Assembly articles from August 2002

Assembly archives from August 2002

Technological dilemma. (Editorial).
August 1, 2002... The world today requires that its citizens, if they intend to survive and prosper, continue to learn and develop technical skills throughout their lives. Our nation depends on science and engineering for its way of life--and for its domestic...

All the world is needs a stage. (X-Y-Z).
August 1, 2002... Screen legend Gary Grant once called the stage his factory. Had he been a manufacturing engineer, he might have been understood literally, instead of metaphorically. X-Y positioning stages are found in machines for assembling precision...

Unmanned aerial vehicles ready to fly. (Down the Line).
August 1, 2002... Don't let your baby grow up to be a fighter pilot. Thanks to new technology, there may be fewer job openings in the future. The next generation of combat planes will be robotic, pilotless aircraft. Unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs)...

Go talk to your friendly mirror. (Down the Line).
August 1, 2002... In a few years, trips to the bathroom may become an entirely new multimedia experience. That's because the home of the future will feature intelligent technology that will anticipate and respond to personal needs. According to researchers...

Lighting the future. (Down the Line).
August 1, 2002... Incandescent light bulbs have been used to illuminate homes, offices, schools and factories ever since Thomas Edison developed the technology more than 120 years ago. But, the common object that most people take for granted may soon become a...

Camera in a pill. (Down the Line).
August 1, 2002... In the mid-1960s, a popular science fiction movie called "Fantastic Voyage" portrayed the exploits of a group of scientists who traveled through a human body in a miniature submarine. Hollywood is often wrong in its portrayal of the future, but...

Plastic solar cells. (Down the Line).
August 1, 2002... A new generation of hybrid solar cells will make it cheaper and easier to mass produce photovoltaic devices. The technology combines nanotechnology with plastic electronics. Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the...

Portable fuel cells. (Down the Line).
August 1, 2002... Some day, fuel cells may replace rechargeable batteries in laptop computers, power tools, household appliances and other portable devices. Traditionally, fuel cells require large, bulky stacks. But, a team of researchers at NASA's Jet...

Paper batteries. (Down the Line).
August 1, 2002... Imagine designing a new product and then building a battery to fit it rather than designing products around a battery. Power Paper Ltd. (Tel Aviv, Israel) has developed a new technology to produce an ultrathin, caseless, low-cost power source...

Air-breathing rockets. (Down the Line).
August 1, 2002... Space travel could be revolutionized if an experimental air-breathing rocket engine proves successful in ongoing tests. The unique engine, which can function as a rocket, ramjet or scramjet, uses air as an oxidizer. Compared to conventionally...

FDA seeks to protect patients. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--Manufacturers of certain medical devices will have to conduct post-market surveillance of their products. When necessary, firms will be required to gather data on the product's performance for up to 3 years to identify and evaluate...

Robot sales gain stability. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... ANN ARBOR, MI--Just like other capital equipment markets, the North American robotics industry was hurt by the economic downturn. However, the robotics industry showed signs of stabilizing in the first quarter of 2002. According to the...

Rapid molding is a new alternative. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... JAFFREY, NH--Graphicast's ZA-12 rapid molding process is ideal for manufacturing high-precision components for electromechanical and electro-optical applications. The process uses graphite molds to produce parts from ZA-12, which is a...

Safety today wins Toyota award. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... LEXINGTON, KY-Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc. (TMMK, Georgetown, KY) has awarded Safety Today Inc. with the TMMK 2001 Outstanding Business Partner Gold Award. The company has supplied gloves and other safety supplies to TMMK for 15...

Emhart licenses Henrob rivet technology. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... NEW HAVEN, CT--Emhart Fastening Technologies will license self-piercing rivet rights from Henrob Corp. (Farmington Hills, MI). The agreement grants Emhart worldwide manufacturing and marketing rights to a high-force preclamping feature used on...

Fiber optic sector is set for increase. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... SAN MATEO, CA--News is looking good for manufacturers of fiber optic assembly and test equipment. According to ElectroniCast, the global consumption of fiber optic component assembly and test equipment is expected to increase from $722 million...

AWS announces call for papers. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... MIAMI--The American Welding Society wants to hear from individuals interested in presenting at the Professional Program during the 2003 Welding Show and Convention, to be held April 8-10, 2003, at Cobo Hall in Detroit. The annual...

Meikle forms partnership and makes acquisition. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... KITCHENER, ON, CANADA--Meikle Automation, a manufacturer of automated equipment, has acquired Electro-Mechanical Specialties Inc. (Sanford, NC). Electro-Mechanical Specialties, which has a strong presence on the East Coast, also specializes in...

Physik Instrumente builds factory. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... PALM-BACH, GERMANY -- Physik Instrumente has built a 140,000-square-foot factory to meet demand for ultra-precision nanoautomation and nanopositioning products. The facility will enable the company to meet increased demand for...

Industrial-grade computer market will grow. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... NATICK, MA--Personal computers are very widespread. However, there is apparently still room for growth in the industrial computer market sector. Venture Development Corp. expects the worldwide market for industrial computers will increase...

Software sees patterns of opportunity. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... CHICAGO--Innovations tend to occur simultaneously among competitors in an industry or in incremental changes that are quickly copied. A new software tool from Doblin Inc., called Innovation Landscapes, helps businesses see the patterns of...

OSHA releases ergonomics plan. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--OSHA has unveiled its new ergonomics plan. The plan calls on industry to develop its own standards, supplemented by new guidelines that will be produced by OSHA. It also calls for OSHA to be more rigorous with enforcement measures,...

Software helps provide answers. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... ALBUQUERQUE, NM--Sandia engineers have finished developing and tweeking the Design Analysis Kit for Optimization and Terascale Applications (DAKOTA) 3.0 software. The software can be used to design anything from components to sophisticated...

Fuel efficiency bill faces opposition. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--A proposal to raise automobile fuel efficiency by 50 percent, to an average of 36 mpg, by 2015 is facing stiff opposition. Opponents of the bill say it would force automakers to make smaller, lighter cars, which would lead to...

U.S. employment is looking up. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... MILWAUKEE--U.S. employers will increase their hiring activity in the third quarter of 2002. Manpower Inc. interviewed nearly 16,000 firms for its Employment Outlook Survey. Twenty-seven percent of the respondents plan to add employees in...

SAE debuts book on Vehicle Design. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... WARRENDALE, PA--An introduction to Modern Vehicle Design is now available from the Society of Automotive Engineers. The book begins with basic principles and continues with analysis procedures for all major aspects of vehicle and component...

Manufacturers are going online. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--In mid-2000, e-commerce was already in place among several small, medium and large manufacturers, By 2001, businesses continued to prepare for business-to-business trade, although most companies were focused on completing internal...

Manufacturing is key to economic stability. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... CHICAGO--Does manufacturing still matter? According to Manufacturing Works: The Vital Link Between Production and Prosperity, the answer is "yes." The book makes a convincing case that the United States' manufacturing base drives its...

Software simplifies analysis for Robot users. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... ANN ARBOR, MI--"Risk assessment is the cornerstone of machine safety," says Jeff Fryman, director of standards and development for the Robotic Industries Association (RIA). "OSHA expects you to be able to produce documentation that supports...

Showrooms allow testing of products. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... ROCKY HILL, CT--Loctite Corp. has opened 20 equipment showrooms at Locitite-certified distributor locations throughout the United States and Mexico. These equipment showrooms will allow prospective customers to get hands-on experience using...

Bosch plans to Drive and Control. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL--Bosch Rexroth is implementing a new company strategy. The company is planning on manufacturing industrial hydraulics, pneumatics, linear motion and assembly technologies, as well as electric drives and controls. This will...

Adhesive material standards get review. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA--The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Subcommittee on Adhesive Classification is looking for adhesive suppliers and other interested parties to review ASTM adhesive material standards. These standards...

Girls' technical skills need to improve. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--The National Women's Law Center has petitioned the U.S. Department of Education to study whether vocational schools and classes comply with Title IX. This 30-year-old law requires schools that receive federal money to provide equal...

Auto industry strives for better quality. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA--The automotive industry has made a quantum leap in quality over 2001. The 10 percent quality improvement is the largest increase for the industry since 1997. Initial vehicle quality has improved by 24 percent over the past...

Career-updating made easy. (Assembly Lines).
August 1, 2002... BERKELEY, CA--The University of California at Berkeley is offering an opportunity for those engineers and scientists seeking an intensive update in advanced engineering technologies. Interested individuals can enroll for the Berkeley Summer...

Torque tool builder locks calibration. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... A routine adhesive application process recently presented 60-year-old Seekonk Manufacturing Co. (Seekonk, MA) with a major challenge. The company's slip-type T-handle torque tools are popular among assembly workers and field technicians who...

John Deere tractors follow the wires. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... John Deere's manufacturing traditions date back to 1837, when blacksmith John Deere--developer of the first commercial, self-cleaning steel plow--founded the firm. Things certainly have changed. Now, the Augusta, GA, plant relies on...

Speakers are assembled with sound. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... Industrias Nishiba (Tijuana, Mexico)--a subsidiary of Nishiba Co. Ltd. (Kiryu, Japan)--specializes in custom injection molding and metal stamping. Many of the parts manufactured in the facility are components for speakers. The company...

Zinc connects for less and adds muscle. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... Teradyne's (Boston) very high density metric (VHDM) interconnect platform provides high-density and high-speed signal integrity for telecommunications applications. Initially, the VHDM connector's guide module was molded in liquid crystal...

Marine analyzer tests uncharted waters. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... Whether for business or pleasure, a boat at sea needs an unfaltering engine and equipment. The engine is the heart of a boat. It does more than just propel the vessel. The engine also operates navigational aids and systems, winches, pumps arid...

Software supports aircraft assembly. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... Ducommun Aerostructures (Long Beach, CA) now uses Tecnomatix Technologies' (Nashua, NH) eMPower software to produce fuselage components for the Boeing C-17 aircraft. Ducommun manufactures aerostructures and assemblies for aircraft companies....

Friction stir welding replaces rivets. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... Eclipse Aviation Corp. (Albuquerque, NM) is using MTS Systems Corp.'s (Eden Prairie, MN) Eclipse 500 friction stir welding system to assemble the lower cabin of the Eclipse 500, a six-person, twin-engine jet. The 33-foot plane features a...

Dispenser improves assembly process. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... Peterbilt Motors Co. (Denton, TX), a division of Paccar Inc., manufactures commercial trucks and offers a broad range of services for over-the-road, construction, municipal and medium-duty truck markets. On highways, construction sites, city...

Software helps with efficiency. (Assembly in Action).
August 1, 2002... The Boeing Co. (Seattle) is one of the biggest airframe manufacturers in the world. In any given year, its facility produces 300 to 600 commercial airplanes, ranging from 717s to 747s. In addition, the company has evolved to become a major...

Even Odds: advances in robots, grippers and machine vision are enabling electronics manufacturers to automate odd-form assembly. (Electronics Assembly).
August 1, 2002... Like it or not, many printed circuit boards have odd-form components: axials, radials, header strips, DIPs, SIPs, connectors, transformers, telephone jacks, relays, TO-220s, displays, LEDs, switches, pin grid arrays--even small daughter boards....

Get lean or get left behind: the best lean assembly lines are supported by modular material handling systems. (Modular Profile Systems).
August 1, 2002... Lean manufacturing is based on many principles, but the two principles that have the greatest impact on an organization are eliminating waste and continuous improvement. Why are these principles important? Because as a manufacturer your...

Magnetic pulse technology attracts new users: the cold welding process is being used for more and more high-volume applications. (Metal Welding).
August 1, 2002... Nuclear energy has a dark side and a bright side. The dark side includes 52,000 tons of stored radioactive waste that poses a potential environmental threat as well as a terrorist target. The bright side is an abundant power source with a...

Coatings and plating lend a hand: special finishes are applied to threaded fasteners to prevent corrosion or enhance appearance. (Assembly Handbook).
August 1, 2002... For many assembly applications, fastener corrosion poses an overriding design concern. But the prospect of corrosion need not send chills down a design engineer's spine. Coatings and plating can provide a barrier between two dissimilar...

The Hawthrone Works: a series of landmark human behavior studies examined assembly line productivity. (Assembly Then & Now).
August 1, 2002... At one time, Cicero, IL, was famous for two things that had absolutely nothing in common: Al Capone and Western Electric. The blue-collar town on the West Side of Chicago served as headquarters for the notorious gangster. But, Cicero also was...

Joining the assembly industry with ATExpo: attendees seeking technical information and state-of-the-art solutions will find them at Assembly Technology Expo 2002. (Events).
August 1, 2002... According to Business Week magazine, capital spending looks like it is starting to rejoin the economic recovery. For months, capital spending was limited by many problems, including the tech bust, a profits recession and over-capacity. Add in...

Reverse expansion insert. (Assembly Products).
August 1, 2002... The Series 18 brass reverse expansion insert has a head. It's intended for applications where the bolt enters the insert from the headless end, rather than the headed end. The insert's head provides a high level of pull-through resistance, and...

Modular workstations. (Assembly Products).
August 1, 2002... This modular, ergonomic workstation is available in lengths of 36, 48 and 60 inches. The height and inclination of the work surface is adjustable, as is the position of lights, shelves and parts bins. A hook-and-slot system allows components to...

Disposable dispensing components. (Assembly Products).
August 1, 2002... These disposable plastic cartridges, nozzles, plungers and caps are used to dispense adhesives, lubricants, solder pastes and other materials. Cartridges come in the following sizes: 1, 2.5, 8, 12, 20 and 32 ounces. Nozzles come in lengths of...

Electromechanical press. (Assembly Products).
August 1, 2002... This computer-numerical-controlled electromechanical press can produce a pressing force of 26,000 pounds. The press simultaneously monitors and controls both ram force and ram position, providing closed-loop control of pressing operations. The...

Machine assembles straps. (Assembly Machines).
August 1, 2002... This machine assembles hard, soft and semisoft components to produce ankle straps. It includes a programmable sewing machine, ultrasonic welder and cutter, automatic feeders, and an automatic off-loading, stacking and bagging system. ...

Assembly cell. (Assembly Machines).
August 1, 2002... The Flexcell is a servo-controlled, five-axis robotic assembly cell. The cell can be equipped for fully or semiautomatic operation, and multiple cells can be combined. End-of-arm tooling includes grippers and screwdrivers. Dynax Inc. ...

Press monitors force. (Assembly Machines).
August 1, 2002... ServoPress Models 415 and 4000 features in-process control and monitoring. They perform assembly operations without mechanical stops in the workpiece or tooling. This is achieved by closed-loop control of the force, stroke and ram feed rate...

Variable speed conveyor M. (Material Handling).
August 1, 2002... The Link 1000's frame profile is less than 1.25 inches and is available with 2-, 4-, 6-, 8- and 12-inch belt widths. The conveyor can be centered or end-mounted. A fixed or variable-speed drive package is available. Automated Conveying...

Welding hose reels. (Material Handling).
August 1, 2002... VPR hose reels are suitable for general and industrial oxyacetylene welding. They feature an adjustable guide arm for wall, ceiling or truck mounting. They also offer a four-roller guide, ratchet lock and forged brass fluid path with...

Lift table. (Material Handling).
August 1, 2002... These lift tables are used to raise and upend loads. Suitable applications include manufacturing, processing and assembly operations. The units combine a double-long lift table and an upender. Capacities range from 2,000 to 10,000 pounds....

Service tray rack. (Material Handling).
August 1, 2002... This four-drawer rack is manufactured from cold-rolled steel and features a spot weld construction with a powder-coated finish. The racks are stackable and measure 20.5 by 12.75 by 14.5 inches. The rack can hold four compartmented carrying...

Equipment inspects solder paste. (Inspection).
August 1, 2002... The VT-Rabbit provides 100 percent inspection of PCB paste and can detect defects after solder paste printing. Patented Color Highlight software offers true color-based inspection of solder paste. Inspection speeds are 250 milliseconds per...

Depth measuring microscope. (Inspection).
August 1, 2002... By combining Model ZDM-1 depth measuring microscope with Model TMCVS color LCD monitor and 1/3 chip camera and video adapter, this depth measuring microscope can measure minute height variations. It can measure lead wire bondings, wafer bump...

Automated inspection machine. (Inspection).
August 1, 2002... These automated inspection machines can inspect various nonfixtured parts. The complete turnkey machines include an EZVision machine vision system with camera, optics and lighting. The material handling equipment needed for the specific...

Unit inspects PCBs. (Inspection).
August 1, 2002... The VJ-1000 inspects small, high-density PCB and seminconductor packages. It eliminates the need to manually adjust contrast and brightness for different regions of the X-ray image. The programmable five-axis manipulator facilitates component...

Machine vision sorting system. (Inspection).
August 1, 2002... The Mach 5 series of machine vision sorting systems can perform 2D part inspection at rates up to 3,000 units per minute, It uses high-speed cameras, and Windows NT or Windows 2000 software as an operating system. It also has integrated input...

Nanopositioning stage. (Motion Control).
August 1, 2002... The PI P-587.6CD is a six-axis nano-scanning and nano-alignment system. The system is suitable for such applications as nanometrology, scanning microscopy, optics and mask alignment. Features include integrated autocalibration, active...

Low-profile table. (Motion Control).
August 1, 2002... The low-profile air table actuator is a small, cross-section, single-bore cylinder that provides accurate linear motion. It is available in an 8-millimeter bore size and in a variety of stroke lengths in 10-millimeter increments. Standard...

Ballscrew linear actuator. (Motion Control).
August 1, 2002... The small VecTac VT versatile thrust ballscrew linear actuator provides linear motion for moderate force applications. It can accept any NEMA 23, 34 or 42 frame motor. Two frame sizes span 400 to 2,000 pounds with speeds up to 40 ips. ...

Compact controller. (Motion Control).
August 1, 2002... The compact DKC 16 controller extends the Ecodrive series to the lower power range. It uses interfaces based on international standards, including Sercos, DeviceNet, Profibus, Interbus-S and CANopen. Several motors work with the controller. All...

Cordless drills. (Power & Hand Tools).
August 1, 2002... These compact, cordless drills and drivers have been updated. The new models are 7/8 inch shorter in length and are suited for assemblers who need a smaller tool for tight spaces. The T-style handle improves the tool's balance and feel. Also, a...

Needle nose pliers. (Power & Hand Tools).
August 1, 2002... These needle nose pliers have rubber grips for user comfort. The smooth radiuses on the edges protect component leads and wire when forming and bending. The screw joint reduces internal friction, and the low profile provides easy access. A...

Pneumatic screwdriver. (Power & Hand Tools).
August 1, 2002... The CZE series of pistol-grip pneumatic screwdrivers has a new torque repeatability and accuracy control system. This system automatically shuts off the tool when a preset torque is reached. These screwdrivers are used in assembling small...

Cordless clutch drivers. (Power & Hand Tools).
August 1, 2002... Two-speed, cordless, adjustable clutch drivers are suitable for noncritical applications that require torque settings. Torque range is 7 to 80 newton-meters. The heavy-duty tools are lightweight and ergonomic. A keyless chuck allows for easy...

Sensor measures torque. (Test & Measurement).
August 1, 2002... The STS 5100 rotary shaft torque sensor measures torque output of automated machinery. Sensors are available to measure torque from 100 to 5,000 in.-lb. The sensor accepts AC or DC excitation voltage for compatibility with most readout...

Device monitors lamps. (Test & Measurement).
August 1, 2002... The LM-9000 monitors one to 12 ultraviolet curing lamps through fiber optic probes mounted at each source. This PC-based system constantly tracks the performance of the lamps during production. If lamp performance fails to meet predetermined...

Digital static meter. (Test & Measurement).
August 1, 2002... The Model 212 digital static meter has a chopper-stabilized sensor for long-term, accurate measurements in normal and ionized environments. Its measurement range is 0 to 20 kilovolts at a distance of 1 inch. A locking measure-and-hold switch...

Device controls safety mats. (Vision Systems & Sensors).
August 1, 2002... The MC6 sends a stop signal to machinery when someone steps on a pressure-sensitive safety mat. The unit controls six mats. It can be equipped with a field-replaceable safety relay output module or a solid-state output module. Scientific...

Vision systems. (Vision Systems & Sensors).
August 1, 2002... Checkpoint III is a frame-grabber-based machine vision system for use with a host PC. Checkpoint IV is self-contained. Both handle guidance, gauging and inspection applications with multiple cameras. Optimized for the MMX microprocessor, the...

High-resolution camera. (Vision Systems & Sensors).
August 1, 2002... The DT1100-Plus high-resolution, progressive-scan camera has a resolution of 1,392 by 1,040 pixels and captures images at a rate of 12 frames per second. Features include automatic exposure control, semiautomatic white balancing, and in-camera...

Camera sets up with PC. (Vision Systems & Sensors).
August 1, 2002... The CV-A50 and CV-A60 machine vision cameras can be set up entirely through an RS-232C interface. The mean time between failures of these monochrome cameras is 100,000 hours. JAI America Inc. www.jai.com 949-472-5900 Reply...

Low-light camera. (Vision Systems & Sensors).
August 1, 2002... The HC7501 is a 0.5-inch, color interline transfer CCD with digital signal processing circuitry. A programmable dynamic frame accumulation mode enables the camera to perform well in low light. It needs a minimum illumination of 1.8 lux at F1.2...

Miniature camera. (Vision Systems & Sensors).
August 1, 2002... The Model IK-M43A microminiature CCD camera is compatible with 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch heads, as well as standard C-mount lenses. Function parameters can be set manually or through a PC. It has a resolution of 470 lines. Toshiba America...

"Hands off" vision system. (Vision Systems & Sensors).
August 1, 2002... The Spectrum vision system detects structural, mechanical and cosmetic flaws at a rate of more than 7,200 parts per minute. Sensitivities adjust automatically, or by adjust-by-sight or adjust-by-chart values. The system supports 12 gray-scale...