Assembly articles from August 2004

Assembly archives from August 2004

Betrayed again, redux.(Editorial)
August 1, 2004... In the inimitable words of Yogi Berra, it's deja vu all over again. One year ago, we wrote on this page "The world's greatest deliberative body, a.k.a. the U.S. Senate, has labored mightily and brought forth failure." The issue then was medical...

Organic LEDs light the way to the future.(Down the Line)
August 1, 2004... Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology enables full-color, full-motion flat-panel displays with a level of brightness and sharpness not possible with other technologies. Unlike traditional liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), OLEDs are...

Controllers are the brains behind the brawn.(X-Y-Z)
August 1, 2004... If servomotors are the muscles of an automated assembly system, the motion controller is its brain. Sensors tell the controller if parts are present and hands and feet are absent. Feedback signals from the motor tell the controller the...

Where's the leak?(Assembly Innovations)
August 1, 2004... Often, just knowing that a part leaks is not enough, and in those cases manufacturers need quick answers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Manufacturers want to immediately identify the problems in their manufacturing process that cause reject...

Magnetoinductive sensor offers position data.(Assembly Innovations)
August 1, 2004... Sensing the linear position of a part, tool, pallet or other object is one of the most fundamental tasks in product assembly. Ubiquitous as it is, sensing involves a never-ending set of tradeoffs among speed, cost and accuracy, so that an...

New membrane could improve fuel cells.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- A new type of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) could enable the development of small, high-temperature fuel cells powered by glucose, methanol or hydrogen. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Developed by researchers at Sandia...

Automatica draws a crowd.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... MUNICH, GERMANY -- More than 17,000 engineers from 60 countries attended the first Automatica trade show in June. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some 566 exhibitors from 22 countries displayed the latest technology in robotics, machine vision,...

ESD Symposium to be held in September.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... DALLAS -- The 26th annual International EOS/ESD Symposium will be held Sept. 19-23 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center in Grapevine, TX. Sponsored by the Electrostatic Discharge Association (Rome, NY), the symposium features...

Bosch Rexroth opens third China facility.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... LOHR, GERMANY -- Bosch Rexroth AG has invested $10 million in a new manufacturing plant in Wujin, China. The Wujin plant is the company's third facility in China. The facility became necessary due to capacity bottlenecks at the previous...

U.S. manufacturing growth slows.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... TEMPE, AZ -- U.S. manufacturing activity grew for the 13th consecutive month in June, albeit at a slightly slower pace than in previous months. The Institute for Supply Management's PMI index, which measures manufacturing activity,...

DOE opens nanotechnology center.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has begun construction on a new research facility devoted to nanotechnology. A joint venture between the Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories, the Center for Integrative...

Case Systems acquires Bostontec.
August 1, 2004... MIDLAND, MI -- Case Systems Inc. has acquired workstation manufacturer Bostontec Inc. (Wilmington, MA). A manufacturer of furniture and plastic-laminated cabinetry for schools, colleges, laboratories and healthcare facilities, Case Systems...

SME honors young engineers.
August 1, 2004... DEARBORN, MI -- The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has honored 13 manufacturing engineers with the M. Eugene Merchant Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award. "We need to continually focus on developing a future workforce...

California concerned about medical device industry.
August 1, 2004... LA JOLLA, CA -- Manufacturers in California are becoming worried over the health of the state's medical device industry. Companies making catheters, ultrasound machines and other medical devices employed more people in Northern California...

Sales of automotive electronics to soar.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... MINNETONKA, MN -- The automobile is fast becoming a mobile media center on wheels. According to Telematics Research Group, 50 percent of all vehicles sold in 2010 will be equipped with DVD players, global positioning satellite navigation...

Toyota reports record revenues.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp. posted record-high revenues in 2004. For the fiscal year ending March 31, the automaker recorded a net revenue of more than $159.7 billion, an increase of 11.6 percent compared with last year. Sales in North...

HDTV to benefit furniture industry.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2004... ARLINGTON, VA -- More than 37 percent of people who do not own a high-definition television (HDTV) plan to buy one within the next 2 years, says the Consumer Electronics Association, and that could be a boon to furniture manufacturers. ...

Leak testing.(Assembly Spec Sheet)
August 1, 2004... Looking for leak testing equipment? Complete this form and fax it to your potential suppliers! [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Supplier Contact Information Alcatel Vacuum Products Inc.--Fax: 781-331-4230 ATC Inc.--Fax: 317-328-2686 ...

Production flies high with robots.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2004... Mecafi (Chatellerault, France) is a contract machine shop specializing in precision, high-speed machining and surface treatment of parts made of aluminum and magnesium alloys, as well as titanium, cast iron and other hard materials. Fifty...

Screwdriving system helps meter assembly flow.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2004... Badger Meter (Milwaukee) manufactures equipment for measuring and controlling the flow of liquids in various applications. The company's products include water meters for homes, businesses and fire hydrants; metering equipment for mixing...

Robots test inhalers.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2004... Inhalers are used to deliver airborne pharmaceuticals. Because they contain valuable and sometimes toxic ingredients, delivering accurate doses is critical for patient care. As a result, pharmaceutical companies perform extensive testing on...

Machine builder saves on components.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2004... Build or buy? Manufacturing engineers must answer that question with every automation project. Sometimes, the best solution to an assembly challenge is simply unavailable, and there's no other choice but to make a part or build a subsystem...

Software produces better designs.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2004... John Deere & Co. (Moline, IL) set a company goal to reduce the cost of parts purchased by its major equipment divisions. There were two ways to meet that goal: buy less expensive parts or buy fewer parts. The first way required legwork and...

Sensors detect correct fit of molded parts.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2004... When the BMW plant in Dingolfing, Germany, needed sensors to inspect formed parts for its 7-series automobiles, the automaker turned to SICK (Minneapolis). Previously, employees visually inspected the formed parts. SICK supplied the...

Big ideas for big parts: robots need strong endeffectors to handle large, heavy objects.(Robotics)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2004... To get an idea of the exigencies involved in robotic handling of large, heavy parts, run out to the grocery store and buy a half-gallon of milk. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Got it? Now, put it on the counter and then, with your arms...

ATExpo celebrates silver anniversary: ATExpo marks its 25th year of leadership in showcasing the state of the art in assembly technology.(Events)
August 1, 2004... For 25 years, Assembly Technology Expo has been the place to see the latest developments in assembly equipment and tools, and learn how to use them to improve productivity and reduce assembly costs. This year is no different; ATExpo will...

Optimizing reflow of 0201s: when assembling boards with 0201s, the right process parameters can make a big difference in yield.(Electronics Assembly)
August 1, 2004... 0201s can significantly reduce the size and weight of portable electronic products. These tiny parts are 75 percent smaller than 0402s in both volume and weight. 0201s also occupy 66 percent less board area than 0402s. [ILLUSTRATION...

Lights, camera, action: new technology enhances assembly applications.(Machine Vision)
August 1, 2004... A compass is a pretty basic instrument, especially when compared to cell phones, laptop computers, global positioning systems and other modern marvels. But, without that unique tool, Lewis and Clark would never have completed their epic journey...

Lord of the O-rings: automated equipment can install O-rings three to four times faster than people.(Automated Assembly)
August 1, 2004... Installing an external O-ring by hand is a four-step process. The operator picks up a lubricated O-ring, slips it onto a tapered sleeve, places the sleeve over the part, and slides the O-ring down the sleeve until it snaps into a groove on the...

Behind the scenes: the reborn Rouge; Ford's new Dearborn Truck Plant takes flexible assembly to the next level.(Assembly Insider)
August 1, 2004... For many years, Ford Motor Co. (Dearborn, MI) has flexed its muscle on the world's race tracks. The blue oval has won events at "shrines" of speed, such as Daytona, Indianapolis, LeMans, Monaco and Monza. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Now,...

Octagonal O-rings.(Products)
August 1, 2004... These octagonal cross-section O-ring seals are for demanding retrofit sealing applications. They minimize damage during cylinder assembly operations. Called Octi-Rings, these devices range in size from 1/8 inch ID to 80 inches OD. Application...

Torque tester.(Products)
August 1, 2004... DTT series of torque testers allow storing up to 200 measurements in the memory with a time and date stamp. The unit can download collected data to a personal computer for exporting to Excel spreadsheets. The unit measures torque in nine...

Assembly monitoring system.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The PC-AMS is a microprocessor-based system that monitors signals from force and position sensors during on-line quality evaluations of press fit, insertion, staking and crimping. The user stores known-good data as a master. Then in operation,...

Timing belt conveyor.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The ZRF-P 2040.02 line of timing belt conveyors is suitable for accurate product staging and indexing. Single timing belt widths range from 40 to 400 millimeters, with dual or multiple lanes possible to handle wider requirements. Lengths range...

Low-cure temperature preform.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Uni-form epoxy performs are made of a low-cure temperature epoxy called DC-202LT. It cures in 5 minutes at 175 C or in 2 hours at 100 C. The epoxy is suitable for sealing components that cannot withstand higher cure temperatures. Its high...

Leak Test System.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Falcon Leak Test System simultaneously determines leak location and total leak rate, providing real-time process control. Its on-screen graphics display provides visual recognition of the leak location and accurately identifies the leak...

Workstation conveyor.(Products)
August 1, 2004... This conveyor features a moveable in-line countertop that can be located above the belting to accumulate parts for assembly operations. The conveyor is modular, expandable and can handle loads up to 350 pounds at speeds from 4 to 70 fpm. It is...

Robot dispenses adhesive.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The robotic adhesive dispenser can repeatedly dispense adhesives and sealants onto complex surface configurations. The robots are available in benchtop and SCARA versions. These plug-and-play robotic dispensers offer teach-point programming...

Automatic tool changer.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The QC1200 automatic tool changer allows end effector tooling to be changed quickly and easily to accommodate many different styles of parts on the same assembly machine. It weighs 16 pounds, but can take moment loads up to 15,000 in.-lb. It is...

Fill and bleed valve.(Products)
August 1, 2004... This fill and bleed valve has two poppet valves connected to a single outlet. Called the FBV-3, flow control can be adjusted by changing toggle positions. Two built-in needle valves provide the speed control needed for extend and retract...

I/O for pneumatic systems.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The modular FD67 distributed I/O system can be integrated into fieldbus systems, such as DeviceNet and Profibus. The unit allows engineers to universally standardize the machine design around one I/O system. It is suitable for use in such...

Ultrasonic welders.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Microprocessor-controlled ultrasonic welders can weld tin-coated wires and terminals. The SonoWeld MH-2016 spot welder and SpliceRite WS-2016 wire splicer can also weld tinned wires to tinned terminals, and tinned wires to other bare and coated...

Fastener for removable panels.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Snap Latch pin and body are supplied as two separate parts. Both sections are molded of 6/6 nylon. The Snap Latch is used for securing a removable panel to a fixed structure. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Micro Plastics Inc. ...

Workstations support half a ton.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Dimension Next line of modular workstations feature an overall height of 82 inches and can be used in various assembly and manufacturing environments. Available in both single-sided and double-sided versions, the workstations feature a...

Adjustable arm for monitors.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Neo-Flex arm provides 8 inches of vertical movement, allowing the user to position a flat-panel monitor wherever it is needed. It attaches easily to flat-panel monitors that are VESA-compliant and weigh 18 pounds or less. [ILLUSTRATION...

Control panels.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Windows CE-based control panels combine the functions of a programmable logic controller and an operator panel into one unit. These units are suitable for applications that do not require a PC, but still have a need for information display....

Rotary blade tubing cutter.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The WC600D rotary blade tubing cutter is capable of cutting such materials as flexible polyurethane, nylon-reinforced hose and rubber hose from 1/2 to 1-1/8 inch OD. To optimize production and accuracy, five variable feed rates give the...

Mini plastic wheel conveyor.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Called the EF-6045, this conveyor is a smaller version of skatewheel-style conveyor units. This mini conveyor is ideal for flow racks in light-duty parts handling applications or returns for empty tote boxes and containers. A 900-millimeter...

Air filtration unit.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The RoboVent comes equipped with a hood that is mounted over the robotic welding cell to capture 100 percent of smoke and impurities. A duct connects the hood to the self-contained filtration unit where the air is cleaned and purified and...

Bench air press.(Products)
August 1, 2004... This bench air press is for use in light assembly applications that require forces from 0.75 to 3 tons. Its bed measures 12 by 10 inches for mounting large die sets and fixtures. The standard air cylinder is 5 inches in diameter with an...

Workstation mat.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The 24/Seven GritWorks workstation mat has hidden interlocks that connect on all fours sides, making it easy to cover large areas. Three-inch-wide safety-beveled edges provide safe employee access. Made of nitrile rubber, the mat resists damage...

Hinge collars.(Products)
August 1, 2004... These hinge shaft collars come in steel and stainless steel, and in sizes ranging from 3/8 inch to 2 inches ID. The hinges feature a captive clamp screw, triple-link hinges. These devices will simplify assembly and field-service applications...

Beam makes coupling flexible.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Heli-Cal Flexure is a continuous beam with special flexing qualities. It can be applied to magnetic or nonmagnetic corrosion-resistant stainless steels, aluminum alloys, Delrin and titanium. Attaching this material to a piece of bar stock...

SCARA robot.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Cobra i-series robot is suitable for entry-level applications that are currently using dedicated automation or manual labor. With its simpler design, plug-and-play installation and easy-to-use capabilities, the unit is designed to extend...

Hex jam nut.(Products)
August 1, 2004... These hex jam nuts for pipe are available in sizes 1-11.5 NPT and 1.25-11.5 NPT with a washer face. They are molded of nylon 6/6 material and can be used in applications where threaded pipe passes through sheet metal, composition board and...

Painted fasteners.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The painted Fas-Ner can be inserted directly into prepainted metal. The fastener color can be matched to the color of the painted assembly, eliminating post-assembly finishing. Because it is self-piercing, it eliminates the need for spot...

Test platform.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Tsunami test platform has a multislot design and offers traffic loading, error injection, monitoring and payload analysis. It is available in two mainframe configurations--3-slot or 17-slot. Both versions allow flexible configuration of...

Single-point sensor.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The SPR-04 is a CCD-based single-point sensor suitable for tight and demanding industrial measurement applications that require high-accuracy and a high frequency rate for measuring distance, thickness or material deformation, position and...

Sensor verifies welding tong grip.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The 9833A is a welding force transmitter that monitors applied force in unattended welding operations, such as those using welding robots. A precise quartz element generates accurate data for an internal charge amplifier. The [+ or -]5-volt...

Adhesive with metal.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Bond-IT 7056AL is a one-to-one mixture filled with activated, aluminum metal. It cures at room temperature to form a fast set, machinable epoxy. Assemblies hold together while curing so molds, fixtures or clamps are unneeded. It forms in only 4...

Fast-curing Epoxy.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The 5 Minute Epoxy FR is a flame-retardant, fast-setting, general-purpose adhesive for potting aerospace inserts and for other OEM applications requiring a self-extinguishing adhesive. It bonds substrates, such as metal, glass, ceramics,...

Electronically clean tapes.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Arclean 90178 and 90176 are electronically clean, low-outgassing double-sided adhesive tapes with conformability for perimeter spacer bonding on resistive touch screens and other electronic devices. These adhesives preserve image linearity and...

Light-curing cyanoacrylates.(Products)
August 1, 2004... FlashCure light-curing adhesives are suitable for assembling components where the ability to verify the presence of the applied adhesive is desired. The adhesives are suitable for a wide range of applications in the loudspeaker, appliance,...

Versatile scanner for bar coding.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The MS-860 is a compact raster scanner that makes it easy to set up a bar code reader for application. By using the EZ button on the side of the unit, the calibration process is initiated to automatically optimize the read settings for the...

Stainless steel workstation.(Products)
August 1, 2004... These tables feature 16-gauge type 430 stainless steel construction. A two-point welding system eliminates leg wobble and provides strength and stability. Numerous design options are available, and worktables may be equipped with swivel or...

Palm-sized fiber cutter.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Handy-Pro fiber cutter can cut or strip plastic optical fiber and flexible light pipe cabling. Molded from ABS plastic, the device measures only 1.75 by 1.12 inch, but it can accurately cut 1-and 2-millimeter fibers using an integral...

Device separates springs and wire forms.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The D-Tangler 2000 gently separates springs and wire forms that get tangled due to shipping and handling. One unit can process different spring sizes. Variable speed setting allows for total operator control. The unit is enclosed for operator...

Insulated battery straps.(Products)
August 1, 2004... These 9-volt insulated battery straps are available in three types to accommodate most applications. The models include premium straps that feature T or I configurations. Economy straps have similar configurations, and prewired dual straps...

Marking system.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Kwikmark marking system requires no personal computer for set up or operation. Functions, such as sequencial serial numbering, date coding and the ability to mark graphics and logos, are included. File size and storage are limited only to...

Precision cable stripper.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The VT-270 Vee Twin stripper can be adjusted to accept cables from 5/16 up to 2-1/8 inch OD. It has a retractable blade, and blade penetration is easily adjusted with a large dial showing penetration in thousandths of an inch. It can be...

Clamp for part identification stamping.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Series PNC automatic numbering clamp uses high clamp forces to rapidly stamp consecutive characters into metal or plastic for part identification. Its numbering head features a lever actuating system that indexes the head to the next digit each...

Cordless drill.(Products)
August 1, 2004... This drill-driver unit has an enlarged motor, higher power, greater torque and enhanced battery system. Called the BSP 18 Plus, the unit is suitable for drilling into wood, aluminum and steel. The motor delivers a torque of up to 575 in-lbs....

Spray valve controller.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The SVC100 programmable spray valve controller provides precise control for spray valves. The controller supplies both the operating air and the atomizing air to the spray valve. Three separate time intervals--prespray time, spray time and...

Defense contracting 101.(Uncommon Sense)
August 1, 2004... The first contracting officer probably got his job during the Revolution, but the real surge in defense contracting began during the Civil War. The folks in Washington had to equip a whole army, quickly, without much administrative control. The...