacturing by 2020, says report

Foxconn and Apple negotiating with Indian government on manufacturing and retailing

by

Apple and its main manufacturer Foxconn are negotiating with the Indian government over the possible establishment of a manufacturing plant and retail stores in the country. 

This is according to reports on the AppleInsider.com website, which quotes India’s Economic Times newspaper.

Indian business regulations require foreign companies to source at least 30 per cent of their goods from local suppliers, a requirement which has stalled Apple’s plan to open up a number of stores in the country of 1 billion people.  [Read more…] about Foxconn and Apple negotiating with Indian government on manufacturing and retailing

China making ‘30 per cent more industrial robots’

by

cctv propaganda

China made 30 per cent more industrial robots in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to the Communist government’s propaganda outlet CCTV. 

CCTV quoted a “ministry of industry and information technology official”, who was speaking at the Shanghai Industry Fair last week, when providing the figure.

China is already thought to be the world’s largest market for industrial robots, but it wants to become a maker of the machines as well.  [Read more…] about China making ‘30 per cent more industrial robots’

Electric car industry sparks into life

by

2017-chevrolet-volt-electric-car

Two of the world’s biggest automakers have made moves which would suggest electric cars will become mass-market vehicles much sooner than perhaps some may have expected. 

General Motors has decided to bring forward its production of the all-electric Chevy Volt, according to a report in Manufacturers’ Monthly, which quotes a report on Associated Press.

The vehicles will go on sale towards the end of this year for around $30,000.  [Read more…] about Electric car industry sparks into life

Kuka unveils Cybertech industrial robots in China

by

Kuka has presented its new Cybertech range of industrial robots for the first time, choosing the China International Industry Fair in Shanghai as the venue for the launch. 

The company says the “Cybertech Nano” robots can be used in a variety of applications, including loading and unloading of machines and for welding operations.

Kuka’s brand ambassador Timo Bell – the famous table tennis player – was scheduled to present at the event, and will be helping to demonstrate its other established robot range, the KR3 Agilus.  [Read more…] about Kuka unveils Cybertech industrial robots in China

Endurance invents new new diode laser for 3D printers

by

endurance robots diodes

Endurance Robots claims it has invented a “powerful diode laser” which can convert 3D printers and CNC routers into laser engraving and cutting machines. 

The new 5.6 watt laser follows Endurance’s 2.1 watt laser which was launched a couple of years ago.

The company says its new laser is easy to install and quick to start cutting or engraving.

The laser can be used to engrave many materials, such as wood, plywood, fabric, felt, acrylic, ABS, PLA, cardboard, hardboard, says the company.

Connected world: The death of proprietary networks

by

smart kettle

Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of EU Automation, takes a look at one of the casualties of fluid communication in the factory – that is, the death of proprietary networks and communication protocols in favour of the uninhibited free flow of data 

Like it or not, we live in modern world of fluidity and interconnectedness in which the once ordinary now transcends all previous boundaries.

Take the humble kettle for instance. It’s a sign of the times that you can now purchase a kettle you can control from your phone via the internet. It will even send you notifications when it needs filling or if it’s at optimum temperature. Because it was hard to tell before.

Joking aside, one place where interconnectivity really is making a difference is on the factory floor.  [Read more…] about Connected world: The death of proprietary networks

Igus introduces its largest energy chain for light robotic applications

by

igus-energy-chain

Motion plastics specialist says new energy chain allows for easy assembly and cable routing

Igus has launched triflex TRLF.125, extending the TRLF family to include its largest 125mm nominal diameter e-chain, in addition to existing 65, 87.5 and 100mm internal diameter sizes.

These TRLF energy chains are ideally suited for robotics and other applications that require electrical power cables, data cables and hoses to remain secure and protected during multi-axis movement.

The company – which likes its name written as igus, with a small i – that with this new 125mm size, even stiff or large hoses, or indeed large numbers of individual cables, can be inserted quickly and easily, reducing labour costs and assembly time.   [Read more…] about Igus introduces its largest energy chain for light robotic applications

Additive manufacturing: Renishaw to showcase new technologies

by

 

Renishaw to demonstrate new tech for additive manufacturing process chain at formnext 2016

Global engineering and technology company Renishaw will showcase its latest developments and highlight the role that metal additive manufacturing plays in the manufacturing process chain at formnext, taking place between the 15th and 18th of November, 2016, in Frankfurt, Germany.

Renishaw will exhibit in Hall 3.1, on stand F68. Highlights on the stand will include a Moto 2 motorcycle and the Robot Bike Company R160 bespoke mountain bike frame, one of the latest innovations to come out of Renishaw’s global network of Solutions Centres.

The show comes soon after the inauguration of the first of Renishaw’s Solutions Centres, a global network of facilities aimed at making metal additive manufacturing more accessible to industry.  [Read more…] about Additive manufacturing: Renishaw to showcase new technologies