Assembly articles from February 2009

Assembly archives from February 2009

Looking ahead.(Editorial)
February 1, 2009... The abysmal state of the economy here in the United States, and across the globe, is hardly news. Most of those peering into crystal balls predict that it won't get any better until at least the second half of 2009, and maybe not even then....

System assembles family of car latches: a photoelectric sensor performs two checks at once.(Automation Profiles)
February 1, 2009... Many manufacturers mistakenly believe that high-speed automated assembly systems are inherently inflexible. In fact, with the right layout and some clever engineering, automation systems can assemble families of similar products relatively...

Dispense two-part materials.(NEW NEW & NOTEWORTHY)
February 1, 2009... The PR70v variable-ratio meter, mix and dispense system can be used to dispense a wide range of two-component materials and is well suited to potting, gasketing, sealing, encapsulating and syringe filling. The system can accommodate shot sizes...

Tags guarantee correct tool usage.(NEW & NOTEWORTHY)
February 1, 2009... New robotic end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) with RFID tags automatically ensures that the correct tooling is being used when multiple products are being processed on a single manufacturing line. The system employs an RFID tag on the EOAT mounting...

Super heavy-duty robot.(NEW & NOTEWORTHY)
February 1, 2009... The M-2000iA six-axis robot can handle truck frames and other large, heavy parts. It is available in two models: The first provides a maximum payload of 900 kilograms and has a vertical lifting stroke of 6.2 meters; the second can support 1,200...

Conveyor guides easy to install, adjust.(NEW & NOTEWORTHY)
February 1, 2009... The new VarioFlow Generation 2 guide system provides all the framing profiles, brackets, covers and connectors necessary to build cost-effective, application-specific conveyor guides for VarioFlow 65/90 and VarioFlow S flexible-chain conveyors....

Composite-metal hybrids.(Bonding LINES)
February 1, 2009... What if you could take the best materials available, combine them anyway you need to, and produce the most efficient, light-weight structures imaginable? What if you could assemble those structures with adhesives? Welcome to the 21st century....

How capable are your power tools?(QUALITY in ASSEMBLY)
February 1, 2009... Power tools collect a wealth of data about the fastening process. This data shouldn't merely be stored away for those inevitable cover-your-behind moments. With some simple statistical analysis, engineers can obtain valuable insight into the...

Plant of the year award enters 6th year.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... BENSENVILLE, IL -- ASSEMBLY magazine is now accepting nominations for its 6th annual Assembly Plant of the Year contest. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The goal of the Assembly Plant of the Year award is to identify a state-of-the-art facility...

Webcast: cut bonding costs by 30 percent.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... BENSENVILLE, IL -- ASSEMBLY magazine's online university series begins another year of classes on Tuesday, March 3, at 2 p.m. EST with a session on light-curing adhesives, featuring Virginia Read and Kyle Rhodes of adhesives and curing...

MagneMotion moves its headquarters.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... DEVENS, MA -- Electromagnetic transport equipment manufacturer MagneMotion Inc. has moved to a new headquarters and production facility in the former Fort Devens military complex. The new space is about twice as big as the company's previous...

Fastener supplier opens distribution center.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... TRACY, CA -- Alcoa Fastening Systems' Industrial Distribution Group, which supplies Marson, Recoil, Keysert and Huck brand fasteners, has moved to a new headquarters in Tracy, CA. The new 25,000-square-foot logistics and packaging center...

Arch Chemicals CEO to lead NAM.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Michael Campbell, CEO of Arch Chemicals Inc. (Norwalk, CT), has begun a two-year term as chairman of the board of directors of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), replacing Charles E. Bunch, chairman and CEO of PPG...

Toyota using "ecological plastic" on interiors.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp. will begin using plant-derived, carbon-neutral plastics in its vehicles, starting with a new hybrid vehicle set to go into production later this year. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new materials, collectively...

RIA welcomes new board members.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... ANN ARBOR, MI -- The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) has added six new members to its board of directors, the group that helps develop specific programs and overall strategy for the organization. Representing robotic suppliers are Joe...

Hitachi Cable, HellermannTyton join forces.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... MILWAUKEE -- Hitachi Cable Manchester Inc. (HCM--Manchester, NH) and HellermannTyton have formed a partnership called H2Max, to provide end-to-end networking products, comprised of HellermannTyton's connection equipment and HCM's cabling. ...

A123Systems eyes massive battery plant.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... WATERTOWN, MA -- Battery manufacturer A123Systems has applied for $1.84 billion in federal loans to construct a new lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in the United States, most likely in Michigan. The company hopes to supply...

HP introduces Recycling Program.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... PALO ALTO, CA -- Hewlett-Packard Co. has begun what it is calling its "HP Consumer Buyback and Planet Partners Recycling Program," in an effort to further reduce the amount of electronics entering the world's landfills. Through the...

Citroen, Bosch teaming up on hybrids.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... PARIS -- PSA Peugeot Citroen and Robert Bosch GmbH (Stuttgart, Germany) have agreed to collaborate on the development of diesel hybrid technology. The partnership calls for Bosch to co-develop and industrialize much of the technology that will...

Airbus begins A350 plant construction.(Assembly Lines)
February 1, 2009... TOULOUSE, France -- Airbus has begun constructing a new plant in Toulouse where it will perform final assembly of its new A350 XWB wide-body commercial jet, scheduled to enter service in 2013. The 800,000-square-foot facility will be used...

New workstations at heart of ACD renovation.(Assembly in Action)(Company overview)
February 1, 2009... Founded in 1984, Automated Circuit Design (ACD--Richardson, TX) provides a wide range of services, including printed circuit board design, fabrication, prototyping, testing, assembly and component procurement. In 2003, a fire broke out in...

Conveyor provides cut-rate precision.(Assembly in Action)
February 1, 2009... Founded in 1994, Arnold Machine Inc. (Tiffin, OH) manufactures automated assembly equipment for the automotive, appliance and heavy equipment industries. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recently, it landed a contract with an automotive parts...

Lockbolts support 7,500 thermosolar collectors.(Assembly in Action)
February 1, 2009... The Andasol 1 thermosolar power plant in Southern Spain, which went on-line in late 2008, has an annual capacity of approximately 179 million kilowatt hours, enough to satisfy the needs of 200,000 people in 50,000 homes, or a city the size of...

Wire-harness audit improves productivity.(Assembly in Action)
February 1, 2009... Advanced Interconnect Manufacturing (AIM--Rochester, NY) produces cable assemblies, wire harness assemblies and electromechanical assemblies for a wide range of OEMs, including those in the commercial bus, truck, automotive, industrial...

The road to green: a new breed of components is in demand.(Automotive Assembly)(Company overview)
February 1, 2009... Traditionally, the Paris Auto Show features sleek bodies and stylish designs. But, during the two-week show last October, all the oohs and aahs were reserved for what's under the skin. Automakers unveiled a wide variety of green cars featuring...

Energizing low-surface energy plastics: plasma treatment raises the surface energy of plastics to make them more amenable to bonding.(Adhesive Bonding)
February 1, 2009... Polypropylene is used in a wide range of assemblies, because of its toughness, flexibility and resistance to heat, moisture and chemicals. In the medical device industry, it's used for syringe barrels and fluid containers. In the appliance...

Ergo numbers: guidelines help identify risk factors and improve productivity.(ASSEMBLY Workstations)
February 1, 2009... Work heights, reach standards and other ergonomic issues should be addressed by engineers when designing assembly workstations, especially in lean environments where job rotation is common. Unfortunately, no two operators are alike when it...

Building big boards: large, thick circuit boards pose considerable challenges for a lead-free assembly process.(Electronics Assembly)
February 1, 2009... With electronic devices getting smaller and smaller, it's somehow comforting to know there are still printed circuit board assemblies bigger than the proverbial bread box. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's comforting, that is, unless you're...

Riveter employs cam technology.(Products)
February 1, 2009... Revolution Series automatic impact riveting and clinching machines employ a cam mechanism that requires fewer moving parts than traditional style impact riveters. The machines also incorporate an electronically controlled rivet feeding system...

Valve dispenses problem materials.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The model 775 spool dispensing valve handles tacky materials with ease, eliminating many of the problems inherent in applying stringy and low-viscosity materials. The valve offers adjustable and lockable suck-back control, as well as adjustable...

Cart platform accommodates awkward crates.(Products)
February 1, 2009... Large, heavy crates often cause problems because they require a cart that is easy to push around, yet tough enough to withstand the rigors of fork truck loading and unloading. Specifically designed for this kind of large package transfer and...

Dispense dual-barrel cartridges.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The AC200D encoder-based, dual-cartridge dispenser provides true volumetric shot dispensing for precision applications. The system incorporates a linear encoder that accurately controls output volumes. A digital control console allows operators...

Keyless hub-to-shaft connection system.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The Concentric Maxi Torque connection system offers tight run out control, precise component positioning and eliminates the need for secondary machining. It can be used in place of other connection devices such as keyways, set screws, pins and...

Dual locking valve for Numatics 2012 series valves.(Products)
February 1, 2009... This dual locking valve transforms the Numatics 2012 spool valve into a bubbletight locking valve. The valve is sandwiched between the base and solenoids to eliminate the effects of air leaking across the spool. Installation can be accomplished...

Conveyor offer dual-path accumulation.(Products)
February 1, 2009... This conveyor system features a bi-directional dual path, which provides seamless belt-to-belt transfer, accumulation and single-file feed, all at the same time. The system combines a slewing accumulator with a side-to-side transfer system to...

Systems assemble, inspect, test.(Products)
February 1, 2009... New line of automated assembly and inspection machines can be used for two- or three-component assembly, test and checks. The systems include up to three feeder bowls, typically rated at 30 ppm each. Component parts are fed to escapements for...

Adhesive has built-in cure indicator.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The Ultra Light-Weld 3220-SC light-cure adhesive is formulated for rapid bonding and laminating of plastic appliances, sub-components, housings and enclosures. It is bright blue in its uncured state, which makes it easy for a simple...

Check TPMS sensors in advance.(Products)
February 1, 2009... Have you ever taken the time to mount a TPMS sensor on a tire only to find afterward that it is defective? This new TPMS sensor check box makes it possible for manufacturers to save time and money by allowing them to determine if a sensor is...

Valve is compact, reliable.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The new 752HF high-flow valve improves dispensing of UV-cure resins and similar fluids used in Blu-ray DVD, DVD and CD production processes. The valve helps media manufacturers increase production speeds through faster application of thick...

Workstations feature upgrades.(Products)
February 1, 2009... Updated technical electronic workstations line is ergonomically designed and offers unlimited flexibility to accommodate an assembler's particular needs. Flexible standard components and accessory options, both above and below the work surface,...

Sensor line simplifies maintenance procedures.(Products)
February 1, 2009... New series of basic photoelectric sensors includes three different form factors-18-millimeter threaded, small block, and standard 18-millimeter tube--each of which is available in background suppression, diffuse, retroreflective and thru-beam...

PBC Linear Uni-Guide facilitates safe wafer handling.(Products)
February 1, 2009... With its precision design, simple two-piece assembly and Frelon J liner, the Uni-Guide is ideal for handling silicon wafers during processing. Assembled under clean room conditions, the Uni-Guide is subjected to critical testing for accurate...

Dispenser employs positive rod displacement.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The Servo-Flo 801 is a positive rod displacement, meter-mix dispensing system that applies beads and shots of precision mixed epoxies, polyurethanes, acrylics and silicones in a wide range of robotic, semi-automated and manual dispensing...

Apply codes in small places.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The Model 28 ink code-marking machine can be used to apply date, product and dot codes on a variety of different surfaces. Its small size allows it to be used in settings where space is limited. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sprinter Marking...

Conveyors are flexible, durable.(Products)
February 1, 2009... DCM series conveyors offer a number of customizable options and are available in light-, medium- and heavy-duty configurations. Each conveyor section is equipped with a pivotal motor mount to facilitate fast belt changes. Assemblers can combine...

Improve flow of medical parts.(Products)
February 1, 2009... Part prefeed elevators improve the flow of individual component parts presented for assembly and installation in an automated environment. Providing a controlled flow is necessary for optimal machine performance. The elevators are designed to...

Wrenches include LED status indicators.(Products)
February 1, 2009... Ergonomically designed, lightweight, precision electronic hand torque wrenches provide immediate feedback on torque measurements via a set of LED indicator lights placed in the head of the tool. The wrenches are available in capacities ranging...

Robot provides precision dispensing at low cost.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The TR300 tabletop robot can be used to dispense a wide variety of liquids exhibiting a range of different viscosities. When batches are small and volume is light, the system enables manufacturers to precisely dispense single and two-component...

Benchtop seal assembly machine.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The MK2 semiautomatic benchtop seal assembly machine features a feed system that guarantees reliable and consistent operation. End users can feed O-rings warped up to 70 percent of their cross section. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Amara...

Expandable modular workstations.(Products)
February 1, 2009... Dimension Next expandable modular workbenches can be used in a wide variety of assembly environments and are available in both single-sided and double-sided versions. The 1,000-pound capacity of the workstations ensures that even the heaviest...

EGN grippers available in new sizes.(Products)
February 1, 2009... The EGN series servoelectric two-finger parallel gripper line now includes sizes 80 and 160, with a stroke per finger of 8 and 16 millimeters respectively. EGN grippers can be adjusted and controlled in terms of gripping force, speed, position...

Untangling spaghetti.(Leading Lean)
February 1, 2009... Spaghetti isn't exactly a lean food. The spaghetti diagram, on the other hand, is a long-standing lean tool that has much to offer throughout a successful lean transformation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For those new to spaghetti diagrams,...