Robotics & Automation News

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Manufacturing

EPHJ: Big industry seen at the small scale

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EPHJ-EPMT-SMT is the name of an annual trade show built around what is referred to as “microtechnology” because it’s all about the small scale – tiny but essential components. 

Currently in its second day, the conference is held in Geneva, Switzerland, and the vast majority of the 500 or so exhibitors – about 80 per cent – are from the watchmaking sector.

The Swiss watchmaking industry is still massive, despite historical challenges from Japanese watchmakers in the 1960s and ’70s, and lately, disruptive innovations by makers of smart watches, such as Apple. [Read more…] about EPHJ: Big industry seen at the small scale

EPHJ: Microtechnology event keeps it simple while using a complicated name

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It might have an inexplicably complex name, but the EPHJ-EPMT-SMT event, which just got under way today in Geneva, is a trade show about what is, arguably, one of the simplest forms of technology.

By “simplest”, I mean it’s about mechanical technology – gears, springs, and so on – almost exclusively, with computer technology playing a very small part, if at all. And it’s all about small-scale.

Certainly the watchmaking aspect of the show is almost entirely about mechanical timepieces. The jewellery-making strand also features mechanised equipment. And the medical technology side, while requiring computing in some areas, is also mostly about mechanical equipment. [Read more…] about EPHJ: Microtechnology event keeps it simple while using a complicated name

Markforged 3D printers featured in BattleBots World Championship

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Markforged, a provider of metal and carbon fiber 3D printers, says that four of its 3D printers were featured on BattleBots, a television series which premiered on June 7th on the Discovery Channel and June 12th on the Science Channel.

As the only 3D printer company hosted by BattleBots during filming, Markforged produced more than 160 parts for 29 teams onsite – all within the two weeks of filming.

The printers allowed the teams to rapidly repair damaged robots, improve their performance during battles, and optimize their design against competitors in real time. [Read more…] about Markforged 3D printers featured in BattleBots World Championship

BMW and Microsoft launch ‘Open Manufacturing Platform’

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Microsoft and the BMW Group have announced what they describe as “a new community initiative” to enable faster, more cost-effective innovation in the manufacturing sector.

In manufacturing today, production and profitability can be hindered by complex, proprietary systems that create data silos and slow productivity.

The Open Manufacturing Platform (OMP) is designed to break down these barriers through the creation of an open technology framework and cross-industry community.

[Read more…] about BMW and Microsoft launch ‘Open Manufacturing Platform’

Teradyne ships its 4,000th ‘Eagle’ semiconductor test system to MPS

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Teradyne says it has shipped its 4,000th Eagle Test System, hitting a new sales success milestone for its Eagle Test System automatic test equipment in China.

MPS, a high-growth, linear, power and automotive semiconductor supplier with multiple locations in China, purchased the milestone system, an ETS-88.

The ETS-88 is an optimal platform for testing a wide variety of devices including simple analog, high precision, high voltage, high current / power, automotive, video, audio, complex mixed-signal, as well as emerging power processes like SiC and GaN. [Read more…] about Teradyne ships its 4,000th ‘Eagle’ semiconductor test system to MPS

B&R expands its library of HMI widgets

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The new Skyline widget from B&R‘s mapp View HMI software package displays a clear overview of extensive manufacturing systems.

The widget can also be linked to an alarm system. With important information about their machines available at a glance, plant operators are able to react promptly to error messages. This prevents downtime and increases the productivity of the plant.

The interactive HMI element is suitable for modular machines and plants in any industry. The developer simply drags the widget into place on the HMI screen and configures it as needed.

[Read more…] about B&R expands its library of HMI widgets

MHI Machine Tool produces commercial metal 3D Printer using laser beams

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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machine Tool Co., Ltd. has commercialised a metal 3D printer applying laser-based metal additive manufacturing technology.

The first unit was delivered in March to the Industrial Research Centre of Shiga Prefecture, in Ritto, Japan.

The commercial model is capable of laminating diverse metal materials at high speed, through use of a proprietary Directed Energy Deposition (DED) method in which metal powder material is continuously fed by nozzles to the laser fusing point.

[Read more…] about MHI Machine Tool produces commercial metal 3D Printer using laser beams

Xometry raises $50 million for on-demand parts marketplace

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Xometry, the largest on-demand manufacturing marketplace, has raised $50m in equity funding, led by Greenspring Associates.

The new funding will back efforts to build a platform connecting suppliers to businesses that need prototypes and small runs of parts.

Dell Technologies Capital will also participate in the round, along with all previous venture and strategic investors including BMW i Ventures, Foundry Group, GE Ventures, Highland Capital Partners, Maryland Venture Fund and Almaz Capital. Xometry has raised a total of $113m to date.

[Read more…] about Xometry raises $50 million for on-demand parts marketplace

Honda Aircraft Company to invest $16 million into expanding US production facility

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Honda Aircraft Company says it plans to expand its global headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina by investing an additional $15.5 million in a new 82,000-square-foot facility on its 133+ acre campus in Greensboro.

This will bring the company’s total capital investment in its North Carolina facilities to more than $245 million.

Scheduled to break ground in July 2019, the building will house a new wing assembly process for the HondaJet Elite. [Read more…] about Honda Aircraft Company to invest $16 million into expanding US production facility

Festo and Siemens integrate multi-carrier system into Bosch Rexroth transfer process

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Siemens and Festo are presenting an innovative linear motor drive and control concept, designed to offer flexible and efficient high-performance solutions for short-cycle applications.

The Multi-Carrier-System (MCS) from Siemens and Festo has been integrated into the Rexroth TS 2plus transfer system, thus adding the modular MCS to Bosch Rexroth’s versatile building-block system based on standardised units.

The advantages of the existing systems have been merged, and users are free to combine them in almost any way they wish to achieve maximum flexibility in their processes.

[Read more…] about Festo and Siemens integrate multi-carrier system into Bosch Rexroth transfer process