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Manufacturing

Lowering the entry barriers of additive manufacturing

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renishaw

Marc Saunders, director of Renishaw’s Global Solutions Centre, explains how additive manufacturing is moving from the world of rapid prototyping into series production

A famous quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin says: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Although in reality Franklin never said these words, the quote has become extremely popular because its message resonates with anyone who has ever tried to make sense of new technology.

To a large extent, the quote also applies perfectly to additive manufacturing (AM).  [Read more…] about Lowering the entry barriers of additive manufacturing

Maxim Integrated launches new PLC development platform

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Maxim says its new platform transforms traditional manufacturing processes with real-time intelligence, adaptive manufacturing, and distributed control

Maxim Integrated has launched a new Pocket IO programmable logic controller development platform which its says can significantly increase manufacturing productivity.

The company says the platform provides customers with the ability to achieve the smallest form factor and highest power efficiency for next-generation PLC designs.

Lost productivity is a common concern for Industry 4.0 designers challenged with keeping a manufacturing line running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  [Read more…] about Maxim Integrated launches new PLC development platform

Technical insight: Innovative hole drilling tools increase automobile industry profitability

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automotive engineering drawings

By Paul Best and Todd Cox, product specialists at Allied Machine & Engineering Corp

Hole drilling plays a critical role in automotive manufacturing. Hundreds of holes must be drilled for each vehicle that’s manufactured, including those in transmission shafts, engine blocks, air bag propellant chambers, camshafts, and other internal engine parts.

In any automotive vehicle part production line, conveyor belts are running nonstop and efficient tools are a key aspect of profitability. Every minute a spindle is not drilling holes or is not efficiently evacuating the chips formed from drilling, is a minute when money is lost.

Manufacturers must take advantage of seemingly small tooling changes because they can make a huge difference in hole making efficiency. Innovative technology is now available that can be integrated right into a process seamlessly without shutting production down. Adopting these innovations that decrease costs can significantly increase margin dollars for the company.  [Read more…] about Technical insight: Innovative hole drilling tools increase automobile industry profitability

Audi smart factory ushers in new era of manufacturing

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Audi has opened what it calls a “smart factory”, in Mexico, the first such plant opened by a leading automaker in that country.

Professor Rupert Stadler, chairman of Audi, says: “The plant in Mexico is a milestone in the history of our company and an important step in our internationalization.

“It is one of the most modern factories on the American continent. With this facility, we have established an important site for the export of our automobiles to customers all over the world.”  [Read more…] about Audi smart factory ushers in new era of manufacturing

Etalex increases sales by ‘40 per cent’ by using robotics and automation technology

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Canadian company Etalex says it has achieved a 40 per cent increase in the past year, partly as a result of integrating collaborative technology from Universal Robots into its process

Founded in 1966 in Montreal, Canada, Etalex manufactures commercial interiors, specializing in metal fixtures, shelving, wood furnishings and heavy-duty racking systems. The company has 120 employees and has been mainly concentrating on the Quebec market. 

Etalex says it has introduced robotics and automation technology into its production and this resulted in increased competitiveness and a 40 per cent rise in sales last year.

As a result of its growth, the company says it is now ready to compete in the New York and Ontario markets as well.

  [Read more…] about Etalex increases sales by ‘40 per cent’ by using robotics and automation technology

Zeiss opens car body and automated inspection center in Michigan

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zeiss car body inspection
Zeiss Car Body and Automated Inspection Center in Michigan. (PRNewsFoto/Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology)

Zeiss Industrial Metrology has opened a new facility in Wixom, Michigan, that the company says is dedicated to the latest developments for the process chain in car body metrology and automated inspection.

Bob Wasilesky, key account manager for automated inspection at Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, says: “This center helps us illustrate how to make production more efficient in line, in the measuring room, and in-between.

“This means production and quality can find solutions to problems anytime, from anywhere in the manufacturing facility. Zeiss also showcases solutions for robotic inspection, quality and process data mining, plus measurement planning and offline programming.”  [Read more…] about Zeiss opens car body and automated inspection center in Michigan

Robots eroding employment prospects in developing economies, says UN

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robots making cars
Picture courtesy Stratfor.com

Increasing utilisation of robotics and automation technologies in developed countries is ruining emerging economies around the world, according to a report by the United Nations. 

A policy briefing by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Robots and Industrialization in Developing Countries, argues that increased use of robots in developed countries erodes traditional labour-cost advantage of developing countries.

The report notes that new technological breakthroughs in computing, robotics and artificial intelligence in advanced economies will result in large numbers of people being made redundant in developing countries.  [Read more…] about Robots eroding employment prospects in developing economies, says UN

Audi shows off its smart factory technologies

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Audi has been demonstrating its advanced manufacturing technologies, much of which went into building its newly opened smart factory in Mexico, where the automaker’s Q5 vehicle is being produced.  [Read more…] about Audi shows off its smart factory technologies

OR Laser launches new metal additive manufacturing system

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OR Laser has launched a new direct metal additive manufacturing system which it says is “more accessible and more affordable for more companies”.

The company says the Orlas Creator metal additive manufacturing platform is “smarter, simpler, faster and more cost effective than any other metal additive manufacturing system currently available on the market”.

OR Laser says the system uses a “unique” circular build-platform design, which enables up to 30per cent faster production speeds compared with comparable platforms. These speeds are facilitated by a proprietary, rotation-led precision coater blade.  [Read more…] about OR Laser launches new metal additive manufacturing system

How to make the most of robotics and automation in your manufacturing business

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brushtec-image

Barry Crackett is a product designer at Brushtec, a brushware manufacturer which has benefitted greatly from embracing robotics and automation. In this article, he explains how your business could also benefit from automation.

The UK is falling far behind much of the industrialised world when it comes to embracing robotics and automation, according to The Telegraph.

There are reportedly 500 robots for every 10,000 manufacturing employees in South Korea, 300 in Germany and 200 in Denmark and Sweden.

In stark contrast the UK has just 71 for every 10,000 workers, which means that our manufacturing industry might struggle to catch up if companies don’t start taking stock of the situation and putting more effort into adapting to survive.  [Read more…] about How to make the most of robotics and automation in your manufacturing business

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