Robotics & Machine Automation Blog

• Automation

Interfacing with SQL Databases Key to Machine HMI Upgrade

We were recently contacted by a customer about helping to upgrade some test machines that were built in the 1990's. These machines had a single axis motion control requirement to accurately adjust some positions within the machine as material moved through the machine. The machine also was originally developed with a user interface that had been created using Visual Basic Version 6, that at the time was one of the few software environments that allowed interfacing with a database.

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• Pneumatics

Robotic End of Arm Tooling: Pneumatic-Mechanical Grippers

This blog will explore pneumatic-mechanical grippers and the typical robot applications that call for them. This should be of particular interest to those looking for low-cost methods of picking non-fragile parts with limited varieties.

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• Automation

Embedded Computer is the Solution

Helping a Customer Find Just the Right Solution for their Information Application We have been working with a customer that has created a unique information display application using FTP servers distributed in a manufacturing facility. They sell this solution to many different companies that are all in the same industry. This application had been solved using single board computers that were mounted in a NEMA12 dustproof enclosure along with typical computer power supplies and all of the cabling.

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• Robotics

How Collaborative Robots Apply to "Nonstandard" Business

Collaborative Robots have been a disruptive technology in not only the manufacturing industry, but they have also opened the door for automation in other industries as well. Industries that have never been interested in robotics, are suddenly finding that with collaborative technology they too can reap the benefits that come from automation. What’s the difference? Why can companies outside of manufacturing now look to robotics when it hasn’t been an option before? There are two simple reasons:

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• Robotics

How to Use a Dual End Effector on a Collaborative Robot to Decrease Cycle Time

There are many potential benefits of incorporating a robot into production. A robot can help with cost savings, improve quality, alleviate safety concerns, and increase throughput. Throughput can be increased in two different ways. First, with a robot, you don’t rely on the operator to drive the work rate of the cell. With a robot, it runs at the same pace day in and day out. This eliminates the variability the can sometimes exist with human operators. Second, you can shorten the cycle time. But there could potentially be some challenges with this.

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• Automation

How To Decrease Equipment Energy Consumption

Hint: It's a lot more than just tracking energy usage and consumption One can read an endless variety of articles regarding how to improve energy usage in building and manufacturing facilities. But what does it really take to decrease energy consumption.   In my experience, many suppliers offer meters and software for tracking energy usage. These software products allow for the creation of very nice energy dashboards and support the use of mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones that allows key personnel to monitor energy usage.

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• ElectroMechanical Motion Control

How to Mate Yaskawa Motors with a Lintech Actuator

Yaskawa is a key manufacturer in the motion control world and has an impressive lineup of servo motors. All applications call for these motors to be connected to some sort of mechanical system to achieve the desired motion and functionality. One of the most common types of mechanics is a linear actuator, which Yaskawa does not manufacture or sell.

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• Robotics

Robotic End of Arm Tooling: About Electromechanical Grippers

This document will explore electromechanical grippers and typical collaborative robot applications that call for them. This should be of particular interest to anyone researching reliable methods to pick up and grip a delicate, fragile, or unusually shaped item.

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• Automation

4 Reasons to Use Pilot Operated Solenoid Valves vs Direct Acting Solenoid Valves in Pneumatic Manifolds

Solenoid valves used in air manifolds can be direct acting or pilot operated. In the case of a direct acting solenoid valve, the coil acts directly on the valve spool to actuate it. In the case of a pilot operated solenoid valve, it uses system air pressure as a pilot to actuate the spool. Both have been in use for many years and each has their benefits.

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