Assembly articles from December 2002

Assembly archives from December 2002

Manufacturing matters. (Editorial).
December 1, 2002... Manufacturers say they will spend more on assembly technology next year than they did last year. According to ASSEMBLY magazine's seventh annual capital equipment spending survey, U.S. assembly plants will spend a total of $2.15 billion on...

Miracle technology may let the blind see. (Down the Line).
December 1, 2002... The ability to restore sight to the blind has long been regarded as a miracle. But, if a team of scientists at Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, NM) is successful, it may one day become the ultimate Christmas present. Under an...

Jet-powered choo choo. (Down the Line).
December 1, 2002... A new type of locomotive may finally open the door to a long-promised network of high-speed rail lines in the United States. Bombardier Transportation (Montreal) recently unveiled a locomotive powered by a jet engine, which replaces the...

Where's the keyboard? (Down the Line).
December 1, 2002... Within a few years, the computer keyboard may go the way of the typewriter. It will be replaced by a light-projected device that mimics the look of a traditional keyboard and shines on a flat surface, such as a desk or table. Many wireless...

New way to join plastic and metal is available. (Down the Line).
December 1, 2002... Researchers at BASF Aktiengesellschaft AG (Ludwigshafen, Germany) have developed a new way of joining molded plastic and sheet metal. The parts are attached by mechanically pressing a collar protruding from the metal component into the plastic...

Extremely small material offers big potential. (Down the Line).
December 1, 2002... Would you notice a nanotube if you met one? Probably not. Nanotubes are extremely thin--their diameter is about 10,000 times smaller than a human hair--hollow cylinders made of carbon atoms. The tiny web of atoms can be twisted in various...

Wind power creates new energy source. (Down the Line).
December 1, 2002... When the new clean room assembly hall opens next year at the Ford Motor Co. plant in Dagenham, England, it will be powered by wind. Ecotricity (Gloucestershire, UK) is building a wind park that features three 1.8-megawatt turbines. It will...

Big bird for big loads. (Down the Line).
December 1, 2002... It's a bird, it's plane. No, it's a flying container ship. If a group of Boeing engineers have their way, a revolutionary aircraft will feature attributes of all three. The Pelican is a high-capacity cargo plane concept currently being studied...

The modular robot. (X-Y-Z).
December 1, 2002... Of the various robots used for automated assembly, the Cartesian robot is the least complex. Also known as a rectilinear, rectangular or gantry robot, a Cartesian robot can only move its end effector in straight lines along the X, Y and Z axes....

ATExpo 2002 supports upward swing. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... NORWALK, CT--According to economic sources, capital spending looks like it is joining the economic recovery. And if ATExpo is an indicator, it does look like manufacturing purse strings are starting to loosen. Held Sept. 24 to 26 in...

Sandia and Cray Inc. form contract for supercomputer. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... ALBUQUERQUE, NM--Sandia National Laboratories and Cray Inc. (Seattle) have finalized a multiyear contract. The contract stipulates that Cray will collaborate with Sandia to develop and deliver a massively parallel processing (MPP) supercomputer...

Ford expands cost savings. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... DETROIT--Ford Motor Co. is looking to expand its cost savings beyond the manufacturing floor by increasing its use of the Witness simulation software. Ford will now make this software available corporate-wide through its Star Global Network....

Economic Census forms to be sent. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--This month, 5 million U.S. businesses, including 200,000 businesses in the manufacturing sector, will receive the 2002 Economic Census forms. Every 5 years, the Economic Census develops a comprehensive picture of the U.S....

Students compete in AWS Welding contest. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... MIAMI--Nineteen SkillsUSA-VICA state gold medal champions have been selected to compete in the American Welding Society's (AWS) Welding Pretrials competition. The welding pretrials consist of projects that the students complete at their...

Profill Corp. adds contract services. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... NORTH CANTON, OH--Manufacturers no longer have to purchase their own dispensing equipment. Profill Corp. is now offering prototype developments, preproduction runs and contract production for companies needing parts filled, bonded,...

Demand for custom products is increasing. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... NEW YORK--Thomas Register's August Industrial Purchasing Barometer (IPB) has found that more than 68 percent of industrial buyers have needed customized products or components over the past 3 years. The survey also revealed that the...

3M celebrates 100th anniversary. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... ST. PAUL, MN--Only 3 percent of American companies reach their 100th anniversary. Now, 3M is in that select group. The company is probably best known for inventing two of the most ubiquitous office products of the 20th century--Scotch...

ALC and Lean Advisors will produce lean training. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... KANATA, ONTARIO, CANADA--Automated Learning Corp. and LEAN ADVISORS Inc. have partnered to produce computer-based training on lean manufacturing. These training courses are for employees who work on the assembly line or in the office....

Tyco and Kanetic enter licensing agreement. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... HARRISBURG, PA--Building upon a previous agreement, Tyco Electronics Automation Group and Kanetic Inc. (Lake Barrington, IL) have agreed for Tyco to acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to Kanetic's intellectual property. Kanetic's...

ATS expands Asia-Pacific and European presence. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO, CANADA--Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (ATS) is expanding its presence in China, Malaysia and France. The company will open a 10,000-square-foot satellite manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China, to capitalize on the...

Robotics leaders receive Engelberger Award. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... ANN ARBOR, MI--Sponsored by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) and named after Joseph F. Engelberger, the ENGELBERGER Robotics Awards honor individuals for their achievements in the robotics field. Four areas are represented: technology...

MEMS production is simplified. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC--Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology miniaturizes systems that are capable of performing optical, electronic or mechanical functions. These devices are revolutionizing the telecommunications, heath care...

Asymtek assigns sales team for Taiwan. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... CARLSBAD, CA--Samurai Spirits Inc. (SSI--Taipei, Taiwan) will market Asymtek's automated fluid dispensers in Taiwan. SSI will provide Asymtek's customers with on-site equipment service, training, applications support and spare parts. In...

Shipments of computer accessories to grow. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... NATICK, MA--A study by Venture Development Corp. (VDC) concludes that U.S. aftermarket shipments of 10 selected electronic and electrical computer accessories reached $1.9 billion in 2001 and is forecast to reach $3.6 billion in 2006. ...

Auto Show reveals new models and technology. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... PARIS--The Paris Auto Show is the place to be dazzled by the latest in high-tech wizardry and luxury from car manufacturers. On the high-tech side, General Motors displayed its Hy-wire. This drivable vehicle has both a hydrogen fuel cell...

Laird acquires Boldt Metronics. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... DELAWARE WATER GAP, PA--Laird Technologies and Boldt Metronics International (Schaumburg, IL-BMI) have combined their technical, geographic and human resources to better supply the electronics industry. The merged product lines and resources...

Fortenberry leads CASEE. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--Norman L. Fortenberry is the new director for the National Academy of Engineering's (NAE) Center for the Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education (CASEE). NAE is an independant, nonprofit institution that advises...

Small Businesses get a helping hand. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--A new presidential executive order entitled "Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking" requires federal agencies to submit analyses to the Small Business Administration (SBA) within 90 days of a rule's public...

Handbook offers information on Machine Tool Industry. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... MCLEAN, VA--The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) promises that the 2002-2003 Economic Handbook of the Machine Tool Industry can provide answers to such questions as: Have exports been rising in a specific product area? What...

Tower Fasteners to distribute new product lines. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... HOLTSVILLE, NY--Sugatsune America Inc. (Carson, CA)--a manufacturer of industrial hardware for manufacturers of telecommunications products, consumer electronics, and medical and technical equipment--has chosen Tower Fasteners to distribute its...

Sick AG expands product line. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... WALDKIRCH, GERMANY--By acquiring Max Stegmann GmbH (Donaueschingen, Germany), Sick AG has expanded its product line to include shaft encoders and actuators. Sick manufactures industrial sensors, safety systems and automatic identification...

North America sees increase in robot orders. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... ANN ARBOR, MI--North American robot orders rose 11 percent in the first nine months of 2002 over the same period in 2001, according to new statistics from the Robotic Industries Association (RIA). Through September, RIA reports that 7,511...

Industry shuns government lab research. (Assembly Lines).
December 1, 2002... WASHINGTON--According to participants at the "Innovation in America Roundtable: Federal Lab R&D" discussion, cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) between government laboratories and industry are declining in number. A...

Flexibility helps automotive supplier. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... "When supplying to the automotive industry, only the best survive. It is highly competitive. You either succeed in squeezing the last drop of productivity from your equipment, or you are thrown out of the league," says Rudolf Neidert, managing...

Flexible plant makes flexible furniture. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... When strolling through the Muscatine, IA, headquarters of Hon Industries Inc., the word most frequently mentioned is "flexible." The company is a domestic manufacturer of middle-market office furniture. It offers a variety of style, fabric and...

Ultrasonics welds wire splices. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... The Axiom Group (Aurora, Ontario, Canada) manufactures wire harnesses and plastic components for automotive door mechanisms. When the firm launched its electronics division in 2000, it sought an alternative to crimping and soldering for...

Test tool verifies explosion suppressors. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... Dust, gas and other finely divided materials found in many manufacturing plants can create a potentially hazardous environment before anyone realizes it. Even though they appear instantaneous, an average explosion may take 250 milliseconds to...

Fixture redesign cuts cycle time in half. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... The Honda of America motorcycle manufacturing plant in Marysville, OH, implemented a new fixture used in finishing motorcycle fenders. The new fender positioner allows associates to move and lock the fender into positions that work best for...

Turnkey cell builds theft warning sensors. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... The tilt sensor is a novel approach to theft warning for cars. The tilt sensor measures its inclination to the horizontal when the vehicle is parked and stores it in memory. An attempt at theft is likely to disturb that inclination. While the...

Adhesive bonds a top performer. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... After capturing the rally world championship and triumphing in saloon car racing, Audi (Ingostadt, German)--for a second year--won one of the most difficult and demanding motor races in the world--the 24 hours of Le Mans. Thanks to Vorsprung...

Software provides make-to-order comfort. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... With annual sales exceeding $2 billion, La-Z-Boy Inc. (Monroe, MI) is the United States' largest single manufacturer of furniture, and the world's leading producer of reclining chairs. The company has chosen Camstar Systems Inc. (Campbell,...

Handling system keeps tires moving. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... Getting the right tire to the right assembly point at the right time is critical at a General Motors assembly plant in Moraine, OH. New tire accumulation silos, and a 2,000-foot tire and wheel conveyor system, from TKF Inc. (Cincinnati), keep...

Thread-forming fasteners Deny rejects. (Assembly in Action).
December 1, 2002... By switching to a 25-millimeter thread-forming fastener designed for magnesium applications, DaimlerChrysler virtually eliminated screw fault rejects and reduced process time in assembling steering columns. "Both the tilt head and the main...

Turning the corner: after tightening their purse strings in 2002, manufacturers are beginning to shop for assembly technology again. (Capital Spending).
December 1, 2002... Lost amid this year's headlines of corporate shenanigans is this fact: U.S. factories spent more than $2 billion on assembly technology in 2002. And, even though manufacturers allocated fewer dollars to assembly technology in 2002 than...

Same name, different game: the principles of lean manufacturing can be successfully applied in numerous industries. (Lean Manufacturing).
December 1, 2002... Lean manufacturing is a philosophy that shortens the time between the customer order and the assembly and shipment of the product by eliminating waste. Continuous improvement, customer focus, one-piece flow and waste reduction play key roles in...

Placing tiny parts precisely: shrinking real estate on PCBs means surface mount components are netting smaller. This raises some interesting feeding and placement challenges for PCB manufacturers. (Electronics Assembly).
December 1, 2002... You've heard the phrase "bigger not necessarily better." Well, that certainly holds true for manufacturers of PCBs. There used to be a time when having enough real estate on a PCB was no problem. However, those days are gone. Today, the...

Machine operator safety 101: inherent hazards should be identified long before automated equipment is installed on the plant floor. (Ergonomics).
December 1, 2002... Bigger, faster machines aren't always better. In fact, automated equipment is only as good as it is safe. Industrial robots, screwdrivers, welders, punch presses, conveyors and other assembly equipment can pose numerous hazards. Collars,...

Orbital and radial forming: here's how to join piece parts mechanically with or without loose rivets. (Handbook).
December 1, 2002... Assemblers generally want to eliminate loose rivets from an assembly operation. Whenever possible, they prefer to use studs or bosses that are cast or formed in one of the parts. As a result, the use of orbital and radial forming has spread...

Manufacturing in the 21st century. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... In the 21st century, manufacturing offers unprecedented challenges -- shorter product life cycles, faster time to market, unparalleled demand for productivity, higher yields, faster payback, increasing downward price pressures. These challenges...

Vision sensor error-proofs auto seat assembly process. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Lear Corporation, the world's largest automotive interior supplier, has implemented two In-Sight[R] machine vision sensors from Cognex to error-proof their automotive seat assembly operations at the company's Mason, MI seat plant. Seats are...

Delivery that goes beyond your doorstep. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Are you getting all the support you need from your wire processing equipment supplier? Maybe it is time to evaluate what you could be getting: Out-in-front technology Whether your business depends on just-in-time, multi-station wire...

Mikron assembly technology. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Reliable and productive: assembly systems from Mikron Modular, flexible and highly interactive: both the Flexifactor high-speed assembly system and the Syfast system are reliable, cost-efficient and versatile solutions for your assembly...

Orbitform: built on a firm foundation. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... As our name implies, Orbitform has built its assembly expertise on the foundation of orbital forming. orbital forming (orbital forming) n. i. Precisely moving and shaping parts via cold forming. Less material... less force... less...

Introducing a closed-loop, motorized torque control system. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... The Promess MTC is a bolt-on, plug 'n play multitasking system that allows you to measure and control your torque application. It's more precise (1 percent system resolution) and safer (all system parts are enclosed) than conventional homegrown...

Intelligent pressing, plus process and [C.sub.pk] monitoring. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... SCHMIDT[R] ServoPresses are suited for assembly, pressing, crimping, and insertion applications where the utmost repeatability and fully transparent monitoring of the process are required. Three models provide force outputs ranging from as...

Maximize your system reliability. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Selecting the Right End-Effector for the Job In a complex assembly system, the end-effector is a detail that simply must provide long, reliable service. For most systems, this small, yet significant, component only contributes about 1 to 5...

Textron Fastening Systems provides total customer solutions. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Textron Fastening Systems is the only company in the world with the product range and resources to provide customers with total fastening solutions across all global markets. This value chain of support includes product and process design,...

Visumatic: The very Screwfeeder. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Look at the screwfeeders at Char-Broil, Square D and host of other companies. These companies chose Visumatic Screwfeeders to complement driver tools made by other manufacturers; some of whom try their hand at automatic screw feeding. That's...

Innovative solutions from Weber. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... For over 45 years Weber Screwdriving Systems Inc. has provided innovative precision fastening systems for screwdriving, nutdriving and automatic insertion in handheld, stationary and robotic designs. Weber commands a high standard of...

AIMCO offers Omega Series pulse tools. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... AIMCO presents the next generation of pulse tools, the Omega Series. These advanced tools are designed to tighten M4-M12 fasteners from 4-100 Nm. With the speed of an impact wrench and better repeatability than a clutch nutrunner, Omega pulse...

Engineers advance crash protection. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Engineers at ATI Industrial Automation have developed a new pneumatic crash-protection device called the Protector. The Protector fits on the flange of a robot and protects the tooling by complying with any crash and sending a signal to the...

Forming and fastening solutions. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... The BalTec radial forming process stands alone in its ability to form and assemble various types of materials in a wide variety of applications. The unique radial forming process displaces material uniformly at a constant rate in a eleven-sided...

Bosch Production Tools raise the bar. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Precision drivers from Bosch Production Tools serve fastening applications in automotive assembly, appliance manufacturing and aircraft production. Our cordless and air-powered assembly tools feature repeatability, accuracy, quality and...

Rexroth robots: more for the money. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Greater flexibility and easier installation are key benefits of the new turboscara[TM] SR4plus, SR6plus and SR8plus from Bosch Rexroth Corp. The robot series includes an absolute measurement system and optional plug-and-play pre-wiring of...

Modular End Effector Systems from DeStaCo. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... The Robohand MET family of Modular End Effector Systems is the most advanced in the industry. From simple pick-and-place operations, to complicated robot-to-robot interaction, there is a solution available in the Robohand MET family. The...

Pioneer of automatic screwdrivers. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Design Tool Inc. is a worldwide leader in automatic screwdriving technology. Our DTI team has a combined 85 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of automatic assembly equipment. Design Tool Inc. is a North Carolina-based company...

Dixon enhances circuit board assembly. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Teradyne Connection Systems, a leading backplane manufacturer, continuously seeks to improve productivity, quality and reliability while bringing leading edge technology to market. To achieve their goals, Teradyne sought an automated process...

It's gotta be an EPSON! (Suppliar Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... You're working 12+ hours a day on a robot project and still behind schedule. The boss just dropped a new project on your desk and says, "By the way, this one has a late delivery penalty clause so don't be late." You scream, "I need more...

Pneumatic pain relief. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... HOPKINTON, MA - Production Managers frustrated by rejects have found an oasis in production purgatory. Over my career I've covered a lot of assembly stories, in this reporter's opinion, it's been years since any noteworthy news has come...

Dimension 4 changes in a heartbeat. (Suppliar Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Camtronics Medical Systems employs an inventive arrangement of Dimension 4 workstations to achieve an always-adaptable, solution for assembling and testing the company's products. The company develops high-resolution imaging and information...

Servo Assembly Press provides 100% part inspection. (Suppliar Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Janome Industrial Equipment has manufactured servo presses for over 20 years with patented technology. This experience is proven in applications with Borg-Warner, Eaton Automotive and Delphi/Delco. Janome provides these companies inspection on...

Advanced process solutions. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Kistler gives you one source for total process monitoring and control solutions, offering engineering assistance, product sales, service installation and outgoing support from one centrally located office in Amherst, NY. As part of...

Cell phone manufacturer finds solution with SpectraFlex MPPs. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... A supplier to a major cell phone manufacturer needed to deliver assemblies in a timely fashion. Spectra Technologies, Euless, Texas delivered a fully automated assembly line using ten SpectraFlex Modular Process Platforms (MPPs). Each...

Success with highly flexible assembly systems "TEAMOS". (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... Market leaders and best-known names in North America, in Europe and Asia are producing successfully on production lines, built by teamtechnik--an innovative newcomer on the US-market. Teamtechnik is an expanding company with an...

Joining system covers wide range of applications. (Supplier Showcase: Advertisement).
December 1, 2002... TOX[R]-PRESSOTECHNIK has added a new line of handheld units called the Bret[R] Clinching Product line. These clinching units feature a new compact air to oil pressure intensifier, which can be hung anywhere the unit is needed. One of the...

SCARA robots. (Products).
December 1, 2002... The Turboscara robots can be used for assembly, soldering, dispensing, material handling and other applications. Model SR6 has a reach of 600 millimeters. Model SR8 has a reach of 800 millimeters. The Z-axis stroke length ranges from 200 to 600...

Torque analyzer for pulse tools. (Products).
December 1, 2002... The TorqueMate Plus torque analyzer accurately records and analyzes torque and angle readouts from pulse tools, despite strong vibrations. The device can interface with brushless rotary transducers, and it automatically identifies the torque...

High-speed camera. (Products).
December 1, 2002... The Model IK-TU51 machine vision camera provides three-chip, 10-bit digital signal processing for capturing images with brilliance and clarity. The camera is sensitive to light levels as low as 2 lux, and a six-vector color enhancement circuit...

Test system for motors. (Products).
December 1, 2002... This motor test system can be operated manually or as part of a fully automated system. The system houses multiple dynamometers, so one motor can be testing while another is loaded. Indicators alert the user when mechanical and electrical...

Ultrasonic metal welders. (Products).
December 1, 2002... Ultrasonic metal welders use a "wedge reed" system to produce low-amplitude vibrations and high clamp force. This system directs the ultrasonic energy in a shear mode, while putting the line of force directly over the parts to be welded. As a...

High-speed vision. (Products).
December 1, 2002... The Impact machine vision "micro-system" has a high-speed dedicated processor and subpixel software algrorithms for a range of inspection tasks, including pattern find, blob analysis, edge find, optical character recognition, gauging and...

Scribing laser. (Products: Bar Coding & Auto ID).
December 1, 2002... Powered by a sealed [CO.sub.2] laser, the DSL1 marks crisp, clear and permanent codes on paper, cartons, plastics, glass and painted metals. It can mark 1D and 2D codes, serial numbers, text and logos. Its maximum speed is 1,300 fpm. ...

Machine prints and applies labels. (Products: Bar Coding & Auto ID).
December 1, 2002... The Label Mill 3501APL can print and apply 30 labels per minute. As the product comes down the conveyor, the compliant applicator pad swings out and tamps a label onto the leading edge of the product. The pad returns home to receive the next...

Clean roam assembly. (Products: Motion Control).
December 1, 2002... The CleanCell rotary indexing machine is for automatic assembly of medical devices and other products that must be produced in clean rooms. Twenty-four stations can be mounted on this FDA-approved, cam-driven machine, which can produce 80...