Equipment News
Welding wire electrode doubles as a sensor
The WireSense system turns the wire electrode into a sensor that checks the component position before each weld says Fronius
Orbital sander for robotic surface preparation
ATI Industrial Automation says its AOV-10 axially-compliant orbital sander features adjustable compliance force to accommodate a wide variety of applications
2D LiDAR sensor
Sick says its 2D LiDAR systems high laser scanning frequency helps to produce more than half a million measurement points per second to calculate the position, shape, volume or surface quality of components or assemblies over a wide depth of field, and at ranges up to 3m
Edge computing solution
An edge computing soltion from Mitsubishi Electric, which claims to optimise predictive maintenance or quality control with real-time data analysis
Manufacturing management technology
ABB claims its new MOM software is designed to simplify production management by enabling performance monitoring, downtime management and maintenance support, as well as providing statistical production analysis tools
3D-printed glove to aid assembly workers
UK - Jaguar Land Rover has been testing a 3D-printed glove to prevent injuries to production line workers
Chipbreaker software
LFV (low frequency vibration) chipbreaking technology has been incorporated into the 12-axis, 25mm capacity Cincom D25-VIII CNC sliding-headstock turn-mill centre, says Citizen Machinery. The company claims this enhances the lathe’s production flexibility and efficiency when turning difficult-to-chip materials such as copper, plastics and steels with high alloy content. LFV can ...
Compliant deburring blade
ATI Industrial Automation says its new Compliant Deburring Blade (CDB), offers pneumatic control and an articulated design that allows the contact force to be adjusted for specific applications. The company claims the tool is suited to light and medium deburring, chamfering, and scraping operations on materials such as plastic, aluminium, ...
Industrial sensors
Pepperl+Fuchs says it has extended its portfolio to include reduction factor 1 sensors with IO-Link. The company says that standard inductive sensors can only detect non-ferrous metal targets at reduced switching distances. This is because reduction factors can vary from one metal to another. It’s claimed the reduction factor 1 ...
Controlled low friction bearing
Combining the low friction properties of a PTFE lined plain bearing and the radial spring characteristics of tolerance rings, Saint-Gobain claims the result is a versatile energised bearing, which is easy to install for automotive manufacturers and avoids problems of unwanted cabin noise or difficult to adjust mechanisms.
Manufacturing software platform
Faro says it has released its BuildIT 2019 software suite. This is offered as three individual products, each designed for quality inspection in manufacturing and assembly or construction applications.
Machining vise
Kurt Manufacturing says its DX6 CrossOver vise features strategically located holes for through-the-body mounting to achieve closer positioning of multiple vises. The company says this vise also uses sine keys, which can be inserted into pre-drilled dowel holes in the unit’s base for positioning onto t-slots, machine tables, grid plates, ...
Parts sorting and storage system
Said to have been developed to meet the needs of the automotive industry, Daifuku’s SPDR temporary storage and sortation systems for spare parts features an automated robotic arm, which automatically lowers and raises to grasp a range of tote sizes, and it’s claimed is suitable for kitting operations. Daifuku says ...
FFC/FPC connectors
Two FFC/FPC connectors designed for the growing information market needs of automakers are now available from Molex. The Easy-On FFC/FPC connectors are offered in 0.5mm pitch and 1.0mm pitch forms and both feature a double-bottom contact terminal design that removes dust and contaminants from the connection, claims the company.
New piston developments
MAHLE says it is developing a new generation of piston coatings that are intended to guide and reduce the heat entering the pistons. The company claims this initially reduces the demand for piston cooling, and the increased exhaust gas temperature allows a higher quantity of energy to be extracted by ...
Assembly line automation
Nextsense says its Calipri systems can be used to monitor the process of car assembly from body-in-white to end-of-line final assembly. The company claims its fully automatic C12 cobot systems allows human workers and robots to work side by side in a continuous production line – without separation, mechanical barriers ...
Augmented assistance
Visit any car manufacturing plant in the world and the majority of production equipment will be similar. The real differences between factories are the human workers and the way in which technology is used to optimise their environment
Corolla confidence
Upgrade and investments at Burnaston see Toyota start production of the new Corolla in the UK, despite all the turmoil of Brexit
PSA juggles engines and motors
Engine manufacturing facilities around the world are changing. Pressure from governments and changes to legislation are pushing carmakers to develop new internal combustion engines (ICEs), the production of which often requires new assembly lines and equipment.
