Automation – Page 251
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ArticleCompósitos: Em boa forma
Uma variedade de materiais compósitos estão agora disponíveis para as montadoras de veículos, embora desafios permaneçam como o custo e a velocidade de produção - além de reciclagem...Embora as vantagens de compósitos poliméricos sejam bem conhecidas na indústria automotiva, a sua utilização tem sido impedida pelos elevados custos de materiais, ...
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WebinarHexagon Metrology: Fast, rich and actionable 3D process control
Global automotive manufacturers are aiming to improve mechanical and visual assembly quality and reduce rework while accelerating new vehicle launches. 3D Metrology and In-line process control technologies are important contributors for achieving higher quality products, more stable process and faster ramp up for new vehicle programs. The introduction of fast ...
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ArticleMateriales compuestos: en buena forma
Los fabricantes de coches disponen de una amplia gama de materiales compuestos, cada uno con propiedades específicas y procesos de producción diferentes, los principales retos son los costes, la velocidad de producción y el reciclaje Los compuestos de polímeros llevan tiempo en la industria del automóvil pero su uso ...
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ArticleUn dulce hogar para Honda
La marca ha actualizado con una mayor automatización sus capacidades de trenes de potencia y estampado en la planta de Lincoln Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) ha sido seleccionada para producir el Acura MDX, el producto más técnico producido en la planta. HMA está clasificada como una planta para camionetas ...
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ArticleDriving Honda
I’m occasionally offered the opportunity to receive advance copies of books, but unfortunately most of the time the subject isn’t relevant to my work. That’s not to say they aren’t automotive related, it’s just that they don’t cover my specific area of interest. Working on an automotive title, it’s often ...
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ArticleThin-walled tube bending
To avoid the issue of cracking thin-walled tubing Schwarze-Robitec says it has optimised the transport boost of its CNC machines and adapted the bending tools. These are equipped with a vertically traveling pressure die assembly, which the comapny says improves the adjustability of the forces the machines achieve, offering precise ...
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ArticleHonda hits 300m milestone for motorcycles
Japan – After 65 years of manufacturing, the OEM produced its 300 millionth motorcycle, a Honda Gold Wing, at its Kumamoto Factory. Honda will celebrate the 40th anniversary of this model next year.Honda began mass production of motorcycles in Japan in 1949, with the Honda 98cc Dream Type-D. The launch ...
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ArticleDeveloping real drive
Complex nine- and ten-speed gearboxes are requiring fresh investment in manufacturing capabilitiies When Mercedes came to develop its innovative 9G-Tronic transmission, it required an entirely new development process. For the first time, an intensive, computer-based systems analysis and synthesis was used to define the gear set concept. From a total ...
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ArticleVW assigns €85.6bn to Automotive over five years
Germany – The funds will be spent on new models, innovative technologies and the OEM’s global presence in its Automotive Division between 2015 and 2019. “We will continue to invest in the future to become the leading automotive group in both ecological and economic terms – with the best and ...
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ArticleGeared up to the maximum
The number of gears in transmissions is increasing, but OEMs may be about to hit an upper limit The four-, five- and even six-speed gearboxes may well have had their day. So says Mark Champine, director transmission and driveline platform at Chrysler. “It may be a little bit different region ...
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ArticleStaying out of touch
Automated, non-contact measurement solutions seem to be the way forward for automotive manufacturingAutomotive plants require a variety of cell configurations for robotic 3D metrology and process control. Typically, such solutions will be based upon key components that include: industrial robots as flexible sensor positioning platforms; non-contact, white-light sensors; a software ...
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ArticleGM to spend $200m on Orion & Pontiac plants
US – The investment at the two facilities is to prepare for a future vehicle programme, and forms part of a $300m expenditure planned by GM for its operations in Michigan. Orion Assembly will receive $160m for tooling and equipment, while Pontiac Metal Center will get $40m for new dies.Cathy ...
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WebinarComau webinar: Light weighting manufacturing technologies
Automotive manufacturing relies on the use of efficient, high-volume processes which guarantee productivity and quality. In practical terms, this can be translated into effective performance-based Body-in-White solutions that deliver speed, precision and the flexibility to handle the growing use of multiple materials.In an exclusive Comau webinar, Martin Kinsella, Director of ...
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Article
_Hexagon Metrology: Fast, rich and actionable 3D process control
Global automotive manufacturers are aiming to improve mechanical and visual assembly quality and reduce rework while accelerating new vehicle launches. 3D Metrology and In-line process control technologies are important contributors for achieving higher quality products, more stable process and faster ramp up for new vehicle programs. The introduction of fast ...
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ArticleSteel's stiff competition
New developments have made composite materials an increasingly viable option in vehicle manufacturingThe phrase ‘the right material in the right place’ has become something of a mantra for vehicle-makers in recent years in their efforts to reduce the weight of their cars. While the use of aluminium is increasing, many ...
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ArticleVW reports ‘Think Blue.Factory’ success
Germany – The OEM says it has completed over 2,700 projects and made its production processes 17% more “environmentally compatible” over the past three years. The results were presented by more than 250 experts from 27 plants of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and the company’s Components division.The objective ...
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ArticleSuper colour vision
The latest technologies, including 3D dirt detection, can significantly improve the efficacy of colour identification in a range of automotive production applications At first glance, colour appears to be a fairly straightforward concept. However, when it comes to checking and measurement, it rapidly becomes a complex entity that demands attention ...
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ArticleAlabama: A sweet home for Honda
The OEM's Lincoln plant has upgraded its powertrain and stamping capabilities with greater automation Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) was selected to make the Acura MDX, which is the most technical product built at the plant. Classed as a light-truck facility, HMA builds three models: Odyssey, Pilot and MDX.The plant ...
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Article阿拉巴马: 本田的安乐窝
该原始设备制造商在Lincon的工厂，已经以更高的自动化升级了动力系统和冲压生产线 阿拉巴马的本田制造厂（HMA），被选中制造Acura MDX车型，这是工厂里技术性最高的产品制造。HMA工厂被列入轻型车制造厂的行列，主要制造三种车型：Odyssey，Pilot和MDX。 工厂里一直为国内巨大的皮卡车市场生产Ridgeline汽车，但是为了准备推出全新皮卡车，所有生产都将停止。 工厂占地1,300英亩，厂房设施占地超过300万平方英尺，拥有4,000名员工。除了汽车生产，工厂还拥有400,000平方英尺的动力系统生产车间，每年共生产340,000部汽车和发动机。工厂最近引进自动化水平更高的程序，极大推动了V6发动机的生产。 HMA公司总裁Jeff Tomlo说，“目前的发动机生产将搬到新工厂的一个生产线上，在那里可以根据要求，比如车型变体，在第一生产新或第二生产线上进行生产。现在发动机生产的自动化水平在32-35%之间，所以算是人力密集型操作。新设施的自动化水平达到65-70%；几乎是原来的2倍。这将成为本田工厂里自动化水平最高的发动机装配线之一。” 他继续说道：“自动化可以实现进一步的质量检验和核查，而且由于发动机变得越来越复杂，而且变型也越来越多，这个生产线的增加能使我们灵活制造不同类型的发动机，而不需要做很多修改。” 工程技术实力Lincoln的制造车间包括：一个适用钢和铝的冲裁生产线；冲压；焊接；喷漆；注塑模具；铸铝；铝和亚铁加工；汽车组件和装配；发动机装配；车辆实验；和质量保证。 这个生产线反映了本田公司的垂直一体化制造工艺。虽然公司已经与外部供应商之间建立了强大的长期合作关系，但是公司将一直利用其发达的工程技术实力；现场铸铝和注塑模具（有3个模具用于保险杠和仪表板生产）就是个好例子。 本田想要在厂内保留复杂的装配工艺的意愿已经非常明显。仪表盘 — 通常是由主要供应商装配，然后运送到其他原始设备制造商的生产线上 — 是在本田Lincoln工厂装配而成，每件只需23分钟的程序。 伺服控制冲压操作是在以液压操作的两个AIDA冲压线上进行，现在又有一个额外新的伺服冲床作补充，这能在强钢成型时提供更强的控制。压力机为以4个阶段锻造class-A面板，具有自动化处理与堆叠操作的特点；冲模转换能在7至8分钟内完成。然后由转包商完成较小的子结构冲压工作。 汽车车体修理厂实现了高度自动化（80-90%），有200个机器人实行操作和焊接，每天能生产1,500个单位。在这里人工操作相对少的工作就是，将车门搬到一个旋转站，然后（由机器人）完成焊接。 与许多原始设备制造商相同，本田在Lincoln实行准时制零部件送递程序，在现场保留4小时工作量的零部件。整个车辆生产量都在送递之前进行跟踪监测（这是质量控制程序的一部分）。目前，HMA制造车辆中大约有10%是预定出口的。 HMA的大事年表 1999 — 宣布了斥资4亿美元在阿拉巴马建新厂的计划 2000 — Lincoln工厂破土动工 2001 — 第一辆Odyssey微型客车走下生产线 2002 — 宣布斥资4.2亿美元进行扩大建设；添加第3条生产线 2004 — 在Lincoln工厂的第2条生产线上进行试选车型的量产 2005 — 工厂创下生产达到500,000辆的里程碑 2006 — Lincoln工厂生产出第1百万辆汽车 2008 — Ridgeline的生产转到HMA；第2生产线上增加了Accord ...
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ArticleBMW pilots Google's 'smart' eyewear
US – The pioneering project at the OEM’s Spartanburg plant, South Carolina, is aimed at determining whether wearable technology can enhance workflows in quality assurance. The Google Glass devices are intended to improve communication between quality testers at the analysis centre for pre-series production and development engineers.The smart glasses enable ...