Robotics World articles from March 2003

Robotics World archives from March 2003

Genesis Systems Group. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... Genesis Systems Group recently redesigned its website (www.genesis-systems.com), which now allows browsers to access downloadable brochures in PDF format using Adobe Acrobat Reader. The site also has added 360degree virtual views of the...

World Wise Technologies. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... World Wise Technologies has entered into private placement agreements with arms length and non-arms length investors for the sale of units for a total investment of $100,000 Canadian. The investors have agreed to purchase 2 million units at a...

Electro-Matic Products Inc. has introduced custom industrial cable assemblies through iCables. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... Electro-Matic Products Inc. has introduced custom industrial cable assemblies through iCables, a designer, manufacturer and supplier of industrial interconnect solutions that began as a strategic alliance with C&M Cable several years ago.

Robotic Vision Systems Inc. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... Robotic Vision Systems Inc. has initiated the final stage of the consolidation of the manufacturing, operations and service functions of its Semiconductor Equipment Group. Those activities for all Semiconductor Equipment Group product lines...

Sterling representative DABR Industries has joined with Coastal Plastics Machinery to form Coastal DABR Machinery. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... Longtime Sterling representative DABR Industries has joined with Coastal Plastics Machinery to form Coastal DABR Machinery. The new company will serve Sterling's southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Mexicali, Mexico, territories.

Turck Inc. has signed an exclusive, long-term agreement with Fritz Kubler Gmbh. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... Turck Inc. has signed an exclusive, long-term agreement with Fritz Kubler Gmbh of Germany to market Kubler's full line of incremental and absolute encoders in North America.

LMI Technologies Inc. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... LMI Technologies Inc. is changing the names of its global businesses to better reflect the combined identity of its global operations. In the United States, LMI Selcom and LMI Automotive will become LMI Technologies (USA) Inc. In Canada, LMI...

Yield Engineering Systems Inc. has selected Adept Technology Inc. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... Yield Engineering Systems Inc. has selected Adept Technology Inc. to develop a new 300mm process tool platform that will fully automate its vacuum cure oven process. The YES-450PBX4-300 platform will utilize the Adept SmartController CS...

Factory Automation Robotics Division of Epson America Inc. (Quick Takes).
March 1, 2003... The Factory Automation Robotics Division of Epson America Inc. announced that its E2 SCARA Robots with the RC420 and RC520 PC-based controllers have passed all the requirements of the ANSI/UL1740 Safety Standard and are now UL-listed.

Calmont Wire & Cable. (People).
March 1, 2003... Linda Cunningham has joined Calmont Wire & Cable as sales engineer for the southern California region.

Kaman Industrial Technologies. (People).
March 1, 2003... Kaman Industrial Technologies has promoted Robert Goff to vice president of human resources and productivity.

Beckhoff Automation. (People).
March 1, 2003... Graham Harris has been named vice president of sales and marketing, North America, for Beckhoff Automation.

Optical Systems Group. (People).
March 1, 2003... Mark Anderson has joined ARO as manager of the company's Optical Systems Group, where he will be responsible for the development of custom, OEM solutions for mounted optics, assemblies and optomechanical subsystems. Additionally, Glen Dunn has...

Electro Scientific Industries. (People).
March 1, 2003... Bob Chamberlain has been named vice president, customer operations, for Electro Scientific Industries. He will oversee worldwide sales, service and marketing for the company. In addition, Clive McGovern has been named European regional manager...

Genesis Systems Group. (People).
March 1, 2003... Todd Daily has been hired as a project manager in the Engineering Business Unit and Automotive Group of Genesis Systems Group, where he will manage projects involving the fabrication of capital robotic welding equipment.

Zymark Corp. president and CEO Kevin Hrusovsky has been elected to the Association of Laboratory Automation. (People).
March 1, 2003... Zymark Corp. president and CEO Kevin Hrusovsky has been elected to the Association of Laboratory Automation board of directors.

FKI Logistex White Systems. (People).
March 1, 2003... G. Lynnwood Rosser has been named director of sales and marketing for FKI Logistex White Systems, where he will manage all White Systems field and systems sales personnel.

Avalon Vision Solutions. (People).
March 1, 2003... Avalon Vision Solutions has expanded its sales and service operations into Mexico and hired Oscar Watty as the country's sales manager.

Norco Inc. (People).
March 1, 2003... Norco Inc. has hired two new sales engineers, Marc Angers for aerospace and military products and Neal O'Neil in the power transmission department.

Staubli Corp. (People).
March 1, 2003... Staubli Corp. has appointed Gerald Vogt as robotics division manager, North America. Vogt was formerly at the Staubli corporate headquarters in Faverges, France, as the strategic marketing manager for the robotics division.

New Dimension Tooling, a business unit of Genesis Systems Group. (People).
March 1, 2003... Roger Christensen has been hired as a tooling design engineer for New Dimension Tooling, a business unit of Genesis Systems Group. In this capacity, Christensen will work with customers, vendors and engineers in developing concepts and...

Electro Scientific Industries Inc. (People).
March 1, 2003... Richard Okumoto has been named vice president of administration and chief financial officer for Electro Scientific Industries Inc.

Lemelson-MIT Program. (People).
March 1, 2003... James McLurkin has been selected as the recipient of the Lemelson-MIT Program's ninth annual $30,000 MIT Student Prize for inventiveness. McLurkin, a 30-year-old MIT graduate student pursuing a degree in computer science, has invented the...

Automated Precision Inc. (People).
March 1, 2003... Automated Precision Inc., a manufacturer of precision laser measurement systems, has appointed Dennis Kaczmarek as Southeast regional sales manager and Andrew Hart as North Central regional sales manager.

Dean Kamen to speak at Spirit of Innovation Luncheon. (RIA Update).
March 1, 2003... Dean Kamen, president of DEKA Research and Development Corp. and chairman and CEO of Segway LLC, will be the featured speaker at the Spirit of Innovation Luncheon at noon Wednesday, June 4, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in...

Can a robotic hockey league be far behind? (RIA Update).
March 1, 2003... This is only one of the questions facing students as they prepare for the 10th anniversary of the Canada FIRST Robotic Games. The Robotic Industries Association, along with numerous leading Canadian companies and organizations, has taken a...

Four-for-Free special offer. (RIA Update).
March 1, 2003... Visit Robotics Online (www.roboticsonline.com) to request the "Four-for-Free" special offer, which includes the 2003 Robotics Industry Directory, the annual directory of nearly 200 companies that make robots and related products or supply...

A look at the 2003 RIA safety programs. (RIA Safety Corner).
March 1, 2003... Each year the Robotic Industries Association strives to provide a robust safety training program targeted at the needs of the industrial robot user community. This year will be no exception, with some new and, I think, exciting initiatives in...

Cartesians aren't flashy, but they get the job done.
March 1, 2003... It seems that robots are getting a lot of TV time these days, showing up in commercials for an array of products and services. But it always seems to be a big articulated arm, performing some flashy application like spot welding or painting,...

Standardized robotic arc-welding workcell overview.
March 1, 2003... Almost all robot manufacturers who make arc -welding robots also offer pre-engineered, or standardized, robotic arc-welding workcells. These cells range in size and function to handle an array of applications, from welding small workpieces to...

Routing/sanding. (Robotics Case Studies).
March 1, 2003... Harley-Davidson motorcycles are known for their performance and high quality standards, including dazzling surface finishes. The Tomahawk (Wis.) Operations features a Lean Manufacturing program that includes robotic automation. The fabrication...

Crash protection. (Robotics Case Studies).
March 1, 2003... During the training phase of most robotic applications, the robot will encounter a few crashes; most are minor, but they have the potential for major tool damage and lost time. Similarly, in an automated production environment where parts are...

Mold machine load/unload. (Robotics Case Studies).
March 1, 2003... Robotic Production Machinery Ltd. was contracted by Lear Corp. to provide a robotic solution to a manual carpet/insert mold machine operation. The process produces carpets pieces, molded onto a plastic backing, complete with plastic inserts for...

Alpha Wire. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Alpha Wire's Industrial Series Cable is among the first to receive a UL Open Wiring Rating and offers a range of such solutions. Series F and Series M cable are approved in their entirety, along with particular Series L cable and the new Series...

WAGO Corp. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... The WAGO X-COM System (769 Series) terminal blocks allow pluggable field wiring for quick, easy, error-free robotic controls installation, commissioning and system tear-down. The 769 Series provides "X", number of connection combinations that...

Leoni elocab. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Leoni recently introduced the Leoni LFLEXX 690, a line of in-stock control cables that are extremely flexible, small diameter and PUR-jacketed. The new cables are designed for applications that require long-life continuous flexing, optimum oil...

Remke Industries. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Remke recently introduced a new member of the Tuff-Link family of molded connectors, the Micro-Link Shielded Connector, which features a 360-degree aluminum mylar foil shield that minimizes electrical interference. It also features gold-plated...

>SAS< automation. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... >SAS For free literature, circle 105, page 26

Molex Inc. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Molex's Euro-c Circular Industrial Connectors feature detents on the over-molded plug, which are an effective antivibration feature and, along with gold-plated contacts, are intended to provide reliable mating. Shielded cables help prevent...

Lapp USA. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Lapp has introduced the first VFD cable with UL and CSA TC approvals in the United States. Olflex VFD Slim is a reduced-diameter, shielded motor-supply cable for variable-frequency drives. The materials used are designed to hold up to...

Anderson Power Products. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Anderson Power Products has introduced the 35- and 75-amp Power Drawer connector, a mixed-power, signal-drawer connector. The connectors are used on "N + 1" power supply and inverter systems for server, telecommunications and network...

Pepperl+Fuchs. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Pepperl+Fuchs has expanded its selection of fiber optic cables. The new plastic cables include small-diameter side-view sleeves, coiled fibers for moving elements, unique assemblies for label detection and high performance units capable of 6m...

Amphenol Corp. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Amphenol's Industrial Operations Division plans to expand the current market focus of RADSOK technology from electric vehicle and automotive applications to additional target markets such as industrial power, process control and communications,...

Calmont wire & cable. (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... Calmont has launched a new Rapid Prototyping Service, where concepts and ideas can be converted into a prototype within two weeks. This resource provides customers with a deliverable product that meets specific requirements, whether a simple or...

A&A Manufacturing (Gortrac). (Component Spotlight: Cables and Connectors).
March 1, 2003... The Gortrac Division of A&A Manufacturing has introduced a new cable and hose carrier design that combines greater strength with lighter weight for use on machine tools, industrial robots, material-handling equipment and other applications....

Single-axis traversing robots. (Products).
March 1, 2003... AEC has expanded its automation line again with the release of the AEA servo and pneumatic driven robots. These single-axis traversing robots offer the accuracy of a servomotor and the low cost of a pneumatic drive all in one package. The AEA...

Automated testing system. (Products).
March 1, 2003... Instron has introduced its new TestMaster Automation System. This high-capacity metals test system performs tensile tests on a variety of metal specimens ranging from heavy sheet, plate and round steel to more delicate specimens like aluminum...

Bench dispensing robots. (Products).
March 1, 2003... The new 7000 benchtop cartesian robots from I&J Fisnar will handle dispensing areas of 8 by 8 inches up to 16 by 16 inches. Each robot is capable of storing 99 programs with a total point capacity of 99,000. Resolution is 0.01 mm and a standard...

Control systems. (Products).
March 1, 2003... APS (Automated Production Systems Corp.) offers in-house controls capability, providing fully integrated control systems that incorporate any specified PLC or component. Systems can be supplied with self-diagnostics, touch screens and recipe...

Weld gun actuators. (Products).
March 1, 2003... TOL-O-MATIC has launched a new line of high-thrust servo actuators designed for longer life and no-maintenance performance in scissor, pinch or C-style welding guns. The HT Series Actuators feature integrated motors, actuators and feedback for...

Swirl dispenser. (Products).
March 1, 2003... Sealant Equipment & Engineering's new patent-pending Program-A-Swirl is designed to dispense adhesives or sealants in a circular pattern or as a continuous bead. By dispensing in a swirled pattern of closed loops, the Program-A-Swirl maximizes...

Cartesian dispensing robot. (Products).
March 1, 2003... Liquid Control's new P-200 Series features the first point-to-point motion platform for dispensing applications. It provides complete automation solutions for potting, sealing, bonding, doming and other dispensing needs. Offered with 20 by 20...

Intelligent camera. (Products).
March 1, 2003... JAI A-S has introduced ThinkEye, a new generation of intelligent cameras developed jointly by JAI and two European partners, Stemmer Imaging and Asentics. ThinkEye is a complete stand-alone solution, based on a PowerPC processor with floating...

End-of-arm rotary joint. (Products).
March 1, 2003... ATI Industrial Automation has released a device that allows unlimited rotation of end-of-arm tooling without tangling or twisting robot lines. By using advanced slip-ring technology, the Rotary Joint passes electrical and pneumatic signals from...

Hollow shaft resolver. (Products).
March 1, 2003... Tyco Electronics recently unveiled a line of hollow shaft resolvers for the North American market. Hollow shaft resolvers, also known as absolute shaft angle transducers, are highly reliable sensing devices used to monitor motor shaft position....

Simulation software. (Products).
March 1, 2003... Flow Software Technologies, developers of Workspace 5 PC-based Robotic Simulation and Off-Line Programming software, has released Workspace 5.03. This latest version adds a redesigned robotic teach pendant that is easy to use. Teach pendants...

Six-axis robot. (Products).
March 1, 2003... Motoman Inc. has added a super-compact UPJ robot to its line of more than 30 distinct models. The six-axis UPJ robot has a 3kg (6.6 pound) payload, a 532 mm (20.9 inch) maximum reach, a 188 mm (7.4 inch) minimum reach and a repeatability of [+...

Bosch Rexroth Corp. (Robotics World Showcase).
March 1, 2003... Greater flexibility and easier installation are key benefits of the new turbo scara[TM] SRplus robots from Bosch Rexroth Corporation. The robot series includes an absolute encoder system, Windows[R]-based programming, and new, economical...

SICK Inc. (Robotics World Showcase).
March 1, 2003... SICK's latest version of the C 4000 series (Step II) safety light curtain has additional features and functionality that will reduce the number of components and wiring required while reducing set up time. Sensing resolutions of 14, 20, 30 and...

Robotic rotary joint. (Robotics World Showcase).
March 1, 2003... ATI Industrial Automation has just released a new product that allows unlimited rotation of end-of-arm tooling without tangling or twisting robot lines. By utilizing advanced slip-ring technology the Rotary Joint passes electrical and pneumatic...

2003 calendar of events.
March 1, 2003... International Robots & Vision Show and Conference Co-located with Sensors Expo and the IFFI Fasteners Expo June 3-5 Rosemont (Chicago), Ill. 15th Annual National Robot Safety Conference Oct. 20-23 Cincinnati, Ohio ...