Robotics World articles from May 2006

Robotics World archives from May 2006

Boosting productivity with linear motors.(Feature Story)
May 1, 2006... When speed, accuracy, acceleration, and reliability in motion-control applications simply cannot be compromised, direct-drive linear motors promise a solid solution regardless of cost or installation complexity. Linear motors provide fractional...

2006 Engelberger Robotics Awards presented to industry leaders at AUTOMATICA in Munich.(ria UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... The Engelberger Robotics Awards, the robotic industry's highest honor, were presented to four industry leaders at the 37th International Symposium on Robotics this May 16th during AUTOMATICA (Munich, Germany). The award, named after the "father...

Robots 2006: your ticket to getting started with Robots June 7-8, 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada.(ria UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... Robots are the key to modern-day success in a world that prizes cheap labor. Robots 2006 presents best practices and case studies, offers lessons learned from small and medium end-users and technology experts, and provides rare insight into...

Last chance to present at RIAs National Robot Safety Conference XVIII.(ria UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... This fall, the National Robot Safety Conference XVIII moves to the Cincinnati area (Ft. Mitchell, KY), October 2-5, 2006. Participate through a topic presentation. Abstracts are now being sought focusing on robotic and machine tool safety,...

First Vision & Robots for Automotive Manufacturing Workshop seeks speakers.(ria UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... The inaugural Vision & Robots for Automotive Manufacturing Workshop is a comprehensive two-day learning experience for automotive manufacturers, tier suppliers, and system integrators focused on how machine vision with robotics can improve...

Save the date for RIAs 14th Annual Robotics Industry Forum.(ria UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... Remember to mark your calendar for November 8-10, 2006, when over 100 industry leaders are expected to attend the RIA's 14th Annual Robotics Industry Forum. It provides insightful presentations and a chance to network with your peers. It is set...

Association events.(ria UPDATE)(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... Robots 2006 June 7-8, 2006 Las Vegas, NV National Robot Safety Conference XVlII October 2-5, 2006 Drawbridge inn Ft. Mitchell (Cincinnati), KY Robots & Vision for Automotive Applications October 17-18, 2006...

First-quarter sales in 2006 impacted by automotive market.(ria UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... New orders for North American robotics companies fell 30% in the first quarter of 2006, according to statistics released by Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry's trade group headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI. A 39% decline in...

Robotics Online Buyer's Guide: a valuable resource.(ria UPDATE)(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2006... The Robotics Online Buyer's Guide is filled with all the information needed to find the right supplier. In addition to a multitude of suppliers, you'll find company descriptions and complete contact information. Companies also list products,...

GigE Vision[TM] interface standard premieres at Vision East.(ria UPDATE)
May 1, 2006... GigE Vision [TM] is a new camera interface standard now available for the machine vision industry. Announced by the Automated Imaging Association (AIA) at the recent The Vision Show East (Boston, MA, May 9, 2006), the standard was developed...

ATX East promises latest developments in robotics.(ATX Preview)
May 1, 2006... The Automation Technology Expo East (ATX East) has evolved over the years into a meeting place for a wide range of industries, including those involved in medical and research equipment, automated semiconductor assembly, and pharmaceutical...

Lead screw assembly brings relief to massage machine manufacturer.(Robotics Case Studies)(Company overview)
May 1, 2006... Linear motion may not seem critical to the operation of a hydrotherapy massage machine, but machine manufacturer Aqua Massage International (AMI, www.aquamassage.com) knows the importance of custom lead screw assemblies for achieving precise...

Electro-Sensors, Inc.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... Electro-Sensors, Inc. (www.electrosensors.com) has introduced the SpeedTalker DN (UI) to its line of DeviceNet shaft speed sensors and tachometers. The SpeedTalker DN (UI) is a network-powered DeviceNet tachometer designed to convert pulse...

Yet US, Inc.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... YET US, Inc. (www.yet-motion.com) has incorporated its latest developments in servo control technology in the company's new XtraDrive servo system. Featuring the firm's patented NCT control technology, the XtraDrive servo system employs an...

Canon USA's Semiconductor Division.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... Canon USA's Semiconductor Division, Encoder Products Group (www.usa.canon.com) has expanded its ST series of linear encoders with the introduction of three miniature modules: the SR-P40, SR-P200, and SR-P 1000. The compact encoders are based on...

Haydon Switch & Instrument, Inc.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... Haydon Switch & Instrument, Inc. (www.hsi-inc.com) has announced the DCS4020 bipolar chopper drive, designed for ease of integration into development projects. Operators simple connect a single power supply and motor, and the drive is ready to...

Performance Motion Devices, Inc.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... Performance Motion Devices, Inc. (www.pmdcorp.com) has developed the Magellan family of motion-control integrated circuits (ICs) with automatic machine monitoring capability for recording and reacting to performance and safety-related...

Allmotion, Inc.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... Allmotion, Inc. (www.allmotion.com) has announced the availability of its dual-axis EZHR 17EN Stepper Motor Controller + Driver, designed for rapid off-the-shelf implementation in miniature applications. Complete with encoder feedback, the dual...

ACTechnology.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... ACTechnology (www.actech.com) has released its new ECS Servo System to meet the requirements of industrial handling, packaging, and robotic systems. The system, which features a power range from 1.1 to 13.8 kW, employs a central supply module...

THK.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... THK (www.thk.com) now offers a self-adjusting Power Linear Bush as an improvement in linear bushing technology. The new power linear bush offers higher load capacity and longer service life compared to conventional linear bushings. It is...

Steinmeyer, Inc.(New Products in MOTION CONTROL)
May 1, 2006... Steinmeyer, Inc. (www.steinmeyer.com) has announced a new addition to its Ultra-Thrust product line, a 100 x 25 ball screw boasting a load capacity of 1 million Newtons (N). By using large 19-mm-diameter load-carrying balls, the new ball-screw...

Study shows growth in Machine Vision Market.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... A new machine vision market study, "Machine Vision Markets--2005 Results and Forecasts to 2010," shows that 2005 was a good year for the machine vision and imaging industry and that continued growth is expected in 2006. Smart cameras saw...

Sandvik Coromant names Bill Lavelle Regional Sales Manager.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... Sandvik Coromant (www.coromant.sandvik.com/us) has named Bill Lavelle as the company's new Regional Sales Manager for the North Central Zone. Much of Mr. Lavelle's experience was under divisions of Sandvik, including Sandvik Materials...

Applied Perception transforming into robotics system integrator.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... Pittsburgh-based Applied Perception, Inc. (www.appliedperception.com) has announced three United States military projects for which the company is serving as a prime contractor as robotics system integrator. The firm began a Phase I SBIR...

AAC names new Ohio/Western PA rep.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... Automated Assemblies Corporation (www.aac-robot.com) has named Kempco & Associates Plastic Equipment, Inc. of North Royalton, OH (near Cleveland) as the firm's sales representatives for the Ohio and Western Pennsylvania region. Kempco is a...

Banner Engineering offers new catalog.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... Banner Engineering (www.bannerengineering.com) has released its new 2006 Sensor Products catalog with more than 500 pages of information on products for sensing applications. Product lines include vision sensors, photoelectric and ultrasonic...

Arbor Automation.(new products)
May 1, 2006... Arbor Automation (www.arborautomation.com), part of the Orbitform group (www.orbitform.com), has unveiled the Brute 2550, a heavy-duty palletized conveyer designed to handle parts weighing as much as 300 lbs. It can be designed as an oval or...

Automation Systems Interconnect, Inc.(new products)
May 1, 2006... Automation Systems Interconnect, Inc. (www.asi-ez.com) has released a new line of safety switches. The plastic KB series and metal KM series of safety switches are compliant with IEC/EN 60947-5-1. Both safety switch families are available with...

EMI Plastics Equipment.(new products)
May 1, 2006... EMI Plastics Equipment (www.emiplastics.com) now offers a vacuum cup that can firmly grip a curved or textured part and move it to a packing or assembly station. Ideal for robotic applications, the firm's PIAB Duraflex[TM] polyurethane vacuum...

FKI Logistex.(new products)
May 1, 2006... FKI Logistex (www.fkilogistex.com) has added new design and interface options for its poptdarA-780 case palletizer. The new options dramatically increase the A-780's capacity and its value as the industry-leading choice for low- to mid-speed...

Marathon Welding Automation.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... Marathon Welding Automation, now part of the Orbitform group (www.orbitform .com), has introduced the Z-Weld dual fixed-table robotic welding cell for manufacturers looking to enhance productivity on small-to medium-sized welded parts. Shipped...

Sandvik Coromant.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... Sandvik Coromant (www.coromant. sandvik.com/us) has released the CoroDrill 805, a new tool that increases the efficiency of deep-hole drilling. The CoroDril1805 enables the drilling of deep holes without moving the workpiece to a dedicated...

SAS Automation.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... SAS Automation (www.sasgripper.com) has added the 14-95 size to its popular GRF line of end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT) grippers. The new small-diameter miniature gripper shaft (14 mm) allows for more flexibility in applications where space is...

REGO-FIX.(product & industry news)
May 1, 2006... REGO-FIX (www.rego-fix.com) recently added the new SMART model and advanced TCAM2 model to its existing line of Toolmaster TM10 Presetters. The TM10 Presetters Series, which includes the standard touch-off model, brings high quality Swiss...

Sensors, Unlimited.(SPOTLIGHT on vision inspection & positioning equipment)
May 1, 2006... Sensors Unlimited, Goodrich Corp. (www.goodrich.com) has announced its shortwave infrared (IR) model SU320KTX-1.7 RT camera, the first member of the company's new KT Camera family. Originally developed for the United States Army's Soldier...

Toshiba Imaging Systems.(SPOTLIGHT on vision inspection & positioning equipment)
May 1, 2006... Toshiba Imaging Systems Division of ToshibaAmerica has launched the compact model IK-TF2 3CCD color industrial video camera in response to customer requirements for a small vision package. The new charge-coupled-device (CCD) camera measures...

Matrox Imaging.(SPOTLIGHT on vision inspection & positioning equipment)
May 1, 2006... Matrox Imaging (www.matrox.com/imaging) announced at The Vision Show East (May 9-11, 2006, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA) that is had developed the MTX1394b+ Firewire (IEEE 1394b) adapter card for use with the Matrox 4Sight M industrial...

StockerYale.(SPOTLIGHT on vision inspection & positioning equipment)
May 1, 2006... StockerYale (www.stockeryale.com) drew crowds at The Vision Show East with its SpecBright light-emitting-diode (LED) machine-vision area lights. These lights are designed to provide several times the brightness of convention lights or even...

Global Laser.(SPOTLIGHT on vision inspection & positioning equipment)
May 1, 2006... Global Laser (www.globallasertech.com) also caught the attention of attendees at The Vision Show East with its new Firefly Green Range diode modules. The self-contained solid-state laser-diode module features fast warm-up time and high...

Save time with 3D motor downloads.(Robotics World Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Dynetic Systems and Solid Works 3D CAD modeling software have developed a web page, offering configurable, downloadable 3D models of fractional horsepower DC Brushed and Brushless motors. Downloads are available in almost any format from CAD to...

Robotic rotary joint.(Robotics World Showcase)
May 1, 2006... 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...

Five free outstanding Robotics Resources from RIA.(Robotics World Showcase)
May 1, 2006... RIA is offering free resources filled with practical, real-world solutions. From general details on leading robotics companies, products, and applications to expert advice, you can get this information and more. Visit www.roboticson-line.com...

Our years of experience, quality controlled manufacturing, and overall craftsmanship make WireCrafters the preferred suppler of guarding for many leading original equipment manufacturers.(Robotics World Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Our years of experience, quality controlled manufacturing, and overall craftsmanship make WireCrafters the preferred suppler of guarding for many leading original equipment manufacturers. We can economically build the exact guard needed for...

Yamaha's new ultra-fast Phaser[TM] series linear motor slides offer outstanding performance at a cost comparable to conventional ball screw servo motor slides.(Robotics World Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Yamaha's new ultra-fast Phaser[TM] series linear motor slides offer outstanding performance at a cost comparable to conventional ball screw servo motor slides. The Phaser's proprietary magnetic linear scale provides positional repeatability of...

OMEGA[TM] MIG-GUNS from ABICOR Binzel USA.(Robotics World Showcase)
May 1, 2006... The new OMEGA MIG-Guns from ABICOR Binzel in 350 and 450 amperes provide optimal current transfer through a tight tolerance interface, direct crimped torch body, and neck locking screw. They are equipped standard with rigid one-piece, full 360...

Intelligent Servo Drive[TM].(Robotics World Showcase)
May 1, 2006... The ISD is a concept more than it is a product. IIS has developed a series of building blocks that can be easily combined in a custom design to produce an intelligent motion control system for large volume OEM's. These building blocks, both...