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Command and control rooms: Navigating the internet of things

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spock kirk bridge
“Sensor readings, Mr Spock” … “Captain, you must make me believe in luck”

lockWho doesn’t want a control room of their own? If you grew up watching the original Star Trek series, you still might warm to the idea of something similar to the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, which wouldn’t be bad at all. 

But, sadly, things have moved on.

Star Trek may have been decades ahead of its time – demonstrating such technologies as tablet computers, flip-top mobile communicators, and of course a truly space-age command and control room – but reality has now almost caught up with the visions of the sci-fi show’s creators.

Today’s command and control rooms may still have some of the basic elements of what we saw on the Enterprise bridge, but they’re a lot more complex and sophisticated, although that’s not for an absolute certainty since we don’t have warp speed to deal with yet.  [Read more…] about Command and control rooms: Navigating the internet of things

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

Dassault Systèmes launches solution for architecture, engineering and construction industries

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dassault-systemes-architecture

Cloud collaboration solution from “design to fabrication” aimed at solving problems ahead of construction

Dassault Systèmes, a provider of product lifecycle management solutions among other software, has launched its “design for fabrication industry solution experience” for architecture, engineering and construction.

The company says the software gives architects, engineers, contractors, fabricators and building products manufacturers access to a digital, collaborative environment on the cloud for civil and building projects, from concept through fabrication detail with shop floors that reduces waste and rework.

Each architecture, engineering and construction project brings together new teams of designers, fabricators and contractors who use their own building information modeling solutions.  [Read more…] about Dassault Systèmes launches solution for architecture, engineering and construction industries

Virtual factory: Manufacturing improvements with PLM

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Adam Bannaghan, technical director of Design Rule, discusses three ways that the digital continuity of product lifesycle management helps manufacturers deliver high quality innovative products with ease

No one hates being faced with a problem they weren’t expecting more than manufacturers. During the design and build process, unplanned events can increase cycle times and have a detrimental impact on the management of materials and working hours.

There is now a demand in the manufacturing sector for a system that provides real-time visual status and control, alongside product quality predictions. Enter, product lifecycle management (PLM).

PLM is used by different sectors for various reasons. For manufacturers, the virtual production element is used to improve the planning, management and optimisation of industrial operations.  [Read more…] about Virtual factory: Manufacturing improvements with PLM

Omron to showcase 16,000 factory automation products

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omron

One of the world’s leading robotics and automation systems manufacturers, Omron, says it will introduce a total of 15,583 models in seven categories in its second wave of factory automation control devices built on a common design platform for unified product specifications.

Omron says it has been continuing to work for the innovation of making control panels which house and control factory automation devices on the production front line.

The company unified the design and size of factory automation devices, and introduced products in April 2016 which are built with the company’s proprietary wiring technology “Push-In Plus Terminal Block” for device and control panel makers in need of “downsizing and space-saving” of factory automation devices and control panels, “expedited delivery”, and “response to globalization”.  [Read more…] about Omron to showcase 16,000 factory automation products

Data in demand: Pressure Design flying high with automated hydraulics partnership

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pressure-design-hydraulics

The aerospace industry is hungry for tons and tons of data on everything that happens, and Pressure Design has the systems to feed it 

Traceability, data logging and graphical displays are in high demand in the modern hydraulics environment.

As customers’ requirements become more complex, the hydraulic control experts at machine builder Pressure Design focus on increasing their automated solutions offering, with the support of Copa-Data’s HMI/SCADA software, zenon.

Pressure Design offer a bespoke, fully inclusive service, satisfying all fluid power requirements, from the factory floor to the HMI. The company serves the hydraulic requirements of a wide range of primary and secondary manufacturing facilities.  [Read more…] about Data in demand: Pressure Design flying high with automated hydraulics partnership

Metal belts are driving robotics industry growth, says metal belts company

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belt technologies belts-drivetape

Belt Technologies, which claims to be the leading provider of stainless steel belts, drive tapes, and conveyor systems, says metal belts are driving the growth in the robotics industry.

Recently, the company says it has seen an increase in the number of OEMS in the robotics industry seeking metal drive tapes and belts for their automated equipment.

Belt Technology’s president, Alan Wosky, says: “Robotic technology typically requires a high level of precision and cleanliness.  [Read more…] about Metal belts are driving robotics industry growth, says metal belts company

Industrial internet: Maxim uses Arduino and ARM components to build system to identify false sensor data

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Maxim Integrated has developed a system which makes it easier to authenticate sensor and avoid false readings 

Maxim Integrated says it has developed a system which provides protection against counterfeit sensor data, guaranteeing its authenticity and integrity along the entire data chain, from transducer to the cloud.

The company says its system addresses the many issues related to system security in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) installations.

The Arduino-compatible MaxRefDes143# Reference Design consists of a protected sensor node with a DS28E15 secure authenticator, DS7505 temperature sensor, and MAX44009 light sensor, all connected to the ARM mbed technology shield with its DS2465 secure coprocessor (SHA-256), 1-Wire and I2C interfaces, Wi-Fi module, and LED/LCD/pushbutton user interfaces.  [Read more…] about Industrial internet: Maxim uses Arduino and ARM components to build system to identify false sensor data