Assembly articles from January 2006

Assembly archives from January 2006

The skills paradox.(Editorial)
January 1, 2006... General Motors plans to eliminate 30,000 jobs this year. Ford is expected to close four plants that employ about 7,500 people, and recently announced plans to cut about 4,000 more salaried jobs in addition to the 2,700 it has already eliminated...

Plastic solar panels harness the sun's rays.(Down the Line)
January 1, 2006... As oil and gas prices continue to skyrocket, interest in renewable energy is starting to take center stage. One of the most abundant sources is solar power. However, solar panels have traditionally been expensive to mass-produce. Researchers at...

In situ laser surfacing.(Down the Line)
January 1, 2006... A new laser welding technique is repairing power station turbine rotor blades in minutes, rather than days, thanks to advances in the way metals fuse together. It allows flaws from wet steam erosion on the blades of low-pressure steam turbines...

Tiny robots perform surgery.(Down the Line)
January 1, 2006... If Shane Farritor has his way, medical responders of the future may be less than 3 inches tall. But, these tiny-wheeled robots--slipped into the abdomen and controlled by surgeons located up to several hundred miles away--would be giants in...

NASA, BAE develop networking protocol for spacecraft.(Down the Line)
January 1, 2006... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, Washington, DC) and aerospace manufacturer BAE Systems (Rockville, MD) have developed a standard communications protocol for spacecraft electronics. Called SpaceWire, the new...

Choose compressors, controls wisely to save energy.(X-Y-Z)
January 1, 2006... Most assembly plants use compressed air to power actuators, grippers, tools and other equipment. The source of that "free" power, the compressor, is housed in its own room in an isolated corner of the plant, out of sight, out of mind. ...

Surfactant eliminates dross from wave soldering.(Assembly Innovations)
January 1, 2006... During wave soldering, printed circuit boards pass over the crest of a continuously flowing fountain of molten solder. It's a quick way to solder many joints at once, but the process is not without drawbacks, and one of the biggest is dross....

Tamperproof fastener is always at the right torque.(Assembly Innovations)
January 1, 2006... Apogee Designs Ltd. (Baltimore) has invented a tamperproof fastener that cannot be overtightened or undertightened. Apogee's Eclock eccentric locking fastener can be made from steel or titanium and feature any thread profile. The head of...

Xerox Plant wins assembly honor.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... ROSEMONT, IL -- Xerox Corp.'s Worldwide Production Systems Manufacturing Plant (Webster, NY) is the recipient of the second annual Assembly Plant of the Year award sponsored by ASSEMBLY magazine. Several Xerox executives accepted the award at...

China buys 150 Airbus planes.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... TOULOUSE, France -- The China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group (CASGC) is purchasing 150 A320 aircraft from Airbus. The deal is worth close to $10 billion. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CASGC president Li Hai and Airbus CEO Gustav...

Emerging countries lead global development.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... PARIS -- A recent study presents further evidence that industrializing countries like China and India are experiencing the majority of today's manufacturing growth, at the expense of countries like the United States. This is especially true...

FANUC Robotics moves to larger facility.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... ROCHESTER HILLS, MI -- In response to growing demand, FANUC Robotics America Inc. is expanding its Southeast operations with a move to a 22,000 square-foot customer technology center located near Charlotte, NC. "The additional floor space...

Reed Exhibitions puts ATExpo up for sale.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... NORWALK, CT -- Reed Exhibitions is selling its portfolio of North American industrial and manufacturing trade shows, including Assembly Technology Expo, which is held each fall in the Chicago area and sponsored by ASSEMBLY magazine. The...

Bosch Rexroth acquires motion control firm.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... LOHR, Germany -- Drive and control company Bosch Rexroth Corp. has acquired Nyquist BV (Eindhoven, Netherlands), which specializes in motion control applications in the semiconductor and medical manufacturing industries. "We've acquired...

Survey shows growing U.S. Skills Gap.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A shortage of qualified employees is taking an increasing toll on U.S. manufacturers, according to a "2005 Skills Gap Report" report released by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Manufacturing Institute, and...

Bosch to open tech center in Michigan.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, MI -- Bosch Rexroth Corp. is constructing a technical center in Michigan, scheduled to open in early 2007. The 225,000-square-foot center will employee 475 technicians and engineers, and cost $37.5 million. "Michigan...

Landrex and ZD Test joining forces.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... SANTA CLARA, CA -- Landrex Technologies Inc. and ZD Test Inc. (Cornelius, OR) have formed a partnership to market, manufacture and distribute electrical test fixtures to customers worldwide. The agreement includes joint efforts in the areas of...

Henkel acquires Huawei Electronics.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... DUSSELDORF, Germany -- Henkel Group has acquired Huawei Electronics Co. (Lianyungang, China), a manufacturer of epoxy semiconductor molding compounds, with 560 employees and sales of approximately $21 million in 2004. "This joint venture...

Robotics innovators honored at symposium.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... TOKYO -- Engelberger Robotics Awards were presented to four industry leaders at the recent 36th International Symposium on Robotics. The awards honor significant achievements in the areas of application, technology development, education and...

DaimlerChrysler delivers fuel-cell buses to Beijing.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... BEIJING -- DaimlerChrysler (Stuttgart, Germany) has delivered three hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel-cell buses to China's capital, under the auspices of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. DaimlerChrysler now has more...

ITW acquires Schnee-Morehead Inc.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... DANVERS, MA -- ITW Performance Polymers, a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Co. (Glenview, IL), has acquired Schnee-Morehead Inc. (Irving, TX), a manufacturer of adhesives and sealants for the construction and aerospace industries. A...

North American robotics posts 30 percent increase.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... Ann Arbor, MI -- Sales figures are showing that North American robotics companies were on pace for a record 2005, with domestic orders up 30 percent in the first 9 months of the year. According to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA),...

Green materials market to reach $8.7 billion.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... In response to legislation in Europe, Japan and the United States banning the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing, the market for compliant materials is expected to grow to $8.7 billion by 2010. According to a study by Business...

Chrysler investing $1 billion in St. Louis plants.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... ST. LOUIS -- DaimlerChrysler Group (Stuttgart, Germany) is investing $1 billion in its St. Louis North and St. Louis South assembly plants, to retool and modernize the facilities, in an effort to improve product quality and increase production...

Bain Capital acquires FCI-Burndy.(Assembly Lines)(Company Profile)
January 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- The Bain Capital investment company has acquired connectors and interconnect systems manufacturer FCI-Burndy Products (Versailles, France) from the French energy group Areva (Paris). Established in 1984, Bain Capital has...

DE-STA-CO opens office in India.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... MADISON HEIGHTS, MI -- Clamp, gripper and robotic tooling manufacturer DE-STA-CO Industries has opened an office in Bangalore, India, to take advantage of the ongoing growth in manufacturing in the region. The new office will market the...

Manufacturing Week announces speakers, events.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... NORWALK, CT -- Reed Exhibitions, organizer of the National Manufacturing Week Conference, set for March 20-23 in Rosemont, IL, has announced a lineup of keynote speakers and conference presenters reflecting a diversity of opinions from...

ASSEMBLY welcomes lean columnist Jamie Flinchbaugh.(Assembly Lines)
January 1, 2006... Beginning with this issue, you'll find a new column 'Leading Lean' inside the back cover of ASSEMBLY every month. Leading Lean will be written by Jamie Flinchbaugh, founder and partner of the Lean Learning Center (Novi, MI). In the months...

Full automation?..... From your adhesive equipment supplier?(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... This isn't a new concept, but most adhesive equipment suppliers in the world today don't supply equipment and also integrate complete automated system. There is one company that does. EMC2 Inc. has been building and automating adhesive...

Robots install sound-proofing pads.(Assembly in Action)
January 1, 2006... BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate (Munich, Germany) has long used flexible automation to manufacture dishwashers. It was therefore only natural that the company chose to employ a battery of robots to install bitumen sound-deadening pads in its...

Two-step heat-staking boosts throughput.(Assembly in Action)
January 1, 2006... Among its many sensor, switching, automotive and motion-control products, Saia-Burgess Group (Murten, Switzerland) produces the MagShift solenoid, an electric park lock that prevents a driver from shifting out of park without first stepping on...

Workstations foster production volumes.(Assembly in Action)
January 1, 2006... Founded in 1978, Redcom Laboratories Inc. (Victor, NY) manufactures electronic switching systems for the commercial and military markets. Specific products include call management systems, emergency response systems and testing devices. ...

Cells, inspect automotive modules.(Assembly in Action)
January 1, 2006... The Automotive division at Motorola Government Enterprise Mobility Solutions (GEMS, Shaumburg, IL) produces embedded electronics and communications systems for the automotive and heavy-vehicle markets. Recently, the company built an automated...

Insertion machine boosts throughput, quality.(Assembly in Action)
January 1, 2006... Will-Mann Inc. (Fullerton, CA) manufactures precision sheet metal assemblies for the electronics, computer, medical and aerospace industries. Historically, inserting hardware in these products was a source of production problems, as...

PEM[R] ReelFast[R] SMT fasteners: speed assembly, improve quality and reduce costs.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... New PEM[R] ReelFast[R] SMT 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. ReelFast SMT...

Lead into gold: new equipment, materials and methods are making gold a smart choice for flip-chip assembly.(Electronics Assembly)
January 1, 2006... Turning lead into gold. For alchemists, that was a legendary road to riches. For electronics assemblers, it's a path to avoiding the pitfalls of lead-free flip-chip assembly. Converting tin-lead solder bumps into gold stud bumps can improve the...

FTT Automation.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... Rochester NY has always been a precision town. Home to Kodak, Xerox and Bausch & Lomb, Rochester's optical industries attracted the world's best craftsmen, engineers, and precision machinists. As the auto industry became more mechanized,...

Lean + flexibility = throughput: synchronous flow manufacturing applies lean principles to boost profits in a high-mix variable-demand environment.(Electronics Assembly)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2006... Achieving continuous improvement in high-mix, variable-demand manufacturing is never easy. An evolving manufacturing philosophy that focuses on mapping processes and identifying ways to eliminate potential bottle-necks generally yields better...

Introducing P. Kay MS2[TM] molten solder surfactant. At last--a product that actually eliminates dross.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL powders, oils, mechanical separators and even nitrogen blankets, MS2[TM] molten solder surfactant, a technological breakthrough developed by P. Kay Metal, with U.S. and foreign patents pending, doesn't just reduce or inhibit...

RFID on the line: assembly lines operate more efficiently with radio frequency identification.(Wireless Technology)
January 1, 2006... Linebackers are the unsung heroes of any championship football team. The defensive position isn't glamorous; it demands strength, speed and toughness. Unfortunately, some football players turn to steroids to enhance their performance on the...

Close the loop on assembly operations.(Innovations in Assembly)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... A new generation, closed-loop, easily programmed control system for assembly presses is a recent design development of Promess Inc. (Brighton, MI). The programmable press developed by Promess-called EMAP (electromechanical assembly...

How the perfect becomes the enemy of the good: instead of producing perfect parts, manufacturers should determine what "quality" means to the consumer and equip their assembly lines to meet that goal.(Assembly Presses)
January 1, 2006... "Quality" has been the holy grail of manufacturing for more than 40 years now, and it is a worthy goal. But, somewhere along the line the concept of "quality" became inextricably tied to the concept of "perfection." The result has been a...

Giving operators a lift: tool supporters can boost efficiency and reduce workplace injury in workcells and on the line.(Ergonomics)
January 1, 2006... In Norman Rockwell's famous painting "Rosie the Riveter, Rosie has biceps and forearms that would be the envy of a pro wrestler. However, modern manufacturers realize that relying on brute strength is not only dangerous, but counterproductive....

Inspect SMT assemblies.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Cougar VXP can perform advanced surface mount inspections on a variety of components, including ball grid arrays and wafer-level chip scale packages. The system incorporates a user-friendly graphical interface; microfocus X-ray tube;...

Adhesive is clear and tough.(Products)
January 1, 2006... Multi-Cure 605 adhesive can be used for glass and glass-to-metal assembly. It provides high tensile shear, clarity, and peal and impact strength. The adhesive is ideal for use in automotive glass assemblies or for bonding glass furniture,...

Press enables quality assembly.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The TM series of stand-alone electromechanical presses is available in press capacities of 2,700 to 13,500 pounds. The machines come with a complete EMAC computer-based control system, operator safety equipment, and a basic package of force and...

Sensors are compact and flexible.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The D10 Series of compact, DIN-rail-mountable fiber optic sensors is comprised of three models featuring either numeric or bar-graph displays. Compact and flexible, the sensors can be used to detect the presence of an integrated circuit lead...

Worktable can be configured with standard parts.(Products)
January 1, 2006... Custom stainless steel worktables are configured using standard modular components to reduce cost. Suitable for use in laboratory, assembly and material handling operations, the tables are available with tops made from a variety of gauges and...

Vacuum gripper fits in tight spots.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The GEP end-ported gripper arm has its line connection directly in line with the vacuum cup mounting for use in tight spots where there is minimal clearance around the target area. The arm is spring-loaded for part compliance. It is available...

Paired tracks provide options.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Dual Track precision indexing conveyor provides [+ or -]0.01-inch positioning accuracy in multiple axes for mounted part holders. Dual tracks enable processing of smaller parts on each belt or large parts weighing up to 10 pounds across...

Bugs just got better.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Bug series of linear actuators has been upgraded to provide improved strength, precision and reliability. Its small footprint makes it an alternative to pneumatic and hydraulic systems. ABEC-7 angular contact bearings provide long service...

Slides provide power and length options.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Linear Sigma Trac Series of fully integrated linear positioning slides provides forces ranging from 86 to 1,200 newtons; stroke lengths from 100 millimeters to 2 meters; acceleration to 5 G's; and velocities of 5 meters per second. Ideal...

Ultrasonic cell is expandable, semiautomatic.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The updated Series 40 rotary welding system is a self-contained, semiautomatic ultrasonic plastics assembly plat-form that incorporates a 2000 series ultrasonic welder, Camco indexer, system controls, touch screen operator interface and an...

Inserter can store 99 programs.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The 9700 XY is a fully automatic, benchtop CNC terminal insertion machine that can be used in either cells or on a production line. The system includes a touch-screen operator interface and can store up to 99 insertion programs. Programming can...

Pallet system offers options.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The VarioFlow work-piece pallet system can be used to link machine tools and manual workstations, as well as supply parts to assembly process stations. It transports products weighing up to 8 kilograms at speeds up to 18 meters per minute. The...

Transducer provides long service life.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Micropulse BIW transducer provides noncontact positioning accuracy for use anywhere linear motion must be monitored and controlled. Wear-free design eliminates degradation over time. It is available with analog 0 to 10-volt or -10 to...

Get a handle on lighting.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The HCT-99-D color meter can be used for both illuminance and luminance measurements. It includes a Delta-UV function, which shows the deviation of measured X-Y coordinates from the black body radiator locus. Features include a high-contrast,...

Cable connector can take abuse.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Tuff-Flex cord grip connector features a molded rubber cone that is tapered for improved cable stability, making it suitable for use in applications where cable damage due to excessive flexing is a concern. The connector is also compact...

Ratchet is strong in tight spots.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Proto ratchet provides high torque-carrying capacity in a compact package for use in tight spaces, like those found in aerospace assembly. The tool includes a small pear head enclosing a 45-tooth gear mechanism, which provides power while...

Lift and level with ease.(Products)
January 1, 2006... Dandy Lift lifters and transporters are available in a variety of capacities, lifting heights and configurations. Units are raised by depressing a foot pedal. The line features swivel casters, parking locks, and chrome and rubber handles....

Keep splices, terminals at hand.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Sta-Kon Sta-Org terminal and splice organizer kit features six clear, lidded canisters containing the most commonly used vinyl ring terminals, butt splices and fork terminals. The kit is 6.5 inches high and 3 inches in diameter. It fits...

Grippers offer high repeatability.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Universal Gripper line is comprised of grippers that offer 0.2 millimeter repeatability and are capable of assuming up to five different gripping positions through integrated sensing. The grippers' auto-centering fingers are ideal for...

Form and fasten with rollers.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Rollerforming process uses multiple rollers mounted on a rotating spindle to gently smooth and form material into a seamless, solid form. The rollers intersect the workpiece on a precise contact line, gradually moving material to the...

Dispense using Cartesian precision.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The I & J 7100 benchtop Cartesian dispensing robot has a working envelope measuring 8 by 6 inches and is capable of storing up to 100 different dispensing programs. Step-by-step intuitive instructions simplify programming. A 16-channel I/O...

Vision sensor takes abuse.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The In-Sight 5400S stainless steel vision sensor is robust enough for use in the toughest environments, including chemical wash downs and submersion. It can be used to sort objects; detect correct fill levels; inspect labels, caps and safety...

Software manages, protects automation systems.(Products)
January 1, 2006... Proficy change management software version 5.50 can be used to manage automation systems, and protect software and engineering information. It includes security programs, version control, audit trails, central storage, and automated backup and...

Dispense using jet valve technology.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The automated, three-axis CDS6250 dispenses adhesives, pastes, oils, lubricants, flux solder and conformal coatings at speeds of up to 150 drops per second for use in the electronics and medical industries. Equipped with a jet valve, as opposed...

Epoxy seal eliminate mess.(Products)
January 1, 2006... Uni-form epoxy preforms are solid at room temperature, but melt and cure when heated to form a seal that protects components from dust, moisture, oil, flux, solvents and conformal coatings. Uni-forms can be dispensed as rapidly as 600 parts per...

Arm is light and versatile.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The 7 DOF light-weight arm is versatile enough for use in inspection systems, in service robotics and on mobile platforms. Thanks to the use of hollow drives in the interior of the light-weight arm, all wiring to the pan-tilt unit, or wrist, is...

Servomotors allow for accurate dispensing.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Servo-Flo 704 servomotor-driven, continuous-flow, meter, mix and dispense system can be used for high-precision, automated dispensing of two-component adhesives and sealant materials. The system is well suited for use with low- to...

Tool is precise and 'smart'.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The CVIP "Plug & Tighten" electric power tool features integrated torque-transducer control and a brushless, resolver-based motor to ensure precise, threaded fastener installation. The tool makes it possible to continuously monitor torque and...

Control is fast and powerful.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The improved NextMove PCI-2 offers both digital and analog I/O, and provides flexible all-in-one control for PC-hosted automation applications. The controller accommodates position feedback data at rates as high as 10 megahertz, and features a...

Blocks cut assembly times.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The quick-connection QTC 2.5 line of terminal blocks includes a soft-pivot actuator that can be used with wire gauges up to 14AWG. The line includes twins, hybrids and a fusing option. Because there is no need to strip the wire, the Quickon-QT...

Noncontact encoder is compact, precise.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The MSK5000 programmable noncontact linear and rotary magnetic linear encoder uses a 5-millimeter-wide magnetic band to achieve programmable resolutions to 1 micron. The flexible adhesive-backed magnetic band and small-size, low-mass read head...

Swtiches provide long-distance operation.(Products)
January 1, 2006... Series 520 inductive proximity switches function over longer operating distances and offer reliable performance in temperatures from -25 C to 70 C. The switches can be used with targets that are difficult to detect, such as small or narrow...

Step motor includes controller.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The upgraded SilverPak 17C integrated step motor, driver and controller is available in body lengths of 2.69, 2.92 and 3.24 inches, and provides up to 85 oz-in of torque. Programmable features include stand-alone operation with no connection to...

Terminal can be used on the go.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The X7 mobile industrial terminal can be used with Windows CE applications in a variety of settings, including manufacturing, transport, time recording and quality assurance. The terminal measures 22 by 15 by 8 centimeters. It includes a...

Bench rammer provides power.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The MP-241B bench rammer provides extra power for industrial use, delivering 760 blows per minute with a 4-inch stroke. The system features a double-action "sand wiper" seal to keep out dirt and grit, reducing tool wear. An aluminum backhead...

Vision packs a punch.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The NetSight II machine vision "M" series features a 1.6 gigahertz processor with 2 megabytes of local cache and 512 megabytes of high-speed program memory. In addition to standard analog and Camera Link interfaces, NetSight II M systems are...

Robot is big and clean.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The KR 180 L130 has a 3,100-millimeter reach and is clean room compatible. The KR 180 L130 CR has a payload capacity of 500 kilograms and can also be used in clean rooms. Both robots are well suited to flat panel display manufacturing and...

Light is flicker free.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Model 6 CFVI is a low-profile, circular, industrial-grade fluorescent light powered by a high-frequency 25 kilohertz driver. It provides bright, flicker-free, broad-area illumination for imaging, process inspection, assembly and general...

Sensors work at a distance.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The OHDM 12 and OHDM 20 long-distance laser diffuse sensors feature background-suppression capability to help them detect extremely small, thin objects and depressions at distances up to 1.5 meters, regardless of background color or...

Motors available in two lengths.(Products)
January 1, 2006... MAE Series 500 brush-commutated DC servomotors offer precision and speed for power applications in a wide range of industries, including data storage, medical manufacturing and semiconductor processing. The motors are available in two lengths...

Welder uses linear motion.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Ultraweld Linear 20 is a 20-kilohertz ultrasonic metal welder that uses a linear up-and-down motion to facilitate easy setup. Thanks to this motion, tooling only needs to be precise from side-to-side. Total travel of the ultrasonic stack is...