Assembly articles from February 2008

Assembly archives from February 2008

The electric challenge.(Editorial)
February 1, 2008... Electrical energy is a subject of major concern around the globe. Problems with the electrical power grid in the United States are well known, but at least we have electrical energy readily available virtually any time we want it--for now. ...

Adhesives are born managers.(Bonding LINES)
February 1, 2008... Adhesives don't do work, they distribute work. They're born managers. That is the essence of structural joint design. The function of the adhesive is to hold things together. The function of the joint is to manage the stress. Adhesives...

Medical device assembler gets lean, improves quality.(QUALITY in ASSEMBLY)
February 1, 2008... When physicians need to see hidden problems inside the human body, they turn to computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). When medical device manufacturer Medrad Inc. needed to unlock hidden potential in its assembly...

BNSF developing fuel cell locomotive.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... TOPEKA, KS -- The Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway Co. (BNSF) is working with Vehicle Projects LLC (Denver) to develop a new fuel-cell switch locomotive. The experimental engine has the potential to cut air pollution, help reduce the...

ATX South coming in March.(Assembly Lines)(Conference notes)
February 1, 2008... CHARLOTTE, NC -- This year's Automation Technology Expo South (ATX South) and Advanced Manufacturing Exposition & Conference (AMExpo) are set for March 19-20 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. Organized by Canon...

Marine Drive Co. building new factory.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... HOUSTON -- Thrustmaster of Texas Inc., the largest U.S.-based manufacturer of bow thrusters and directional propellers for the marine industry, is breaking ground on a new 200,000-square-foot assembly plant in Houston. The new factory is...

Correction.(Assembly Lines)(Correction notice)
February 1, 2008... The opinion piece in the Dec. 2007 issue titled "Why Contract Manufacturing in the United States Makes Sense" included an incorrect byline. The byline should have read Raul Pupo, CEO of Technology Infrastructure Solutions Inc., Boca Raton, FL.

Ratliff assumes chairmanship of Manufacturing Institute.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Robert J. Ratliff, founder and retired president of farm-implement manufacturer AGCO Corp. (Duluth, GA), has taken over as chairman of The Manufacturing Institute, the research and education arm of the National Association of...

AWS publishes Brazing Handbook.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... MIAMI -- The American Welding Society (AWS) has published a fully updated edition of its industry-standard Brazing Handbook. The 740-page text includes three main sections--fundamentals, processes and applications. Specific topics include basic...

More delays for Boeing's 787.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... EVERETT, WA -- Boeing Co. is delaying the first flight of its new 787 Dreamliner yet again, because of production snags stemming from problems with suppliers. Already behind schedule, the cutting-edge carbon-fiber airplane is not expected to...

Bombardier Aerospace Belfast marks 100 years.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... BELFAST, Ireland -- Founded in 1908 by Horace, Eustace and Oswald Short, the company that is now Bombardier Aerospace Belfast began by building six Wright Flyer airplanes for Orville and Wilbur Wright. Since that time the company, which was...

Lotus helping Saudi automotive industry.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... NORFOLK, England -- Sports car manufacturer Group Lotus, a subsidiary of Malaysia-based Proton Holdings Berhad, is teaming up with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to create an automotive research, development and test...

Boeing sets another sales record.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- The Boeing Co. recorded 1,413 net commercial airplane orders during 2007, reaching more than 1,000 orders for the third consecutive year. The 2007 total surpasses the previous Boeing records of 1,044 net orders in 2006 and 1,002...

Airbus delivers second A380 to Singapore Airlines.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... TOULOUSE, France -- Despite ongoing production problems, European aerospace giant Airbus is forging ahead with its double-decker A380, delivering a second airplane to launch customer Singapore Airlines in January. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Alstom building new manufacturing plant in the U.S.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... PARIS -- Energy and transportation equipment supplier Alstom is building a new $200 million assembly plant in Chattanooga, TN, to manufacture steam turbines, gas turbines, generators and other power generation equipment for the North American...

Rexroth turning world's largest Ferris wheel.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... BEIJING -- China's Great Wheel Corp. has selected Bosch Rexroth AG (Lohr am Main, Germany) to supply the drive and control systems for the world's largest Ferris wheel, scheduled to go into service in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. ...

Ford sales up 30 percent in China.(Assembly Lines)(Financial report)
February 1, 2008... SHANGHAI, China -- Ford Motor Co. posted a 30 percent increase in Chinese sales in 2007, selling 216,324 vehicles for the year, a new company record. Ford's passenger car joint venture Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co. (CFMA) also posted a...

ITW acquires baking equipment manufacturer.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2008... GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) has acquired Peerless Machinery Corp. (Sidney, OH), a manufacturer of mixers, bread dividers, dough handlers and other food processing equipment. ITW will continue to operate Peerless as a separate...

Robots improve brake assembly.(Assembly in Action)
February 1, 2008... Doerfer Co.'s advanced automation division (Greenville, SC) builds automated assembly machines for a number of industries. Recently, the company designed and constructed a system to assemble antilock braking system (ABS) components for a...

Labeling system cuts costs.(Assembly in Action)
February 1, 2008... CON-SYST-INT Manufacturing USA (Warren, MI) supplies electrical, electronic and communication control panels for industries worldwide. Although the company had been manufacturing it labels from engravable lamacoid plastic plates for 20 years,...

Vision sensors check laser weld quality.(Assembly in Action)
February 1, 2008... The Renault LHA factory in Le Havre, France, assembles a number of different vehicles, including the Vel Satis, the Espace IV and the Laguna. The facility includes four manufacturing departments--pressing, sheet metal, paintwork and...

Bearings enable better packaging.(Assembly in Action)
February 1, 2008... Matrix Packaging Machinery (Saukville, WI) manufacturers a wide range of packaging equipment and prides itself on the reliability of its products, which are used by customers around the world. Its product line includes vertical, form, fill and...

Tank program employs visual tracking software.(Assembly in Action)
February 1, 2008... As part of the Department of Defense's Bradley RESET effort--a program that refurbishes Bradley Fighting Vehicles for active service in Iraq and Afghanistan--DRS Laurel Technologies (Johnstown, PA) is responsible for inspecting, repairing and...

Ball grid array soldering: fine-pitch BGAs accommodate new design needs, but present daunting assembly problems.(Electronics)
February 1, 2008... Assembling a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly populated with ball-grid array (BGA) packages requires the utmost precision, especially in the case of micro-BGAs. Component placement tolerances must be remarkably tight, and the right kind of...

It's all about the battery: new technology makes batteries smaller, lighter and more powerful.(Screwdriving)
February 1, 2008... Today, cordless tools are used for a wide variety of screwdriving tasks on many different types of assembly lines. While they are stronger, lighter and more popular than ever, cordless tools are still restricted by battery power, weight and...

How to equip robots with readers: there are many reasons to mount a bar code reader to a robot. However, for the application to succeed, engineers must do more than simply allocate space for the device on the arm.(Auto ID)
February 1, 2008... In automated assembly systems, bar codes and other symbols provide a dependable, inexpensive means of validating assembly steps, preventing errors, tracking work in process, and building model variants. Mounting readers to robots makes the...

Assembly Plant of the Year 2008.
February 1, 2008... Call for Nominations! The 5th annual ASSEMBLY MAGAZINE Assembly Plant of the Year Award... Superior assembly plants deserve special recognition. The Assembly Plant of the Year Award is presented annually by ASSEMBLY magazine to...

Welding with digital controls: new technology allows more precision and less variation.(Plastics Assembly)
February 1, 2008... Digital technology has transformed the way that end users program and interact with everything from printing presses to slot cars. Traditionally, analog controls are mechanically adjusted by physically turning a knob or adjusting a dial. ...

Sensing with sound: ultrasonic sensors use sound waves to measure distances or detect the presence or absence of objects.(Sensors)
February 1, 2008... Ultrasonic sensors are valuable components in automated production environments. Similar to photoelectric sensors, which rely upon light, ultrasonic sensors use sound waves to detect the presence or absence of objects. [ILLUSTRATION...

Automatica leads the way: European manufacturers will learn how to use automation for greater productivity at Automatica.(Automation in Europe)
February 1, 2008... The mission of Automatica is to showcase the latest in robotics and automation for European manufacturers, and to establish a forum where vendors and manufacturers from Europe and North America can exchange ideas and knowledge. Automatica is an...

Control panel includes PC.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The CP6608 Ethernet control panel has a 5.7-inch display, an integrated PC with a 266-megahertz Intel IXP420 processor, and several commonly used interfaces. The cabinet-mounted panel comes equipped with two Ethernet ports with 10/100BASE-T,...

System assembles bushings automatically.(Products)
February 1, 2008... This machine automatically assembles and tests bushings for tracked vehicles. A robot loads bushing components into the machine. Compacting cylinders then extend to assemble the bushing. To test part quality, a chain-driven rotator spins the...

Adhesives handle many applications.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Rite-Lok anaerobic adhesives are for thread-locking, retaining, gasketing and sealing. They cure to a tough plastic in the presence of metal and the absence of oxygen. They come in a wide range of viscosities, break strengths and prevailing...

Workstation is adjustable.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The Align adjustable-height workstation is ergonomic and flexible. The work surface aligns with the worker's optimal reach zone to reduce fatigue and stress. The height of the work surface can be adjusted from 25.5 to 41.5 inches through a...

Dispenser for flip chip assembly.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The Spectrum S-920 is a scalable dispensing platform for high-volume assembly of flip chips and chip-scale packages. A proprietary proprietary Rapid Response Heater uniformly heats the entire part surface. Fluid and valve pressure are...

Conveyor withstands harsh environments.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Heavy-duty TSplus pallet-transfer conveyors are for use in harsh applications, like metalworking, heavy appliances and automotive powertrains. Reinforced profiles and stainless steel guides allow the conveyors to carry heavy payloads. Traffic...

Device verifies 2D codes.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The DataMan 100V verifies the quality of freshly printed or inscribed Data Matrix codes to ensure that only well-marked parts entire the supply chain. The system reads codes marked on labels or directly on the surface of the part. It generates...

Low-maintenance air motor.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The vanes on this air motor can be changed using an Allen key and a tweezers without completely disassembling the motor or even uninstalling it. The motor is available in three power classes: 200, 400 and 600 watts. Eight planetary gears are...

Linear guide is maintenance-free.(Products)
February 1, 2008... DryLin T is an adjustable, maintenance-free profile guide rail. This corrosion-resistant linear guide is dimensionally interchangeable with most recirculating ball guides. It is comprised of a hard-anodized-aluminum T-shaped rail, a...

Machine separates springs.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The D-Tangler 2000 quickly and gently separates springs and other bulk parts that become tangled from settling due to shipping and handling. A plastic impeller minimizes distortion of the components during the separating operation. A...

Tip handles high-viscosity fluids.(Products)
February 1, 2008... This tapered, plastic tip reduces or prevents post-dispensing ooze that can occur with blunt-end tips, particularly when dispensing high-viscosity fluids at high pressures. When dispensing a high-viscosity fluid, such as silicone adhesive, with...

Three-finger gripper.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The JGZ is a compact, three-finger centric gripper. With its large piston, wedge-hook kinematics and sturdy T-slot guidance, the device can produce a gripping force of 130 to 1,819 pounds. With a purely metallic friction grip between the...

Machine strips thick cables.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The JacketStrip 8400 is a durable, powerful jacket-stripping machine for large cables with tough insulation. Four rotary blades ensure high-precision centering of the cable and clean incisions into the insulation. No blade changes are required...

Long-range photoelectric sensor.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The PZ-G is a self-contained, threaded, high-power photoelectric sensor. This fast, compact sensor can detect objects as far as 40 meters away. A one-touch mounting bracket eliminates the need for mounting screws, reducing installation time and...

Machine strips, twists wires.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The Cosmic 927RX automatically strips and twists wires from 36 to 10 AWG. A micrometer dial is used to set stripping diameter in 0.01-millimeter increments. A rotating fourblade mechanism cleanly strips a wide range of insulation types and...

Inductive sensor is small.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Just 16 millimeters long, this M8 inductive sensor with built-in amplifier is good for embedding into assembly machines and fixtures. Constructed of AISI 303 stainless steel, the sensor housing is rated at IP67. The sensor can be flush-mounted...

Flare-in access hardware.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Threaded flare-in panel fasteners install flush on the back side of a panel using minimal squeezing force in conjunction with a punch and anvil to flare their retainer. A shoulder on the retainer provides a positive stop for easy installation....

Underfill material is preapplied.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Loctite 3508 underfill material for BGAs and CSPs is a one-component epoxy that is preapplied to the board at the corners of the package site using standard dispensing equipment. Curing takes place during the normal reflow process--secondary...

SCARA for high-speed assembly.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The RS40B is a four-axis SCARA robot for high-speed assembly and packaging. It has a 400-millimeter reach and a repeatability of [+ or -]0.01 millimeter. Its nominal payload capacity is 2 kilograms; its maximum payload capacity is 5 kilograms....

Machine straightens parts.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The Tweak-O-Matic automatically straightens sheet-metal stampings, machined parts, extrusions and tubular assemblies. The system is equipped with two electromechanical servo presses, one on each side of a part-clamping fixture. After the part...

Fittings for pneumatic systems.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Nickel-plated brass pipe fittings connect to other fittings and pipes in pneumatic systems. Fittings are available in 124 variants, featuring parallel, metric, G threads and tapered R threads. The fittings can handle a maximum pressure of 580...

Gear reducer with force, torque sensors.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Torque and force sensors are integrated directly into the housings of servo gear reducers. These sensors provide feedback for closed-loop operation. The sensors can monitor torque, shear force, speed, thermal load, wear and backlash. Custom...

Reflow oven has small footprint.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The CR6000 is a forced-air reflow oven for lead-free assembly. Measuring 12.5 feet long, the computer-controlled oven has six individually managed upper and lower heat zones. The oven is equipped with a three-channel profiler and a...

Cartesian robots are fast, clean.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Python Class 1 ESD robots provide high speed and precision motion while maintaining very clean operation. The modules can be configured to fit a wide range of ESD-sensitive product applications where speed, precision and flexibility are...

Cordless rivet nut setter.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The Lobster Tools BN-200 cordless rivet nut setter uses a 12-volt rechargeable Ni-Cad battery to set rivet nuts in #6, #8, #10, 5/16-inch and 3/8-inch sizes, plus metric sizes M3, M4, M5, M6, M8 and M10. The system features a stroke set nut,...

Dispense in bulk.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Redesigned Therm-O-Flow 20 and 200 bulk melt systems provide quieter operation, better performance, longer service life and improved process efficiency. All Therm-O-Flow systems feature the NXT air motor, which offers industry-leading melt...

Counters provide fast adjustments.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The Adjus line of workstations includes the AdjusCounter, the AdjusTable HD and the AdjusTable LT. Each product can be adjusted across a 26.5-inch range in as little as 2 seconds. Weight capacities up to 500 pounds are available. An On-The-Go...

Control machines safely.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The DUO-TOUCH run bar with STB buttons for two-hand control machine prevents accidental actuation. Its ergonomic design reduces hand, wrist and arm stresses associated with repeated switch operation. The system includes two preinstalled STB...

Area imagers can take the abuse.(Products)
February 1, 2008... The 4000 2D series of handheld readers is built to withstand years of drops, vibration, extreme temperatures and other real-world abuse. These powerful devices can read virtually any linear or 2D bar code, and have the ability to capture...

Crimper features locating nest.(Products)
February 1, 2008... This hand crimper can be used with FlatSnap unisex connectors and features a locating nest that positions and holds the connector so that a user easily create an "F" crimp with one hand. The crimper provides a parallel stroke, which assures an...

Controller is fast, flexible.(Products)
February 1, 2008... Telemecanique brand Modicon M340 programmable automation controllers offer real-time logic solving, as well as communication, motion, and database and manipulation capabilities in multiple programming environments. The system's hardware and...

Grab the thistle boldly.(Leading Lean)
February 1, 2008... Lean is known for its problem-solving rigor and processes, such as andon, that bring problems to the surface. But the hallmark of a true lean culture is that it constantly seeks out and confronts the most challenging problems. As William Halsey...