Assembly articles from December 2004

Assembly archives from December 2004

Push the envelope.(Editorial)
December 1, 2004... At first glance, the A. Lorne Weil Outrageous Business Plan Competition might look like just another frivolous exercise by MBA students with nothing better to do. It isn't. An annual event led by the Columbia Entrepreneur's Organization at...

Six-axis robots provide ultimate flexibility.(X-Y-Z)
December 1, 2004... When most people think of industrial robots, they don't think of SCARA or Cartesian robots. They think of long, tall six-axis robots performing spot welds on car bodies. Perhaps that's because the image of body-in-white assembly is virtually...

China needs more commercial planes.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- A recent market outlook study by Boeing Co. is projecting that by 2023 China's air carriers will require nearly 2,300 new airplanes. This will make China the largest commercial aviation market outside the United States during the...

ATExpo 2004 points to strong future.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... ROSEMENT, IL -- If a trade show is any indicator for an industry, the activity at the recent Assembly Technology Expo (ATExpo) should bode well for the country's manufacturing sector. Thousands of manufacturing and assembly professionals...

Construction machinery orders up.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... MILWAUKEE -- The construction machinery manufacturing industry is expected to close out 2004 with robust business growth, followed by continued but more moderate gains in 2005, according to the annual outlook forecast of the Association of...

Robot Hall of Fame inducts new members.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... PITTSBURGH -- A new class of robots has been inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame, an institution that honors both real and fictional robots and their creators in recognition of the increasing benefits robots are bringing to society. This...

Deere to build tractors in Brazil.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... MOLINE, IL -- Deere & Company is planning to build a new tractor factory in Brazil to increase the company's manufacturing capacity for farm tractors, combines and seeding equipment in the growing South American agricultural equipment market....

Brain drain hurting U.S.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- In addition to the outsourcing of jobs, the United States is beginning to experience an exodus of its creative business and academic talent, according to an article in the bimonthly magazine of the global, not-for-profit research...

Panasonic building new Chinese facilities.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... OSAKA, JAPAN -- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., maker of Panasonic appliances, has announced it will build a new 270,000-square-meter industrial park in the Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Area in Zhejiang Province, China....

ASC to query membership.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... BETHESDA, MD -- The Adhesive and Sealant Council Inc. (ASC) has commissioned a qualitative research study to measure the value of ASC as a professional organization to its members, nonmembers and lapsed members. ASC has retained The Center for...

Learn material handling online.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... CHARLOTTE, NC -- Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) has developed three new "e-lessons" as a means of providing increased information about material handling to the public and supporting the development needs of professionals already...

NEMI backs tin whisker tests.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... The National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative's (NEMI's) Tin Whisker Accelerated Test Project is recommending that two storage conditions and one temperature cycling condition be used to evaluate the propensity of tin-based finishes to grow...

GM joins green Hall of Fame.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... DETROIT -- General Motors has been inducted into the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WasteWise Hall of Fame in recognition of 10 years of successful waste reduction. The induction marks the fourth consecutive year that the corporation...

Entire assembly plants going to India.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... NEW DEHLI -- Indian business are increasingly importing entire plants and assembly lines from overseas, reassembling them at home in an effort to enter the global marketplace. A recent story in The Hindu Business Line cites a number of...

GM Europe cutting costs.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... ZURICH, SWITZERLAND -- General Motors Europe (GME) recently announced it will try to reduce annual structural costs by an estimated $600 million by 2006. To do so, the company plans on reducing its workforce by up to 12,000 over the next 2...

SAE opens UK affiliate.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... PITTSBURGH -- The Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE-I) has established an affiliate society in the United Kingdom. The new affiliate will serve the UK-based automotive, aerospace and trucking industries with full access to SAE...

GE and Honda ink aircraft agreement.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Following an announcement earlier this year, General Electric Co. (GE) and Honda Motor Co. have formally established a new joint venture company, GE Honda Aero Engines LLC, to produce the HF118 turbofan engine for use in business...

Adept establishes developers partnerships.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... LIVERMORE, CA -- Robotic systems manufacturer Adept Technology Inc. has launched what it calls its Adept Certified Developers program (ACD) to establish strategic partnerships with developers that will build standard products based on Adept's...

Machine tool consumption at 4-year high.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... ROCKVILLE, MD -- September U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $389.20 million, according to the U.S. Machine Tool Consumption (USMTC) program, a joint effort of the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and AMT--The...

Manufacturer's lead-free shipments top 5 million.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... HILLSBORO, OR -- Lattice Semiconductor Corp. recently announced it has shipped over 5 million lead-free components, and continues to see a rapidly growing customer demand for these products. The company began shipping lead-free components...

Trinational safety group sets program for 2005.(Assembly Lines)
December 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The United States, Mexico and Canada have agreed to a series of cooperative job safety efforts in the coming months, as stipulated by the labor accords established under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC)...

Blind riveting systems.(ASSEMBLY SPEC SHEET)
December 1, 2004... Looking for blind fasteners and equipment to install them? Complete this form and fax it to your potential suppliers! [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Supplier Contact Information Alcoa Fastening Systems--Fax: 245-751-5259 AVK Industrial...

Bolts cut weight, installation costs.(Assembly in Action)
December 1, 2004... In constructing its new A380 model, the European Airbus consortium (Toulouse, France) is maximizing the airplane's performance and incorporating efficient manufacturing techniques to compete in an increasingly competitive marketplace. To this...

I/O routing reduces change times.(Assembly in Action)
December 1, 2004... Oxford Automotive (Canton, MS). a Tier 1 automotive supplier, employs a robotic cell containing a number of six-axis industrial robots. The robots use tool changers from ATI Industrial Automation (Apex, NC) and a DeviceNet network for tooling...

Cavity pump serves in labeling application.(Assembly in Action)
December 1, 2004... Domed labels--printed or embossed labels encapsulated in a thick resin coating--are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to their trim, high-quality appearance. Traditionally associated with high-end consumer goods, they are becoming common in...

Robots cut gasket costs.(Assembly in Action)
December 1, 2004... Lamson & Sessions (Cleveland) produces thermoplastic conduit, enclosures, wiring outlet boxes and accessories for the electrical, construction, consumer, power and communications markets. Among its specific products, the company manufactures...

Bolts that won't bolt.(Assembly in Action)
December 1, 2004... Sequa Can Machinery Inc. (East Rutherford, NJ) manufactures different types of industrial machinery, including can-making equipment. The assemblies require reliable threaded fasteners, since critical joints are subject to a variety of different...

Winders increase throughput.(Assembly in Action)
December 1, 2004... Baldor Electric Co. (Fort Smith, AR) manufactures electric motors, drives and generators. Central to this process is building coils for its products. In its commercial motor line, cycle times for winding stator assemblies were up to a full day...

Capital comeback? Assemblers appear ready to invest in capital equipment again, but rising energy costs and waning consumer spending could derail their plans.(Capital Spending Survey)(Cover Story)
December 1, 2004... If San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds breaks Henry Aaron's home run record, some say there should be an asterisk next to his name. Pitching was better in Aaron's day, they argue. Ballparks were larger, the ball was less lively, and...

Tracking parts for life: cost-effective vision-based code readers offer numerous advantages.(Parts Marking)
December 1, 2004... Manufacturers in many industries are under pressure to track parts and components from cradle to grave. To address full life cycle trace-ability, some manufacturing engineers are marking 2D codes directly on parts. Direct part mark...

Lead-free test and inspection: although methods may need to be recalibrated, the basic techniques and principles remain the same.(Electronics Assembly)
December 1, 2004... Major industrial nations around the world are rapidly moving to eliminate lead from electronics manufacturing processes. Some companies are taking advantage of the situation and using "lead-free" as a major marketing initiative in the consumer...

Medical device makers push new frontiers: new designs and novel products spur healthy long-term growth.(Industry Watch)
December 1, 2004... Long-term growth and profitability in the medical device market will be fueled by continuous innovation and constantly evolving technology. During the next decade, the industry will continue to grow at double-digit rates, thanks to the constant...

Flexibility fuels Ford facility: forklift-free material handling system keeps engine plant flexible.(Parts Positioning)
December 1, 2004... Steve Orr laughs when he refers to the "Dark Side" of Ford Motor Co.'s Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2000, Ford closed the 53-year-old facility so it could be revamped to produce the company's new Duratec...

Toys today; engineers tomorrow? A new museum exhibit in Chicago makes manufacturing look cool.(Automated Assembly)
December 1, 2004... When someone mentions anything about a "toy maker" this time of the year, most people envision the jolly old man with the white beard who lives at the North Pole. Recently, a few of his trusty elves were spotted in Chicago learning a few new...

Adept Technology, Inc. robots that speak your language.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Never installed, programmed or maintained a robot system before? Across the industrial base of the Americas, Asia and Europe, manufacturers, integrators and distributors are finding that they have the ability to program robots without even...

Build or buy multiaxis Cartesian systems?(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Factory integration saves time and money Getting the perfect multiaxis Cartesian system is easy. Don't commit to the time-consuming task of sizing each axis; specifying linear actuators, motors, drives, and gearboxes; ordering parts; and...

Articulated robots.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... A working radius of 650-mm or 850-mm and a high-speed load capacity of 5 kg make the new Rexroth AR6 and AR8 six-axis robots ideal for assembly, dispensing, deburring, and soldering operations. Table or ceiling mounting, an absolute encoder...

Space-saving PowerScara robot.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... A smaller footprint, simplified cabling, and attractive pricing make the new PowerScara swivel-arm robot ideal for complex handling where space is tight. The robot offers a working radius of 420 mm, stroke of 200 mm, and a payload capacity of 3...

Custom multi-axis Cartesian robots.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Combine linear modules into multi-axis Cartesian robotics assemblies, complete with motors and gearboxes. By considering load, speed, distance, precision, environment, and mounting, Rexroth application experts can create a system for optimum...

Cognex[R]: how to succeed with machine vision.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Successful machine vision users locate, identify, inspect, and gauge products with confidence, and communicate essential data with ease. These users have one thing in common... Cognex, the world leader in machine vision. Cognex has...

Improve productivity by bringing technology to the point-of-use.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... In today's global economy, manufacturers are thinking "lean" and looking to streamline. Regardless of the software being used, having information at your finger tips saves time and greatly improves processes. Ergotron, the world leader in...

PEM[R] ReelFast[TM] SMT surface mount panel fasteners: speed assembly, improve quality and reduce costs.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... New PEM[R] ReelFast[TM] SMT surface mount panel fasteners are designed to be mounted on printed circuit boards in the same manner and at the same time as other surface mount components utilizing standard automated surface mount techniques. ...

Introducing a closed-loop, motorized torque control system.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... 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...

SRU Rotary Actuator--turns the world round.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Often an underestimated between part and machine base is a Rotary Actuator. Design engineers look to this component to be compact and offer ever-increasing capacities. In general, a Rotary Actuator is a device that converts some form of energy...

Magnetic transducers.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... AIMCO is pleased to announce their new Auditor series of torque measurement equipment, including transducers, torque analyzers/data collectors, and electronic wrenches. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With all the evolving technology today,...

Bosch Exact cordless Bluetooth tools grab industry attention.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Bosch Production Tools introduced the world's first cordless assembly tools that use Bluetooth Wireless Technology to error-proof the assembly process at the 2004 ATE show in Chicago, IL. The Bluetooth wireless interface allows bi-directional...

New approach to leak testing determines leak location and leak rate in just one test.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... An array of helium sensors incorporating new patent pending Intelense technology quickly detects the presence of the leak. The Falcon System analyzes the accumulative response of the strategically placed sensors to calculate the total leak...

Dixon assembly products provide cost saving benefits.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Dixon Automatic Tool specializes in the field of assembly automation products and services. Dixon maintains customer relationships with major U.S. and foreign companies by providing a wide range of automatic assembly equipment to meet specific...

DE-STA-CO clamp increases accuracy to achieve 20% scrap reduction for Computool.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Computool was looking for a way to quickly verify measurement of the parts that it manufactured. In addition, it was experiencing quality defects with its existing gauge measurement device. Computool turned to DE-STA-CO Industries for...

Marking system cuts downtime.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... East Providence, RI-- A new ink marking system is helping a balancing equipment manufacturer reduce maintenance and downtime for automotive customers who balance drive shafts, torque converters, and other rotating components to prevent...

Stein Automation transport systems.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... STEIN Automation, through its North American outlet Global Automation, Inc., offers our customers products and services designed for the automation of material handling. STEIN Automation's transport systems easily combine logistics and control...

Techcon Systems corporate profile.(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... For over 40 years, Techcon Systems has been a leading manufacturer of fluid dispensing systems. Techcon's products are used in medical, automotive, telecommunications, aerospace, electronics and industrial applications throughout the world,...

Is "the problem" really the problem?(2004 Supplier Showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Automation equipment is subject to the same forces that affect us all: ENTROPY. Man and machine are all destined to fail at some point. When that happens, an excellent test of the value you have received is the ease and speed of which the...

Dispense with precision.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The C-500 XYZ dispensing platform works in applications such as gasketing, sealing, bonding, encapsulation and filling. The platform offers a 20-by-20-inch envelope, servomotor drive and [+ or -] 0.001-inch repeatability. Windows-based software...

Laser provides close inspections.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The Laser Nano Sensor has a resolution of 0.7 nanometer, a speed of 200 kilohertz and a spot size ranging from 1 to 6 microns. These attributes allow for displacement measurement within a few nanometers when quantifying surface roughness of any...

Store inspection data.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The VP1000 solder paste printing inspector provides 3D inspection while requiring minimal line space. The unit uses color stripe phase shifting inspection to reduce inspection times. Operators can choose standard or high-resolution inspection...

Motors are compact, powerful.(Products)
December 1, 2004... AL2400 linear servomotors are 50 millimeters wide for applications in tight spaces. The motors have a maximum speed of 8 meters per second and a peak force of 120 or 240 newtons, depending on the specific model. AL2800 linear servomotors are...

Sensors are built tough.(Products)
December 1, 2004... MetalHead proximity sensors are machined from stainless steel for use in rugged applications. Models are available in 8- and 12- millimeter diameters. The 8-millimeter model has a 2-millimeter range. The 12-millimeter model has a 4-millimeter...

Crimp small, thin wires automatically.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The Gamma 255 automatically crimps both ends of wires from 16 to 36 AWG. It includes an integrated prefeeder for gentle feeding and can crimp wires as short as 20 millimeters long. Modules for measuring pull-out force, scanning bar codes and...

Conveyors won't block the way.(Products)
December 1, 2004... Lift Gate conveyors provide walk-through access for employees where long conveyors would otherwise constitute an impediment. Interlocking switches and a timer allow the conveyor to clear before it is opened. Lift gates are available in a number...

Sensor is small and tough.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The RO1 is a block-style, low-profile inductive sensor that combines small size with a wide sensing range. The sensor is built with a cast, zinc housing for use in demanding applications such as welding or stamping. It has a sensing range of 7...

Get yourself positioned.(Products)
December 1, 2004... BL series linear position stages can be used in applications such as water-jet and laser cutting machines, laser etching machines, pick-and-place robots and parts transfer. Stages are available in travel lengths up to 144 inches and are capable...

Epoxy is easy to work with.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The SC2000 series of single-component epoxies is available in a variety of viscosities and bonds metal, ceramics, glass and concrete. The line offers unlimited working time at room temperature, but cures rapidly with heat. The adhesives are...

Welder is highly accurate.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The ServoWeld spin welder uses a servomotor to control the radial orientation of the finished part to an accuracy of better than [+ or -]0.1 degree. The servomotor also delivers high torque in a small package and a fast spin-down time to...

Cut out the adhesives.(Products)
December 1, 2004... Mattress fastening system enables bedding manufacturers and suppliers to minimize the use of spray adhesives and hot-melt glue in mattress-making operations. The system has three main components: a long needle tool, replaceable needles and...

Automate your light assembly.(Products)
December 1, 2004... VP series robots are capable of handling 3-kilogram payloads and have a 430-millimeter reach for light assembly or laboratory applications. The robots' top speed is 3,900 millimeters per second, with a repeatability of [+ or -]0.02 millimeter....

Robots dispenses fluids, pastes.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The RP-1215 dispensing robot dispenses fluids, pastes, sealants, inks and adhesives. A dual-memory embedded processor functions as a digital valve controller, preprogrammed to operate syringes, valves, motorized augers and pumps--all in...

Inspect those tight spots.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The AP-800 UltraWand UV inspection lamp delivers long-wave, 365-nanometer illumination in restricted areas. Applications include detecting foreign matter or flaws between jet engine turbine blades, inspecting the inside welds of small-diameter...

Coiler offers flexibility.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The CD-15 motorized, level-wind coiler and collector produces coiled cable ready for packaging and shipment. Coil pins are adjusted to specify coil diameter, height and shape. As a cable is fed into the CD-15, the system positions and secures...

Testers are self-calibrating.(Products)
December 1, 2004... M-1075 Calval-03 and 44 leak detectors use electronics that eliminate the need to manually check and adjust instrument zero and span, or to manually verify flow measurement. The two models use mass-flow sensing technology and have no pneumatic...

Caster can carry a load.(Products)
December 1, 2004... CSC-series casters provide 34, 102 and 125 kilograms of load-bearing capacity per wheel. The wheels are made of polyurethane with a molded-in bearing and come in 50-, 75- and 100-millimeter diameters. The series includes swivel,...

High flow rates with valves.(Products)
December 1, 2004... J-Series in-line exhaust valves offer high flow rates with their 1/8- and 1/4-inch ports. Constructed in brass, the valves enable increased cylinder speed, as well as the use of smaller directional valves and longer control lines. ...

Clamps are compact, powerful.(Products)
December 1, 2004... P1M swing-clamp cylinders can be used in pneumatic workholding applications requiring a compact design. The cylinders are available in 32-, 40- and 50-millimeter bore diameters. The 32- and 40-millimeter units have a clamp stroke of 10 or 20...

Inspect with X-rays.(Products)
December 1, 2004... InnerVision X-ray inspectors provide high-accuracy inspection on the production line in medical and pharmaceutical applications. The units are compact and require little power to operate. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KMV www.kmvtech.com...

Mats relieve worker fatigue.(Products)
December 1, 2004... Ergonomic mats reduce stress and fatigue while preventing stiffness and swelling in the lower back, legs and feet for employees who must spend long periods of time on their feet. Mats include an air cushion in their construction with nitrile...

X-ray inspects lead-free boards.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The X2500 is an automated X-ray inspection system configured for inspection of lead-free solder. It provides high-contrast resolution at high viewing angles. Integrated motion control and image measurement analysis make the system easy to use....

Get a grip.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The Jerry-Rig universal positioner secures odd-shaped printed circuit boards for hand assembly, touchups or inspection. It incorporates a two-jaw "peg" vise--a grid of tapped holes into which the user can insert a series of pegs on 0.5-inch...

Sort 3,600 parts per hour.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The J 181-T inspection machine sorts small parts based on preprogrammed dimensional tolerances such as length, width and diameter. Several models are available for parts ranging in size from 1/4 inch to 2 inches. The machine inspects and sorts...

Bowls are FDA-approved.(Products)
December 1, 2004... Pharmaceutical-grade vibratory bowls are built from 316L stainless steel, with electropolishing available if required. Escapement and other product handling devices can be added to optimize the orientation of medical device products for...

Nylon cartridges handle tough jobs.(Products)
December 1, 2004... Nylon two-component dispensing cartridges can be used when applying adhesives that are incompatible with traditional polypropylene cartridges. A 50-millimeter model is available for dispensing in a variety of ratios, including 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 and...

No more bad vibes.(Products)
December 1, 2004... The 500 and 505 series of leg stands isolate optical tabletops from ambient building vibrations caused by machinery, heating systems, or local truck or rail traffic. The stands are available in five standard heights with load capacities from...

Controller offers precision.(Products)
December 1, 2004... With a high-performance, multiprocessor architecture, the NanoC modular, multiaxis servomotor controller is a fully integrated drive system with high-speed motion control, and nanometric stability and position control. The system uses...

All together now!(Products)
December 1, 2004... With the Add-A-Motor serial configuration cable it is possible to link a series of Smart-Motors to create an entire servo system that is ready to plug and play. Each cable has a seven-pin 7W2 Combo-D-Sub connector on one end and a female...

Sensors cover wide range.(Products)
December 1, 2004... Reaction torque sensors are suitable for multi-product testing. They cover ranges of [+ or -]10, [+ or -]25 and [+ or -]120 newton-meters. Sensors can be used in screw connection, spring torque, friction clutch and electric motor testing...