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Formlabs integrates with Autodesk’s generative design software, Netfabb

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Formlabs, the designer and manufacturer of 3D printing systems, is to streamline its user integration with Autodesk’s Netfabb Software.

Users in Netfabb will be able to connect directly to PreForm, Formlabs’ print preparation software, create and modify their own support strategy to optimize parts for the Form 2 and easily hollow and add lattice structures and perforation holes to their models to save print time and materials use.

Users of Netfabb within PreForm will be able to use Netfabb mesh repair, and, for the Fuse 1 SLS 3D printer, 2D and 3D packing algorithms will optimally place parts within the build volume.

[Read more…] about Formlabs integrates with Autodesk’s generative design software, Netfabb

Pushy Pepper robots take over Smithsonian Museum hosting jobs

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A contingent of pushy Pepper robots – a small humanoid robot produced by SoftBank Robotics – has taken over the Smithsonian Museum’s hosting jobs.

The Pepper robots have already taken up their positions and are all set to meet and greet and be robotically cheerful for visitors to what is perhaps the world’s most famous museum chain.

The innocuous-looking but potentially job-stealing Pepper units were all donated by SoftBank as part of a pilot project. [Read more…] about Pushy Pepper robots take over Smithsonian Museum hosting jobs

Sony sells 11,000 units of robot dog Aibo

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Sony says it sold exactly 11,111 units of its robot dog, Aibo, in the three months since the mechatronic canine’s re-release in January this year. 

This is according to a report on The Mainichi website, which calls the sales performance a “solid start”.

This comment would indicate that the sales numbers are in line with, or indeed exceed, Sony’s targets.  [Read more…] about Sony sells 11,000 units of robot dog Aibo

3D Systems claims its printers offer ‘world’s fastest time-to-part’ process

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3D Systems‘ Figure 4™ Production and Figure 4 Standalone is now the fastest, most accurate 3D printing technology available, says the company.

Recently released data on Figure 4 Production highlights part print speeds up to 65mm/hr, with prototyping speeds of up to 100 mm/hr.

The Figure 4 platform delivers part accuracy and repeatability, with Six Sigma repeatability (Cpk > 2) across all materials.

[Read more…] about 3D Systems claims its printers offer ‘world’s fastest time-to-part’ process

One device for data acquisition, evaluation and cloud storage

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A single device to acquire data, evaluate it and send it to the cloud is now possible with B&R‘s Edge Controller.

The powerful industrial PC can even be used for big data analysis and machine learning, says the company, while at the same time serving as a fully-fledged industrial controller.

B&R’s Edge Controller is based on the robust Automation PC 910, whose high-performance variant is equipped with an Intel XEON processor able to handle resource-intensive tasks like machine learning.

[Read more…] about One device for data acquisition, evaluation and cloud storage

Hyundai Heavy Industries to sell Kuka robots to manufacturers

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Hyundai Heavy Industries has reached an agreement to supply Kuka industrial robots and other products to manufacturers and other industrial companies. 

This is according to a report on the website of the Korea Herald, which says the agreement is for HHI to market Kuka products to “large Korean manufacturing firms”.

South Korean industry is dominated by what are referred to chaebols, which means very large conglomerates, and gaining access to them is probably quite difficult.  [Read more…] about Hyundai Heavy Industries to sell Kuka robots to manufacturers

Japanese company unveils construction robot

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A Japanese company called Daiwa House Industry has been demonstrating a robotic system which can help in the construction of houses and buildings.

The robot appears to work by spraying layers of plaster on metallic structures, which themselves could be constructed by a robot – as can be seen in the image on Mainichi.jp.

It seems to work along similar lines to a robotic construction system developed by researchers at ETH Zurich, in Switzerland.

Daiwa House executives say the company’s system can labour costs of 30 per cent compared with human workers.

The main task it is designed to perform is to spray fireproof coating on a building – something which is said to be one of the most difficult parts of construction.

Daiwa House, which has so far invested almost $1 million into developing the system, plans to put it into operation sometime next year.

Head of technology Kazuto Tsuchida says: “It is expected the construction industry will face a shortage of 1.12 million workers in 2025.

“There are major expectations for robots, and we hope this will lead to high quantity production.”

This is not the only area of robotics Daiwa House been researching. The partners with Cyberdyne, which builds robotic exoskeletons, to supply the latter’s “HAL” exoskeletons.

The exoskeletons are designed to provide assistance to caregivers to the elderly (see picture below).

daiwa house cyberdyne

Daiwa House is Japan’s largest homebuilder, and also has interests in many other design and construction sectors, including in the building of care homes for the elderly.

The company’s annual revenue is more than $20 billion and it employs approximately 30,000 people.

Singapore university develops robotic system to build Ikea furniture

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A group of scientists at a university in Singapore has developed a robotic system which can autonomously assemble Ikea furniture. (See video below.)

Ikea is a globally famous furniture retailer which supplies furniture flat-packed, which the customer usually assembles after taking home.

The scientists at Nanyang Technological University say the robotic arms can put together a chair “without interruption”.  [Read more…] about Singapore university develops robotic system to build Ikea furniture

Unex launches online app for designing material handling systems

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Unex Manufacturing, a provider of order-picking solutions, has launched what it says is “an easy-to-use” design tool that generates a 3D image and bill of materials for users’ custom carton flow solutions.

The online Configurator quickly and easily lets users configure a Span-Track solution from the ground up by themselves, accelerating the turn-around time for custom-fit materials handling equipment that can speed fulfillment and throughput in the warehouse, distribution center or manufacturing line.

Brian Neuwirth, VP sales and marketing, Unex Manufacturing, says: “We have found that many of our customers want to design a Unex solution themselves to ensure the equipment will fit into their environment to keep their processes flowing.  [Read more…] about Unex launches online app for designing material handling systems

E-mart introduces Eli autonomous shopping cart

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E-mart, a South Korean discount chain operator under retail giant Shinsegae, has unveiled an autonomous shopping cart for test operation.

For the first time in Korea, the autonomous cart was showcased at E-mart’s warehouse-style supermarket Traders in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, from April 17 to April 20.

The autonomous shopping cart, called Eli, has outstanding functions, such as navigation, following, avoiding obstacle, auto payment, with cutting -edge technologies.

Robotnik, in collaboration with Gaitech Robotics, developed this state-of -the-art autonomous shopping cart for E-mart.

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