Assembly articles from August 2008

Assembly archives from August 2008

Girls in engineering.(Editorial)
August 1, 2008... A "spirited disagreement" is guaranteed to be part of any discussion of whether there is a shortage--or a career-destroying surplus--of engineers in America. Some hold that the only shortage is engineers willing to work for less than what...

MIG and TIG 101.(Welding BEADS)
August 1, 2008... Both MIG and TIG welding are widely used in manufacturing, both manually and in automated and semiautomated systems. The American Welding Society (AWS) formal terminology for MIG--the acronym means metal inert gas--welding is gas metal arc...

Fiber-optic profilometer measures surface quality.(QUALITY in ASSEMBLY)
August 1, 2008... In the past, the compressor rotor for a jet engine was usually an assembly: Fan blades were attached to the disk with fasteners. Today, the rotor is apt to be a single part, the disk and blades machined from a solid piece of metal. Known as a...

Airbus ramping up China plant.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... TOULOUSE, France -- Airbus has begun sending major sub-assemblies and other components to its new single-aisle jetliner assembly plant in Tianjin, China. The plant is set to begin assembling its first A320 aircraft later this month. Delivery of...

Caterpillar, Navistar joining forces.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... PEORIA, IL -- Construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. is teaming up with truck builder Navistar International Corp. (Warrenville, IL) to create a new line of heavy-duty trucks for use in the road construction and oil industries....

Lotus develops 'hemp' sports car.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... HETHEL, England -- Sports car manufacturer Group Lotus has created a new "eco" version of its Elise model as part of an ongoing effort to become a leader in the area of green automotive manufacturing. A product of the company's new...

Caterpillar investing $1 billion in U.S. capacity.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... PEORIA, IL -- Responding to strong worldwide demand for its products, Caterpillar Inc. is investing $1 billion to increase production capacity in a number of its U.S. manufacturing facilities, including its plants in East Peoria, Joliet,...

Assembly webcast to cover robots, vision.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... BENSENVILLE, IL -- During the past two decades, robots and vision systems have helped U.S. manufacturers dramatically increase both productivity and product quality. The Robotics Industry Association (Ann Arbor, MI) estimates some 180,000...

ATExpo to highlight sustainable manufacturing.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... ROSEMONT, IL -- This year's Assembly Technology Exposition (ATExpo), set to take place Sept. 22-25 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center adjacent to Chicago's O'Hare Airport, will include a dedicated conference track on the environment,...

Windmills take to the seas.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... STANAVGER, Norway -- Siemens AG (Munich, Germany) is collaborating with Norway-based StatoilHydro to develop the world's first floating wind turbine. Capable of anchoring in waters as deep as 2,100 feet, the turbine will employ a partially...

UP, Norfolk Southern team up on automotive deliveries.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... OMAHA, NE -- Norfolk Southern (Norfolk, VA) and the Union Pacific Railroad have joined forces to make it easier for automotive manufacturers to deliver their products by rail. Specifically, the two companies have created what they are...

Schleuniger acquiring PAWO AG.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... MANCHESTER, NH -- Wire processing equipment maker Schleuniger Group (Thun, Switzerland), has acquired PAWO Systems AG (Unterageri, Switzerland). PAWO employs 100 and specializes in the manufacture of machines that are used to attach loose...

Perkins investing $37 million in new test facility.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... PETERBOROUGH, England -- Diesel engine manufacturer Perkins Engines Co. is investing approximately $37 million to expand the Global Engine Development (GED) center that it operates at its headquarters in Peterborough. The expansion is calling...

Honda begins production of fuel cell vehicles.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... TOKYO -- Honda Motor Co. has begun limited production of its new FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle on a dedicated fuel cell vehicle assembly line in Japan. The new line, which is intended to weed out bugs in the fuel-cell vehicle production...

Ford exporting $800 million in parts to China.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... DEARBORN, MI -- Ford Motor Co. has signed an agreement to supply more than $800 million in automotive parts to China, including transmissions manufactured in Michigan. Ford will also sell more than 30,000 North American-built vehicles in China,...

Henkel moves North American headquarters.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... ROCKY HILL, CT -- Henkel of America Inc., manufacturer of the Loctite line of adhesives, has relocated its North American corporate headquarters from Gulph Mills, PA, to Rocky Hill, CT. The headquarters now occupies the same site as the...

Prius bumps Highlander from new plant.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... TOKYO -- Responding to the ongoing slump in sales of larger vehicles in the United States, Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to build the Prius hybrid sedan at its new plant in Blue Spring, MS, as opposed to the Highlander sport utility vehicle....

Airbus christens second A380 Ro-Ro vessel.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... SINGAPORE -- Airbus (Toulouse, France) has christened a second roll-on and roll-off (Ro-Ro) oceangoing vessel named City of Hamburg to transport various large sub-assemblies making up its A380 jumbo jet between different manufacturing...

Medical device event coming to New England.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... LOS ANGELES -- Following the successful 2007 launch of the BIOMEDevice trade show in San Jose, CA, events organizer Canon Communications is creating a similar event in New England. Set to take place April 22-23, 2009, at the Boston...

Ford produces Russian Focus no. 250,000.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Ford Motor Co. recently marked a major milestone as the 250,000th Russian-built Ford Focus rolled off the production line at the company's Vsevolozhsk plant near St. Petersburg. The car, a silver 1.8 litre Ghia...

New ISO standard to promote plastics recycling.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... GENEVA, Switzerland -- The International Organization for Standardization has created a new standard to promote the growing global market for recycled and recovered plastic. The standard, ISO 15270:2008, delineates a number of options for...

Siemens building second U.S. wind plant.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... NEW YORK -- Responding to what it describes as increasing demand for renewable energy sources, Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. is investing $20 million to build a new plant in Elgin, IL, to produce gear drives for wind-driven turbines. ...

Guangzhou Toyota eyes second production line.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s China-based subsidiary Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co. is adding a second production line to manufacture Camry sedans at its plant in Guangdong, China. The new line, scheduled to ramp up in mid-2009, will have an...

Henkel, Shanghai University form Research Center.(Assembly Lines)
August 1, 2008... SHANGHAI, China -- Henkel AG (Dusseldorf, Germany) and Shanghai University are teaming up with a number of smaller research universities in China to form a new Shanghai Region Joint Electronics Research and Failure Analysis Center. The...

Machine vision ensures quality.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2008... Keiper GmbH & Co. (Kaiser-slautern, Germany) manufactures metal seating components for the automotive industry. Its customers include Volkswagen, KIA, Lear, Land Rover and Ford, just to name a few. Historically, the company used a complex...

Surface-mount machines accommodate odd-forms.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2008... Danish pump manufacturer Grundfos Management (Bjerringbro, Denmark) produces approximately 10 million circulator, submersible and centrifugal pumps annually, for use in a wide range of applications. Recently, the company created a new...

Adhesives solve bonding, inventory problems.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2008... Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc. (Goshen, IN), a subsidiary of Thor Industries Inc. (Jackson Center, OH), manufactures a wide range of travel trailers at eight different production plants and two lamination facilities. Central to the company's...

Machine creates 2D marks under duress.(Assembly in Action)
August 1, 2008... Part traceability is becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry. With this in mind, U.S. Manufacturing (Detroit) recently implemented a laser marking system from Columbia Marking Tools Inc. (CMT--Chesterfield Township, MI) to...

Putting cars on a diet: lightweight materials offer new challenges and opportunities.(Automotive Assembly)
August 1, 2008... Automakers and suppliers have been focusing on vehicle weight for decades. But, rising fuel prices and strict government fuel-economy mandates are forcing the industry to explore new applications for lightweight materials, such as aluminum,...

Welding with sound: ultrasonic welding is at work on assembly lines every day, reliably joining a wide variety of plastic and metal parts.(Ultrasonics)
August 1, 2008... Ultrasonic welding offers assemblers great flexibility and rapid cycle times for joining many plastic or metal parts. Ultrasonic plastic welding is one of the most widely used processes for joining thermoplastics. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Don't miss the big show: ATExpo, MD&M Midwest, National Manufacturing Week, the Electronics Assembly Show and PlasTec Midwest add up to a career-builder!(ASSEMBLY EVENTS)
August 1, 2008... Assemblers in the United States will spend $2.83 billion on new assembly equipment and tools in 2008, according to ASSEMBLY magazine's 12th annual capital equipment spending report. This equals the forecast spending for 2007, which was up 3.6...

Specifying linear motion systems: by focusing on seven key parameters, engineers can design an optimal, cost-effective linear motion system.(Motion Control)
August 1, 2008... When sizing and selecting linear motion systems for assembly machines, engineers often overlook critical application requirements. This can lead to costly redesigns and rework. Worse yet, it can result in an overengineered system that is more...

The joys of digital fixturing: direct digital manufacturing can be used to build jigs and fixtures better, faster and more cheaply.(Fixturing)
August 1, 2008... Words have meaning. They can also obscure. Take the case of rapid prototyping. Or should that be rapid manufacturing? How about direct digital manufacturing? Additive fabrication? How about... well, you get the idea. The salient point...

Clips promote recycling, safety.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Corner clips are manufactured from durable, rugged polystyrene plastic and provide long, repeatable usage securely pinning down the end flaps of cardboard boxes. In most applications, two clips placed on the opposite corners of a box are...

Camera helps work out bugs.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The TroubleShooter LE handheld high-speed digital video camera is now available in a 1,000-frames-per-second configuration for use in production troubleshooting and machinery diagnostic applications. Users can capture thousands of images with...

Hand press monitors force.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The hand-operated ManualPress 311 with Press-Control 3000 provides integrated process and electronic stroke control when producing intricate press-fit assemblies. The system generates press forces ranging from 100 pounds to 2,700 pounds, and...

Digital solder pots provide control.(Products)
August 1, 2008... PD-74, PD-33 and PD-24 digital solder pots provide precision temperature control and feature an easy-repair design to avoid long cool-down periods during routine maintenance. All three solder pots are available with a lead-free coating for use...

Servo provides performance.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The BSM132 brushless servomotor has a 20 hp capacity, which can be expanded to 34 hp through the use of optional blower cooling. The motor provides continuous stall torque from 620 in.-lbs to 1,060 in.-lbs, with speeds up to 5,000 rpm. Other...

Dispensers perform potting, gasketing.(Products)
August 1, 2008... C-402 and C-404 turnkey benchtop automated dispensing systems can be used for potting and gasketing small parts. Each dispenser can store up to 64 sequences and run as many as 16 different programs. The C-402 offers a working envelope of 200 by...

Crimper handles larger wires.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The CrimpCenter 64 HD is a fully automatic, four-station wire-processing machine capable of accommodating a wide variety of crimping and sealing applications. The system is equipped with a pair of powerful presses to handle 10 to 6 AWG wire,...

Robot tends machines.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The IRB 6620 is an agile, compact six-axis robot for machine tending, spot welding, injection molding and other applications. Weighing 900 kilograms, it can be mounted on the floor, on an incline, on the ceiling, on a shelf or on another...

Sensor is very short.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The SuperShorty inductive proximity sensor is small and light enough to be mounted on a wide range of equipment types, including high-speed pick-and-place equipment, miniature grippers, linear slides and miniature valves. Connectorized models...

Custom tops for workstations.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Custom tabletops in the Manual Production Systems product line are now available in four classes and can be cut to size based on the demands of the application. Static-safe tabletops have a carbon fiber matrix embedded within the wood core,...

Gasketing resin resists moisture.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Ultra Light-Weld GA-111 is a light-curing, form-in-place gasket material for use in applications requiring a low compression set, a tack-free surface and durable sealing. A one-part, low-outgassing material, it adheres well to metals, providing...

Vacuum tool handles small parts.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The ProcessMate PM1000 vacuum pickup toop provides assemblers with a fast, efficient way to safely lift and position small or delicate parts in benchtop assembly processes. To lift the component, the operator places the tool's soft cup on the...

Robot built for harsh conditions.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The M-710iC/50 SE FoundryPro six-axis robot is IP67 rated for use in the harshest of work environments. The entire robot is coated with a special epoxy, and the wrist is equipped with a protective cover to withstand high-pressure washing. The...

Leak tester accommodates high-volumes.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The multichannel M1075-94X pressure-change leak detector has four independent test circuits, each with a separate pressure transducer. Six different models are available, providing two- or four-channel testing at high, low and standard...

Workstation dissipates static.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Static-dissipative workstations can be configured in a variety of different heights and lengths and are available with cabinet pedestals or legs. All pedestals and metal components are protected by a static-dissipative powder-coat finish. Work...

Machine stamps, bends, welds.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The SBTM-300NC automatically stamps, bends and welds small metal and plastic assemblies. It has 10 individual servo drives for controlling a variety of different module types, including feeders and contact welders. The system's press bed...

Two arms are better than one.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The DA9IC robot provides coordinated, independent control in as many as 12 axes of motion. A pair of independent manipulator arms moves up and down on a rotating vertical slide. In operation, one arm can position parts for the other, or one arm...

Ultrasonic welder "sews" plastic media.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The Rotosonic ultrasonic welding machine has a rotary sonotrode and rotating anvil wheel for creating air- and watertight seams in plastic sheets and fabrics. The machine can also cut and seal fabric to prevent fraying or unraveling. The system...

Pressure sensor controls pumps.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The Nautilus XMLG pressure transmitter converts applied pressure into an electrical signal for use in pump control and pump monitoring applications. The device can measure pressures ranging from -14.5 to 8,700 psi and produces an analog current...

Stud welder monitors parameters.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Smart Weld digital arc stud welding equipment records the date and time of each weld, the weld tool used, the mode used, the weld parameters requested, and the actual weld results, including time, current and voltage. If a weld fails to meet...

Linear motors drive stage.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Linear Sigma Trac positioning stages employ brushless, permanent magnet linear servomotors to provide precision performance. Peak forces range from 86 to 1,200 newtons and strokes range from 100 millimeters to 2 meters. The stages can move with...

Single-axis servo controller.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The Phoenix I single-axis servo controller can be used in conjunction with a belt slide, a ballscrew slide or rotary table. It includes a servo controller, drive, power supply, enclosure, wiring, cabling and software. As a stand-alone unit, it...

Couplings join rotating shafts.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Couplings transfer motion from one rotating shaft to another, compensating for parallel, angular and axial misalignment. Couplings are available in a variety of styles, including beam, Oldham, bellows and curved-jaw. Couplings are available for...

Machine prints labels, heat-shrink tubes.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The Label Shop Bee3 portable thermal-transfer printer can be used to create labels, bar codes and heat-shrink tubing. The device creates more than 1,000 different symbols in a variety of fonts and formats. Labels can be printed in 58 colors and...

Cable is flexible for motion control.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Motion Series Plus power and signal cables are specifically designed for use in high-performance motion control applications. Each cable integrates six power conductors and 20 signal wires in a compact, flat package measuring 0.8 inch wide and...

Linear guides resist wear.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Integral V linear guides are well suited to carrying heavy loads at high velocities. Available in 20 different configurations, each guide consists of a lightweight aluminum rail and a V-shaped raceway fabricated from hardened steel. ...

SCARA mounts to gantry.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The XR four-axis SCARA robot requires 40 percent less floor space than a conventional SCARA robot. Models are available with reaches of 200 to 300 millimeters and a payload capacity of 3 kilograms. Each robot has a positional repeatability of...

SPC software connects suppliers.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Synergy 3000 statistical process control software enables assemblers to rapidly enforce uniform quality practices throughout their supply chains using an SQL database system that connects users on Windows and the Web. The software provides a...

Pancake load cell.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The LCF700 is a fatigue-rated pancake load cell made from stainless steel with a maximum capacity of 200,000 pounds. An output of 1 millivolt per volt is standard. Models with an output of 2 millivolts per volt are available. [ILLUSTRATION...

Electric screwdriver has electromagnetic clutch.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The Minimat-ED electric screwdriver has an electromagnetic shutoff clutch, push-button torque adjustment, and a digital torque display on the tool housing. This static-safe screw-driver is ideal for fastening applications that require variable...

Servomotor weighs less than a gram.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The Edge ceramic servomotor weighs just 0.6 gram. It provides 30 grams of thrust with a maximum operating velocity of 150 millimeters per second. Capable of driving linear or rotary motion, the motor operates on 8 volts root mean squared. The...

Coating facilitates bonding of metal parts.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition coatings provide a green alternative for bonding or overmolding metal components. By depositing a thin polymerized coating onto metal parts, they create a tie, or interface, layer that permits direct...

Thread sealant resists petrochemicals.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Gasoila Soft-Set thread sealant is a soft-setting paste that creates a durable, positive seal on pipe threads, joints, fittings, hoses, nozzles, bolts, compressors and plugs. Formulated with PTFE, the sealant is highly resistant to gasoline,...

Ensure quality rivets.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The FIS fastener inspection system identifies cracks and other defects via pattern recognition. It can be used to inspect a wide range of formed fasteners, including rivets that have been formed using impact riveters and presses, and those...

Control DC electric tools.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The enhanced QA Alpha DC electric fastening features an upgraded user interface, enhanced process capabilities and easy-to-use Embedded Toolbox software. Operators can link parameter sets in sequence for tightening multiple fasteners in a...

Robot offers huge payload capacity.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The new 1000 Titan robot is aptly named, boasting a reach of 4,000 millimeters and a 1,000-kilogram payload capacity. Capable of moving entire car bodies entirely on its own, the system is well suited to heavy-duty applications in the building...

Torque arm promotes quality, efficiency.(Products)
August 1, 2008... New torque arm features a pneumatic cylinder to assist movement of heavier tools. This, in turn, improves production efficiency and product quality by limiting the operator's influence on the assembly process. It also reduces operator fatigue....

Adhesive bonds insulation to metal.(Products)
August 1, 2008... New spray-grade, water-based Adhesin 56-5545 adhesive can be used for wet-bonding insulation to painted or unpainted metals in cabinets and metal duct assemblies. It can be applied using a spray gun or hand-applied with a brush or roller....

Sensors prevent robot damage.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Collision sensors prevent damage to parts and tooling in robotic assembly applications. The sensors send a signal to stop the robot the moment an end effecter or part comes in contact with an obstacle. End-of-arm junction boxes make installing...

Robot well suited to medical applications.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The Stericlean robot is well suited to applications in the life sciences and medical device industries, and can be safely cleaned and sterilized with corrosive hydrogen peroxide, thanks to its specialized surface coatings and design. ...

Plastic welders offer flexible tooling.(Products)
August 1, 2008... This new ultrasonic plastic welding machine features the MS Cartridge tool-change system, which allows assemblers to change out tooling in as little as five minutes. The system can be used to weld automotive side panels and consoles, and is...

Motor bearing protection ring is easily installed.(Products)
August 1, 2008... A new split-ring version of the AEGIS SGR Bearing Protection Ring comes in halves for easy field installation on existing equipment. The rings protect bearings from electrical damage caused by circulating or shaft currents, dramatically...

Benchtop depaneling router separates PCB boards.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The FKN R100 Tabletop Depaneling Router can be used to manually separate PCB panels and produce uniform edges comparable to those produced by in-line programmable router systems. The system features a positioning collet with two fully...

Workholding system provides tough, lean clamping.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The StrongHold Select work-holding system includes hydraulic swing clamps, work supports, threaded body cylinders, square body cylinders, pneumatic swing clamps and accessories. All products work together as part of a complete workholding...

Press is light, compact.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The new Triton Hydroform press weighs 33 percent less than traditional presses and requires a reduced floor space of just 118 by 220 inches. As a result it eliminates the need for special flooring, including expensive pits and foundations....

Valve line is tough, flexible.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The individual components comprising this modular hydraulics line can be quickly and easily assembled into a fully integrated fixed or mobile system. Specific components include variable displacement axial piston pumps, proportional directional...

Marker offers high speeds.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The XF510Cp ink-jet marker offers speeds of 10 high-quality characters per second on both metallic and plastic parts. The system incorporates backward and forward movement to mark parts twice as fast and help eliminate production bottlenecks....

Valves provide long service life.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The 2200-545 series of adjustable-stroke, mix-dispense valves can be used with a wide range of two-component materials, including adhesives and sealants such as silicones, epoxies, urethanes and acrylics. Each valve's proprietary No-Drip design...

Grippers don't mind getting dirty.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Sealed three-finger DPZ-plus grippers can be used to handle small, round components in rough and dirty environments. The grippers are sealed to IP 67 standards and can be used under water. A vent prevents differences in pressure, which can draw...

Label printer easy to changeover.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The PA2000t label printer and applicator is easy to use, with minimal adjustments required. Easy to set up and change over, the PA2000t measures 15 by 32 by 30 inches and features a remote front panel for easy access, regardless of the...

Stations adapt to user needs.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The 2000 series of variable height vibration isolation workstations allows users to raise or lower the tabletop to accommodate the work being performed. A simple switch initiates a smooth, quiet transition to any height over a range of up to 36...