Assembly articles from June 2002

Assembly archives from June 2002

Death benefits. (Editorial).
June 1, 2002... In Uncommon Sense (April 2002) Andy Magee, senior consultant with the Bourton Group, wrote, "Every business has its superstars. What happens when a bus hits a superstar? No one wants to think about it but there is a reason why insurance...

Sizing cylinders. (X-Y-Z).
June 1, 2002... When choosing a cylinder for a motion control application, engineers must find the right combination of stroke length and bore size to get the job done. Determining stroke length is easy. It's simply how far you want to move the load. It's...

Just-in-time buying on the rise. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... NEW YORK--Fifty-seven percent of manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and government buyers say they are increasing just-in-time buying this year. An online poll conducted by Thomas Register asked purchasers about their just-in-time...

Logistics Execution Systems guide published. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... CHARLOTTE, NC--The Logistics Execution Systems Association has published a 165-page educational guide to logistics execution systems (LES). The introduction defines LES and its components. It also provides advice on developing the right...

Consumer products increase GPS market. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... SAN JOSE, CA--Global positioning system (GPS) products continue to gain acceptance among end-users in previously untapped markets. High-volume applications--such as in-vehicle navigation and fleet management--is expected to drive demand for GPS...

Kollmorgen wins contract from Otis. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... RADFORD, VA--Kollmorgen, a manufacturer of motion control products and systems, has been awarded a follow-on development contract by Otis Elevator Co. (Farmington, CT), which will extend the market and product range for Otis' Gen2 elevator...

Loctite earns Nissan award. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... ROCKY HILL, CT--For the fifth consecutive year, Nissan North America Inc. has awarded Loctite Corp. with the Quality Master award. Loctite was recognized for supplying Nissan North America Inc. with excellent product quality, response time,...

Lean manufacturers recognized for Excellence. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... LOGAN, UT--The Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing announced the recipients of its 14th annuai business awards. This year, a record number of plants earned the award. This program is the only industrial excellence award that...

Vehicle sales on track. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... MCLEAN, VA--Perhaps Americans shouldn't be looking forward to more of those 0 percent programs, as seen last fall. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), automobile sales are on track to top 16 million. Surging...

Bush aims to cut MEP. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... WASHINGTON, DC-- A Bush administration proposal would reduce federal funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) by 88 percent in 2003. Created in 1988, the MEP is a nationwide network of nonprofit organizations that provide...

Cable test's distribution network expands. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... MARKHAM, ON, CANADA--CableTest Systems Inc. provides cable testing to a variety of industries. And now, the company has added two companies to its network. Spectra Sales Corp. (Dallas) will provide CableTest sales, training and service...

Aimco and Rodcraft form partnership. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... PORTLAND, OR-Rodcraft Pneumatic Tools (Mulheim A.D. Ruhr, Germany) has appointed Aimco's subsidiary, Eagle Industries, as the North American supplier for American Roderaft Pneumatic Tools and Accessories. Aimco is a provider of assembly tools,...

Small firms pay most to comply. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... ARLINGTON, VA--U.S. manufacturers paid $28 billion in 2000 to comply with federal workplace regulations. That's an average of $2.2 million per firm, or approximately $1,700 per employee. This and other revelations can be found in a study...

SME adds tooling courses to its curriculum. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... DEARBORN, MI--The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has partnered with Tooling University to provide online courses in shop floor operations. The added courses include such topics as work holding, metal cutting, computer numerical...

Delmia software to be used in research. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... TROY, MI--The Digital Shipbuilding Innovation Center (DSIC), part of Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea, has been awarded research funding by the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research. Delmia software from Delmia Corp., together...

Diesel engine and parts demand to increase. (Assembly Lines).
June 1, 2002... CLEVELAND--World diesel engine and parts demand is forecast to rise 5.5 percent per year through 2005 to $95 billion. According to the Freedonia Group, this pace will mark a deceleration from the 1995-2000 pace, as a result of an...

Plastic molder uses vision. (Assembly in Action).
June 1, 2002... Spectrum Plastics (Ansonia, CT) is a stickler about quality, and it shows in every aspect of its operations. "We must provide the highest quality product to our customers. This has been our goal since day one," says Pierre Dziubina, Spectrum's...

Conveyor handles increased capacity. (Assembly in Action).
June 1, 2002... Seagate Technology (Limavady, Northern Ireland) was challenged with quickly and significantly increasing capacity due to the consolidation of its disk media substrate business. The company decided that automated material handling equipment...

Vertical lift modules add efficiency to service operations. (Assembly in Action).
June 1, 2002... By replacing traditional shelving with a vertical storage and retrieval system, Thermo Forma (Marietta, OH) has improved productivity and freed valuable floor space to accommodate growth. The company manufactures controlled-environment...

Linear vibration welding adds new dimension. (Assembly in Action).
June 1, 2002... Since its founding, Urgent Plastics Services (Rochester Hills, MI) has specialized in the rapid prototyping of injection-molded plastic components. Emphasis is on fast turnarounds and delivering parts that are close to production-like quality,...

Adhesive cuts cost not quality. (Assembly in Action).
June 1, 2002... Keller Manufacturing Co. (Corydon, IN) has evolved from its beginnings as a wagon spoke manufacturer to a fine furniture maker by making high-quality products and plenty of cost-saving choices. When the company was incorporated in 1895,...

Real-world flexibility: flexible automation and simultaneous engineering are critical to the success of three different manufacturers. (Automated Assembly).
June 1, 2002... Every builder of automated assembly systems talks about flexibility and simultaneous engineering, but how are these concepts put into practice in real-world projects? For a medical device company, an automotive company and a telecommunications...

The 42-volt challenge: automakers are staring to convert to more powerful electrical systems. (Assembly Trends).
June 1, 2002... In a popular song, folk singer Jimmy Buffet explains how "changes in latitude lead to changes in attitude." That may be true in the Caribbean paradise he often sings about, but it doesn't apply to the U.S. auto industry. Engineers in...

Passing the boards: conveyors can help electronics assemblers balance production, maximize equipment utilization and increase floor space. (Electronics Assembly).
June 1, 2002... One of the electronics industry's dirty little secrets is that the average printed circuit board (PCB) assembly line is only 40 percent efficient. With that kind of efficiency, small changes can make a big difference. At a high-volume shop, a...

Sizing up robot controllers: controls are getting smaller, smarter and more flexible thanks to open architectures. (Motion Control).
June 1, 2002... Recently, a special ceremony was held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, to recognize the contributions of an assembly pioneer. An industrial robot affectionately known as "Alice" was the guest of honor. General Motors Corp....

How sensors make sense: sensors are used in assembly operations to detect presence, position, orientation or movement of an object. (Assembly Handbook).
June 1, 2002... According to survey conducted by the Freedonia Group Inc., sensor demand from the industrial sector will increase 6 percent per year through 2006 to $3.3 billion. These gains will be fueled by a healthy macroeconomic climate and steadily...

Meter, mix and dispense system. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... The Model 442 Dynamic Autovalve dispenses hard-to-mix, two-component urethanes and epoxies. The two components are ported separately through the valve body and manifold. They combine at the dynamic mixer inlet through use of a sequenced start....

Kit converts benches. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... The Taskmate kit converts workbenches into full-function workstations. The kit enables bench owners to use accessories, such as shelves, lights, power strips, tool trolleys, tote bars, hardboard and Peg-Board panels, and monitor arms. The kit...

Gauge measures force. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... The measurement capacity of the Force One force gauge can be changed by swapping one of seven interchangeable cells. The measurement capacity of the cells ranges from 2 to 200 pounds. Each cell is accurate to [+ or -]0.3 percent. The peak...

Intelligent tools. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... The 66 Series of intelligent DC electric fastening tools includes the following models: right angle, right angle flanged head, right angle sliding spindle, inline, offset, tube nut, crowfoot and pistol grip. Each tool's handle has a...

Sealant tester. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... The Series 540 tests the ability of adhesives and sealants to endure expansion and contraction caused by changing environmental conditions. This computerized tester applies alternating cycles of tension and compression to as many as 12...

Rapid leak tester. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... This rapid leak tester can test entire batches of plastic parts. The unit can test 15 plastic parts per second online. It can be integrated into an assembly machine or as a separate unit acting as a supplement to an existing production line....

Heavy-duty press. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... The Model BTP-501 pneumatic press accepts a standard or multistage cylinder with a 5-inch bore. The stroke length ranges from ito 8 inches, and the depth of the ram can be adjusted in 0.001-inch increments. TRD Manufacturing Inc. ...

Software for composite design and manufacturing. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... Version 3.3 of FiberSIM/UG software enables composite design and manufacturing on the Unigraphics CAD system. It includes such enhancements as importing stored ply definitions into the composite engineering environment, accelerating the...

Torque and angle wrench. (Assembly Products).
June 1, 2002... With the Model CTA digital torque and angle wrench, the operator sets torque and angle values. The applied torque is then digitally displayed. When the torque is reached, the display automatically changes from torque to angle mode. When the set...

Low-viscosity epoxy. (Adhesives).
June 1, 2002... EP19HT is a low-viscosity, one-component epoxy for bonding, sealing, impregnating and coating. It cures readily at temperatures above 250 F and has a shelf life of 3 months. The epoxy provides high strength and chemical resistance over a...

Contact cement. (Adhesives).
June 1, 2002... No. 2548 moisture-curing contact cement contains no solvents or water. This warm-melt adhesive has an open assembly time of 30 to 60 minutes. Upon cooling, the adhesive has enough green strength to withstand cutting, routing and other...

Tape secures air bags. (Adhesives).
June 1, 2002... No. 1301 is an adhesive acetate cloth tape for securing folded automotive air bags. The tape shears at precisely the right load to ensure controlled deployment of the air bag. It holds the folded bag in place at temperatures of -35 to 85 C. ...

Silicone sealant. (Adhesives).
June 1, 2002... Sprayon RTV silicone sealant is used for formed-in-place gaskets, sealing and bonding. It will not shrink, crack or dry out. It withstands temperatures of -80 to 450 F. It meets OEM volatility specifications and will not foul engine sensors....

Walk-in curing oven. (Dispensing & Curing).
June 1, 2002... No. 877 walk-in electric oven can be heated to 500 F. The inside of the oven is 108 inches wide, 144 inches deep and 84 inches tall. A 30-hp blower circulates air around the work load at 17,500 cfm. The oven's digital temperature Controller is...

UV light without heat. (Dispensing & Curing).
June 1, 2002... The QuadCure ultraviolet (UV) curing system has several features to control heat. Reflectors have a dichroic coating that reflects UV light, but not heat-generating infrared waves. The lamp is air-cooled and the housing is water-cooled. Air and...

Curing system. (Dispensing & Curing).
June 1, 2002... The ELC-4001 light-curing system generates 125 milliwatts of ultraviolet (UV) light energy per square centimeter at a peak wavelength of 365 nanometers. A visible light version provides 600 milliwatts of light energy per square centimeter at a...

Valve for Micro deposits. (Dispensing & Curing).
June 1, 2002... The DL Micro Valve dispenses small volumes of material. The rotation of the auger is precisely controlled by a brushless motor with programmable encoder. The encoder provides more than 57,000 counts for every full revolution of the auger. ...

Pump handles abrasive adhesives. (Dispensing & Curing).
June 1, 2002... The SPX peristaltic hose pump handles abrasive adhesives. This self-priming pump accommodates flow rates of 0.1 microliter per minute to 350 gallons per minute. It handles a pressure of 232 psi. Models with integral digital drives and wash down...

Dispenser for two-part materials. (Dispensing & Curing).
June 1, 2002... The AC100 automatically proportions and dispenses tow-part liquids and pastes. Using positive-displacement piston metering, the machine handles mix ratios from 1-to-1 to 100-to-1. It has an air-operated, three-way recharge and dispense valve....

Machine fills Cartridges. (Dispensing & Curing).
June 1, 2002... This machine pumps 1 pound of material from a 5-gallon bucket into a caulking gun or cartridge in 7 seconds. It uses all the material in the pail and will not spurt. Force-Flo Inc. www.forceflo.com 216-431-7270 Reply 119

Saddles hold wires. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... These wire saddles are installed in wood, metal or particleboard to hold bundles of wire. They can be installed in threaded, punched, drilled or bling holes. Richco Inc. www.richcoinc.com 773-539-4060 Reply 120

Self-clinching inserts. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... Miniature, self-clinching threaded inserts are made of stainless steel. They come in free running and locking thread versions. The self-looking threads provide a prevailing torque on the mating screw. The fasteners are coated with a dry film...

Spiral retaining rings. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... These spiral retaining rings can operate in an internal and an external groove at the same time. The rings are available in carbon or stainless steel. Smalley Steel Ring Co. www.smalley.com 847-537-7600 Reply 122

Rivet nuts. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... The SpinTite threaded rivet nut has a half-hex shank and low-profile head. It has a high torque-to-turn resistance when installed in hex holes. It's used in blind attachment applications, when only one side of the workpiece is accessible. With...

Accessible screw terminals. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... These elongated screw terminals are used to make connections above a printed circuit board. Typical applications include power supplies, multiboard stacks and terminations outside the product. The terminal is tin-plated brass; the screw is...

Coating holds fasteners. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... The Nystay temporary locating patch is applied to threaded or unthreaded fasteners to hold them in place during automated assembly. This lets the assembler install the fasteners in components prior to final assembly. Nylok Fastener Corp....

Bulkhead fittings. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... Double-barbed bulkhead fittings provide space for a secure tubing clamp. The fittings can be made from nylon, polypropylene, glass-filled nylon, polyethylene and Kynar. Two ID sizes are available: 1/4 and 3/8 inch. Industrial Specialties...

Isolation mounts for fans. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... These isolation mounts are used with small fans installed in electronic equipment. Made of a damped elastomer, the fan mounts control noise and vibration by forming resilient connections where a fan fastens to a frame or enclosure. E-A-R...

Decorative bolts. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... These bolts have decorative heads to give products a finished look without the need to conceal fasteners. The bolts connect components at right angles. They come in three drive styles: hex, cross recess and cross slot. Head diameter is 13 or 17...

Strut nut. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... The Caddy Slick strut nut attaches threaded rods and hardware to standard strut profiles. The nut toggles into place, eliminating the need for a washer. An integrated plastic strip provides tension to grip the strut, even vertically. A threaded...

Cable tie holder. (Fasteners).
June 1, 2002... The screw-mount cable tie holder is molded in a natural color nylon 6/6 material. It has a two-way entry that is secured with a 1/4-20 or M-6 mounting screw. Micro Plastics Inc. www.microplastics.com 870-453-2261 Reply 130

Acme screws and ballscrews. (Motion Control).
June 1, 2002... Powerac Acme screws and Powertrac ballscrews are available in diameters of 0.25 to 1.5 inches. Both are available heat-treated. Nook Industries www.nookindustries.com 800-321-7800 Reply 131

High-torque linear actuator. (Motion Control).
June 1, 2002... The DuraPlus high-torque linear actuator has an internal rotating nut made from a self-lubricating polymer. The leadscrew is made from 300 Series stainless steel. The NEMA 17 motor produces a peak torque of 60 in.-oz and a maximum linear force...

Synchronizing controller. (Motion Control).
June 1, 2002... This controller provides speed synchronizing, position synchronizing, and position synchronizing with marker correction. It requires no extra programming software, and all parameters to start synchronizing applications are internal to the...

Timing pulley idler assembly. (Motion Control).
June 1, 2002... Specifically for use in applying pretension to timing belts in positioning systems, these idler assemblies include two flanged miniature stainless steel bearings preloaded with a wave spring, a stainless steel shaft and aluminum housing....

Microstepping drive. (Motion Control).
June 1, 2002... The Geckodrive G201 microstepping drive provides up to 200,000 microsteps per second with smooth, lO-microstep circuitry. The drive features adjustable midband stabilization and optoisolated step and directional inputs. It handles motor phase...

Press has precise stroke. (Single-Station-Machines).
June 1, 2002... The Flexopress has a zero-clearance ball or roller bearing guidance system so that ram-to-bed travel won't vary by more than 0.0005 inch per foot, regardless of stroke length. It comes in various configurations, including a high-speed, C-frame...

Automatic screwfeeder. (Single-Station Machines).
June 1, 2002... This screwfeeder quickly and consistently presents up to 120 screws per minute. It feeds all fastener types, including fasteners with captive washers. Its feed rails can be adjusted to accommodate screw sizes from #0 to #10. ASG, a Div. of...

Pneumatic press. (Single-Station Machines).
June 1, 2002... The A-6019 pneumatic press is used for precision assembly, staking, shearing and punching light-gauge metal or plastic. It has a steel base and a separate ductile iron column. By request, the clearance under the column can be increased by...

Device monitors press operation. (Single-Station Machines).
June 1, 2002... The Press Control 1001 monitors the performance of direct-acting pneumatic and hydropneumatic presses. Real-time data acquisition of force and ram stroke displacement is accomplished through integrated electromagnetic transducers and...

Machine installs self-piercing rivets. (Single-Station Machines).
June 1, 2002... This machine installs self-piercing rivets in steel, aluminum and plastic composites. Dual blow feeders route rivets of varying shapes, sizes and thicknesses to the setting tool, which generates 7 tons of force. The tool sets 60 rivets per...

Riveter controls process. (Single-Station Machines).
June 1, 2002... The Spinnomatic orbital riveter can be equipped with strain and linear position sensors to provide total control over the forming process. Rivets can be formed to a specified height or force. The riveter detects irregularities caused by...

Machine installs snap rings. (Single-Station Machines).
June 1, 2002... This machine installs external axial retaining rings and snap rings. The operator places the component into the installation mandrel and, with a simple motion, the ring is automatically installed into the groove. Rates of 2,400 parts per hour...

Driver has quick-change tooling. (Single-Station Machines).
June 1, 2002... The StickShooter screwdriver accepts "sticks" of up to 110 serially connected hex-head screws in sizes ranging from #0-80 to #8-32 and M2 to M3. At the right torque, the screws twist off cleanly from the stick. Available in pistol-grip and...

Test platform. (Test & Measurement).
June 1, 2002... The PXI-1006 is a platform for manufacturing test, data acquisition and large switching applications. It has an 18-slot PXI back-plane, a removable 600-watt power supply, and three 130-cfm fans. The chassis has an extended star trigger bus and...

Probe for harness testers. (Test & Measurement).
June 1, 2002... The Smart Probe is a handheld tool for testing unterminated wires or connectors that are not wired to the tester. The tool is used with the Horizon 1500 cable and harness tester and the MPT wiring analyzer. The probe has a built-in LCD and...

Unit collects torque data. (Test & Measurement).
June 1, 2002... The Model 9000 portable data collector records and displays torque, angle and rpm data from power tools. It also performs statistical calculations and presents this information graphically on a color LCD. The instrument can be programmed via a...

Unit calibrates leak testers. (Test & Measurement).
June 1, 2002... The CM-25 CalMaster quickly and accurately calibrates most makes of pressure-flow- or vacuum-type leak testers. Designed for small leak rate and low flow applications, its calibration range is 0.025 to 1.999 standard cubic centimeters per...

Pattern generator. (Test & Measurement).
June 1, 2002... The CompactPCI PI-2005 generates simple or complex digital patterns for test applications requiring serial or parallel digital data streams. With 64 kilobytes of memory per channel, it can be expanded to 64 output channels in 16-channel...

Unit measures static charges. (Test & Measurement).
June 1, 2002... The FMX-002 is a portable instrument for measuring electrostatic charge. It measures positive and negative charges of up to 20 kilovolts at a distance of 1 inch. With an optional charge plate, it can be used to verify ionizer balance...

Mini load cell. (Test & Measurement).
June 1, 2002... The Model 31A miniature load cell has an internal amplifier that can provide an output of 0 to 5 VDC or 4 to 20 milliamperes. It can measure cable tension, monitor presses or test parts. Constructed of 17-4PH stainless steel, the cell has an...

Mobile cabinets. (Workstations & Accessories).
June 1, 2002... Mobile cabinets are available in various heights, widths and depths. Work surfaces include maple, plastic laminate and a retainer top with a ribbed mat. The drawers hold 440 pounds and come in seven heights. Shelves and plastic box rails mount...

Disposable earplugs. (Workstations & Accessories).
June 1, 2002... Bilsom 202 NST disposable earplugs protect ears from harmful noise, but allow speech and warning signals to be heard. Available in two sizes, the plugs are comfortable enough to be worn for an entire shift. Dalloz Safety ...

Insulated work gloves. (Workstations & Accessories).
June 1, 2002... Insulated work gloves protect hands from cold and abrasions without limiting dexterity. The nitrile-coated Insulated Strapper has a heavy fleeced lining, a safety cuff and a knit wrist. The Snowman is a gauntlet-style version of the Strapper....

Modular components. (Workstations & Accessories).
June 1, 2002... Modular components in the Quixxstart Kit can be assembled to create carts, workstations, flow racks and other material handling systems for just-in-time manufacturing operations. The kit includes stainless steel tubing in 12-foot lengths, nylon...

Absorbent mat. (Workstations & Accessories).
June 1, 2002... The Gray Ham-O Pig mat absorbs oil and other liquids that spill on a work surface. It has a black and gray camouflage pattern to hide stains. Three sizes are available: 16.5 inches by 150 feet, 33 inches by 150 feet, and 16.5 inches by 20 feet....

Why business fail: technology cannot be successfully implemented without considering the complex human side of the enterprise. (Uncommon Sense).
June 1, 2002... Lack of working capital, government regulation, loss of market share, foreign competition and stagnant product development have all been blamed for business failures. However, these are only symptoms. In 1957, C. Northcote Parkinson coined the...

Top dogs, big bucks. (Editorial).
June 22, 2002... The consensus is that the worst of the recession is over for the majority of U.S. manufacturers. Even so, the effects are lingering as they always do. Many assemblers are still facing capital budget cutbacks and staff reductions, although some...