Assembly articles from June 2001

Assembly archives from June 2001

Carbon Claptrap.
June 1, 2001... Few presidential statements have stirred up as much furor as when George Bush announced recently that the United States will not support the Kyoto Protocol. Regardless, the decision is good economics, good science and, ultimately, good...

Study Predicts Strong Demand for "Rugged" Computers.
June 1, 2001... NATICKs, MA--Worldwide sales of "fully rugged" mobile computers could top $743 million in 2005. A study by Venture Development Corp. (VDC) finds world sales of the computers totaled $454.4 million in 2000 and are expected to grow by 10.3...

Advanced Algorithms Improve Robot Control.
June 1, 2001... ATLANTA--Advanced software algorithms developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology are the foundation for a new robotic motion control system that will help manufacturers reduce the labor involved in routine inspection and material handling...

Conveyor Sales Increase 14 Percent.
June 1, 2001... NAPLES, FL--North American conveyor manufacturers sold a record $7.3 billion in equipment during 2000--a 14 percent increase compared with 1999 sales. According of the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA), sales of...

Machine Tool Sales Decrease.
June 1, 2001... McCLEAN, VA--U.S. machine tool sales in February totaled $199 million, that's a decrease of 4.3 percent compared with January sales and a decrease of 32.4 percent compared with February 2000 sales. According to the Association for...

Adept Creates Online Tool for Selecting Robot Modules.
June 1, 2001... SAN JOSE, CA--Adept Technology Inc. has developed an online toot to help engineers analyze and select its preconfigured robotic modules. Adept's robotic SmartModules are available in more than 2,500 configurations. The company's online...

Sales Increase Predicted for Passive Components.
June 1, 2001... CLEVELAND--U.S. demand for passive electronic components will increase nearly 4 percent annually during the next 4 years. According to a study by The Freedonia Group, U.S. manufacturers will spend $21.4 billion on connectors, capacitors,...

Die Casting and Overmolding Make Strong Case for Tester.
June 1, 2001... BENSENVILLE, IL--Engineers have for the first time successfully overmolded a soft-touch elastomer to a geometrically complex magnesium die cast housing. The process was used by Chicago White Metal Casting Inc. to make the housing for a new...

EMI Opens Electronics Prototyping Facility.
June 1, 2001... SANTA ANA, CA--Contract electronics assembler Express Manufacturing Inc. has opened a new facility for prototyping electronics assemblies. The facility's equipment includes a wave-soldering machine and several Fuji surface-mount placement...

Handbook Covers Static Control Policies.
June 1, 2001... ROME, NY--The Electrostatic Discharge Association (EDA) has revised its handbook on controlling ESD. The 132-page handbook provides guidance for developing, implementing and monitoring ESD control procedures according to the American...

Ambitech Acquires Hunter.
June 1, 2001... CHATSWORTH, CA--Ambitech International has acquired Hunter Technology Corp. (Santa Clara, CA), a contract manufacturer specializing in the design, fabrication and assembly of complex, multilayer circuit boards. Ambitech is a contract...

New Process Could Replace Stamping and Hydroforming.
June 1, 2001... DETROIT--A new process for making tubular metal structures from steel and aluminum is being developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and a coalition of automotive manufacturers and suppliers. Called hot metal gas...

Loctite Opens Automotive Tech Center.
June 1, 2001... ROCKY HILL, CT--Loctite Corp. has opened a new Automotive Technology Center in Auburn Hills, MI. The center, which spans 42,000 square feet, will test customer applications, identify existing manufacturing challenges, and deliver new...

New Technique Makes Polymer Composites Less Costly.
June 1, 2001... PERTH, AUSTRALIA--Australian engineers have developed a technique for making affordable advanced polymer composites. Light and strong, advanced polymer composites have 10 times the strength-to-weight ratio of most metals. However, the...

Fuji Studies Ways to Use Prototyping to Make Parts.
June 1, 2001... MINNEAPOLIS--Stratasys Inc. and Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. (Tokyo) are developing a rapid prototyping process capable of making production-ready parts for disposable cameras. The two companies are trying to refine the fused deposition...

Researchers Don't Crab About Problem; They Solve It.
June 1, 2001... BALTIMORE--Blue crabs may be the major fishery in Maryland, but the waste from processing them is a major headache. Every pound of picked crab meat results in approximately 6 pounds of shell and chum, or some 4,000 tons per year. Most landfills...

Forest City Expands Detroit Operation.
June 1, 2001... WIXOM, MI--Forest City Technologies Inc. (Wellington, OH) has opened a new 110,000 square foot facility here. Forest City applies coatings to fasteners and fabricates seals, gaskets, O-rings and molded products for the automotive industry....

New Books Cover Human Modeling and History of P&W.
June 1, 2001... WARRENDALE, PA-New books on digital human modeling and the history of Pratt & Whitney have been published by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Digital Human Modeling for Vehicle and Workplace Design presents seven case studies in which...

NAM Grants Promote Careers in Manufacturing.
June 1, 2001... McCLEAN, VA-The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) to promote manufacturing careers to young people. AMT was one of seven organizations that received...

Sibos Acquires Illinois-Based Machine Builder.
June 1, 2001... GENEVA-Sibos Holding Corp. has acquired Prime Automation Inc. (Rockford, IL), a manufacturer of automated assembly systems for telecommunications, medical and automotive products. A subsidiary of Sibos AG (Urdorf, Switzerland) and a member...

AVOIDING ESD DURING FASTENING.
June 1, 2001... Fastening tools with anti-static features can help control the "invisible menace" that haunts the assembly process. Do you believe in ghosts? If you're involved with the assembly of microelectronic products, you should at least believe in...

A PRESSING ISSUE.
June 1, 2001... Press fits have been used to join parts rigidly for years, and today's assemblers are finding the versatility of pressing useful in a variety of product assembly tasks. Press fits are everywhere. According to Denny Lytle, product manager...

INK JETS FOR WIRE MARKING.
June 1, 2001... With an ink-jet printer, harness assemblers can put marks on wire that aid assembly, simplify troubleshooting, and facilitate traceability. As wire harnesses increase in complexity, the need to put identifying marks on individual wires...

BLIND RIVETING.
June 1, 2001... Whenever access is limited, blind rivets offer assemblers a unique way to see their way past fastening challenges. In the world of politics, a person who's one-sided usually isn't too popular with too many people. However, in the realm of...

AUTOMATED TOOLS DEBUT AT OFC.
June 1, 2001... A roundup of products unveiled during the recent Optical Fiber Conference. A record number of exhibitors and attendees participated in the recent Optical Fiber Conference (OFC) in Anaheim, CA. Distractions such as the downturn in the...

Fiber Positioning Stage.
June 1, 2001... * FiberMax is a small, high-performance multi-axis nanopositioning stage system. It features up to six axes controlled by patented non-contact, direct-drive technology for high-speed positioning and improved throughput. The compact device is...

Optical Polishing System.
June 1, 2001... * Gemini-Pi polishes multiple parts at the same time and can be quickly set up to process, in a single production shift, various fiber optic components, including planar light circuits, v-groove arrays, fiber tips and capillaries. It allows...

Assembly Cell.
June 1, 2001... * NanoCell is a pre-engineered fiber optic assembly platform that serves as a customizable building block to help slash time to volume. It can be configured with mechanical, network and electrical connections to support multiple NanoLine stages...

Inspection System.
June 1, 2001... * FiberInspect is a machine vision system that automatically detects and measures scratches, cracks and spots on fibers that form during the polishing process. Proprietary software algorithms can detect fiber end defects smaller than 1 micron....

Pick-and-Place Platform.
June 1, 2001... * The VectorPlace platform is a fully automated device that uses as many as four manipulator robots to assemble fiber optic components with submicron accuracy. The programmable, flexible workstation lends itself to a number of fully automated...

Automated Laser Welding.
June 1, 2001... * Auto Weld is a fully automated laser welding assembly platform for fiber optic components. It features completely integrated material handling systems, vision-guided and FastAlign alignment technology, proprietary tooling and fixturing...

Optical Assembly Workcell.
June 1, 2001... * The 505 Photonics Optical Assembly Work Cell can be configured for several component-attach technologies, such as epoxy die attach, eutectic bonding and flip-chip bonding. It features [+ or -]0.0005-inch (12.5 microns) or better placement...

Laser Diode Attach System.
June 1, 2001... * The LDA assembly cell packages indium phosphide laser diode assemblies onto carriers and attaches them inside an opto-electronic package. A void-free eutectic solder interface is critical for the thermal and electronic connections needed to...

Active Approach Streamlines Assembly.
June 1, 2001... One breakthrough product generating some buzz at this year's Optical Fiber Conference (OFC) was active fiber technology. KVH Industries Inc. (Middletown, RI) spent several years developing a process that eliminate the need for pigtailing, a...

Fiber Prep System.
June 1, 2001... * A fiber prep system automates slow, costly, labor-intensive assembly processes. It automatically processes optical fiber from a reel of raw fiber to a full/processed fiber with a ferrule attached in a containment package ready for the next...

Automated Test System.
June 1, 2001... * The Optium automated filter test and sort system quickly inspects and classifies thin-film filters, enabling high-volume, high-yield manufacturing. An automatic gantry handling system moves and tests up to 500 DWDM filters per hour....

Fiber Alignment Stage.
June 1, 2001... * The FAST 6 fiber positioning stage is a six-axis, production-grade system. Modular X, Y, Z, pitch, roll and yaw axes allow user-selectable configurations. The linear axes feature nanometer-level resolution, yet have the longer travel required...

Companies Work Together to Improve Ergonomics.
June 1, 2001... For years, management experts have praised Japanese companies for using daily calisthenics to reduce workplace injuries. However, workers at three manufacturing facilities belonging to Steelcase Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI) also have an effective...

Seamless Epoxy Helps Fixture Manufacturer Cut Production Time.
June 1, 2001... Automotive assembly technicians rely on fixture gauges to verify part accuracy and analyze fit and quality problems. The industry standard gauge material is aluminum, which produces fixtures with outstanding accuracy but take weeks to machine....

Dispenser Puts Panel Manufacturer on the Cutting Edge.
June 1, 2001... For nearly 20 years, Atlanta Sunbelt Products (Winder, GA) has manufactured restroom partitions and other wood-component products. And John Busener, president, believes in staying on top of the newest technologies in the manufacture and...

No Noise Is Good Noise.
June 1, 2001... It can be difficult to hear inside an ambulance as it races to the hospital. When critical and potentially lifesaving information is communicated to the hospital dispatcher, it is imperative that noise doesn't block the message. When seconds...

Polymers Improve Valve's Reliability.
June 1, 2001... Peter Paul Electronics Co. Inc. (New Britain, CT), a manufacturer of electromechanically actuated, direct-operating plunger-type solenoid valves, was looking for a way to improve product performance and reduce manufacturing costs for its Series...

Output and Quality Up; Labor Hours Down.
June 1, 2001... A workforce of 1,200 employees produces engines at the Bombardier Rotax plant in Gunskirchen, Austria. The engines power a variety of vehicles and equipment used on land, snow, water or air. The company has customer bases in industry,...

Pistol-Grip Ultrasonic Welder.
June 1, 2001... This pistol-grip attachment slips onto 20-and 40-kilohertz handheld ultrasonic welders. The lightweight attachment provides a more ergonomic way of handling the welder. The operator activates the welder by pulling the trigger. The handheld...

PC-Based Cable Tester.
June 1, 2001... The CableEye Model M3 is a PC-based tester for cables and wire harnesses. During tests, it displays a graphic wiring diagram and highlights errors in color. Notes can be added to the diagram to conform with ISO 9000 requirements. The compact...

SCARA Robots.
June 1, 2001... The turboscara SR6 and SR8 robots are used for assembly, soldering, dispensing and material handling. The SR6 has a reach of 600 millimeters; the SR8 has a reach of 800 millimeters. Both have a payload capacity of 8 kilograms, a Z-axis stroke...

Valve Has Disposable Screw.
June 1, 2001... The Disposable Material Path valve has a disposable feed screw for easy maintenance and more reliable dispensing. Made of Delrin, the feed screw can be used with viscous and abrasive materials. A hinged doorway at the front of the valve grants...

[CO.sub.2] Laser System.
June 1, 2001... Using a two-step process, uncoated metals can be marked with the [CO.sub.2] laser. When used in conjunction with a liquid chemical compound applied directly to the substrate, the laser can produce a high-contrast black mark. No damage or stress...

Laser Marking System.
June 1, 2001... The LE series desktop marker has a Nd:[YVO.sub.4] laser with the same 1,064-nanometer wavelength as a Nd:YAG laser. It creates such marks as photographs, alphanumeric text and various bar codes, including 2D Data Matrix, on glass, metals,...

Extruder Ring Band Marker.
June 1, 2001... The Extruder Ring Band Marker produces band marks for high-temperature applications on wire substrates. It can apply two color bands simultaneously with various ring pitch and two-color marking separations. It has a rear inkfeed system.

Bar Code Verifier.
June 1, 2001... The Autoscan II incorporates film master analysis, traditional bar and space dimensional analysis, and ANSI reflectance profile analysis. It features a portable scan head, controller, video display, keyboard and mouse. The scan head provides...

Bar Code Scanner for PCB Production.
June 1, 2001... The MS-820 bar code scanner reads high-density bar codes. No special programming is required. It has a raster feature and a scan rate of 1,100 scans per second. Additional features include IP65- rated die-cast metal housing and reverse video.

Electric Cabinet Oven.
June 1, 2001... No. 596 is an electrically heated oven for soldering parts in fixtures. It can reach a maximum temperature of 650 F. It has an extended chamber width and four front-access doors. Horizontal airflow across two metal shelves processes the...

Microprocessor-Based Fume Extractor.
June 1, 2001... The Arm-Evac 250 removes solder fume. A graphical LED filter condition monitor changes color as the filter becomes clogged, and an audible signal alerts the user that a filter change is required. The motor pump senses clogging and compensates...

Circuit Board Cleaner.
June 1, 2001... The CBW-218 Omnijet washer, for electronics assembly and semiconductor packaging, features stainless steel construction, sustained solution temperature, high-volume EDM spray bar and convection-type dryer.

Cellular Washer.
June 1, 2001... The LeanClean 360 provides efficient parts cleaning in minimal space. It provides automated, variable speed wash, rinse and dry cycles, and processes 10 standard or 20 small baskets per hour. Standard features include stainless steel...

Low-Profile Belt Conveyors.
June 1, 2001... These low-profile belt conveyors have widths up to 60 inches and lengths up to 100 feet. They are available in standard, corrosion-resistant, wash-down and magnetic versions. Load capacities are up to 1,000 pounds. Speeds of 2,000 fpm can be...

Edge-Belt Conveyour.
June 1, 2001... The Quick-Edge transports large and miniature printed circuit boards, ball grid flex arrays, MCMs and ceramic substrates. Features include standard or low-profile extruded rails, zone control, product metering and T-slot rails. Motor options...

Multifunction Utility Cart.
June 1, 2001... Flat-top and box-top versions enhance this utility cart's functions. Molded from HDPE structural foam, the ProCart has a 400-pound capacity and will not dent, rust or chip. I-beam, two-post construction simplifies loading and unloading...

Lightweight Ribbed Belt.
June 1, 2001... This longitudinally ribbed rubber belt creates a 50 percent surface contact area. The rubber has a hardness rating of 55 Shore A. It is available in two-ply 90, three-ply 135 and two-ply 160, and in widths of 60 and 72 inches.

Nest and Stack Boxes.
June 1, 2001... These reinforced composite boxes are moveable when stacked on a caster dolly base, with or without lids, They are also impervious to temperature, radiation, mild acids and alkaline solutions, and detergents.

Storage and Transport Cart.
June 1, 2001... The ESD utility cart can be used to transport electronics components and work-in-process. Carts have a compact footprint. Numerous sizes are available, or carts can be custom-built. Removable conductive polymer mats, and chrome-plated steel...

Magnetic Conveyors.
June 1, 2001... Incline and vertical magnetic conveyors can elevate various parts and scrap up inclines as steep as 90 degrees, providing positive control of part spacing, orientation and direction. They can be used to elevate, feed, transport, accumulate,...

Benchtop Dispenser.
June 1, 2001... Portionator III can meter, mix and dispense one-drop shots of two-component epoxies, urethanes, silicones, inks and acrylics in 1.75 seconds. Continuous lines can also be dispensed. Features include a variable dispense amount, independently...

Hot Melt Adhesive Valve Modules.
June 1, 2001... The Go-Pro ICON-R Series hot-melt adhesive valve modules have bolt-on replacements for other designated brands, carbide valve stems and seats, stainless steel module bodies and stainless steel features. It can use existing nozzles.

Dispensing Cartridge.
June 1, 2001... Dev-Tube dispensing cartridges hold 25 milliliters of two-component adhesive and provide ratio control, safety and minimized waste. It has a snap-off cap which allows for resealing after use. The single plunger allows correct ratio dispensing....

Helix Beam Type Couplings.
June 1, 2001... Flexure helix beam type couplings come in various materials, and coil thicknesses, coil numbers and configurations. They are suitable for motion control, instrumentation and power transmission applications.

Two-Part Keyless SCL Powertrain Hubs.
June 1, 2001... The Vercobloc two-cone SCL bush works with pulleys, sprockets, couplings and hubs without a key. When drawn to a specific torque, the SCL bush transmits power. It is available in shaft diameters from 14 to 65 millimeters with Outer diameters...

Universal Clamping System.
June 1, 2001... Unilock universal zero-point clamping system provides accurate and repeatable setups of workholding fixtures for production run machining and grinding operations. It consists of stationary modules that are installed on a production machine's...

Clamp-Style G Jaw.
June 1, 2001... The G jaw's large jaw opening accommodates difficult-to-clamp panels. It is available in two sizes, one jaw style and three jaw openings, and provides 500 pounds of grip force. It can be used for material handling and special sheet metal...

Rotary Actuator for Rotary Tables.
June 1, 2001... Model RR18 and RR28 actuators have flange hardstops located at the edge of the table. The rack and pinion components are made of hardened tool steel, while the body and flange are one-piece, high-strength 7075-T6 aircraft-quality aluminum....

Miniature Ballscrews and Leadscrews.
June 1, 2001... These ballscrews and leadscrews are tested to be accurate and cost-effective. Leadscrew sizes range from 1 to 50 millimeters with a minimum pitch starting from 0.1 millimeter. Ballscrew sizes range from 4 to 16 millimeters with various leads to...

Metric Ballscrews and Leadscrews.
June 1, 2001... PowerAc Speedy Metric High-Helix leadscrews provide fast travel rates and high load rates at low rotational speeds. The standard lead accuracy is [+ or -]0.21 millimeter per 300 millimeters or [+ or -]0. 1 millimeters per 300 millimeters by...

Short-Stroke Pneumatic Cylinders.
June 1, 2001... AEVC and ADVC short-stroke pneumatic cylinders have an aluminum, one-piece design, which can result in a 33 percent space savings. The complete configuration range consists of 13 bore sizes to support stroke lengths between 2.5 to 25...

Flexibility With Serial Bus Air Valve Manifold.
June 1, 2001... Interface 2000 features plug-in electrical connections. It is quickly assembled and installed into a DIN rail-mounted interface valve island with transparent automatic addressing up to 16 valves. PLC connection is possible using subD25, 19-pin...

Surviving the Southbound Market.
June 1, 2001... Here's the enigma du jour: Is this downturn in the business cycle just a bump in the economic road, or the harbinger of recession? Whatever you want to call it, many of our clients are less concerned with terminology than the fact that their...