Technology

3D simulation and validation of robot operations

3D simulation and validation of robot operations

ABB’s new PC-based RobotStudio Machine Tending PowerPac and controller-based RobotWare Machine Tending software allow for simulation, validation and optimization to be completed in the 3D virtual world and then transferred directly to the real-world. These new robotic machine tending software solutions deliver flexibility and ease-of-use for applications from die-casting to injection molding and machining. Cycle times, […]

By July 9, 2013 Read More →
Framing multiple car models on the same line

Framing multiple car models on the same line

ABB Robotics has launched its GateFramer robotic car body framing system, enabling multiple cars to be produced on the same line, while maintaining short cycle times, high accuracy, high reliability and ease of operation. The technology allows for up to six different car body variants to be framed on the same line by swapping gates […]

By July 2, 2013 Read More →
Monitor all serial robot types in a safety application

Monitor all serial robot types in a safety application

By extending the safety function “Safely Limited Speed at Tool Center Point” (SLS at TCP), B&R now makes it possible to monitor the full spectrum of serial robot types in a safety application. This is a significant advancement of the function first introduced in 2011, which has already allowed safe monitoring of all joints on […]

By June 26, 2013 Read More →
Seminar highlights simplicity and safety of Universal Robot

Seminar highlights simplicity and safety of Universal Robot

A common perception of robots is that they are big, expensive and clunky. But as delegates to a recent seminar discovered, there is a notable exception – the Universal Robot. The Northern Regional College in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, is much more than just a seat of learning. This award-winning campus is a centre of manufacturing […]

By April 25, 2013 Read More →
Energy chain increases uptime at Jaguar Land Rover

Energy chain increases uptime at Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover has reduced the downtime on one of its factory robots by 66% thanks to installing equipment from leading energy chain specialist, igus UK. Triflex RS is a very compact multi-axial energy supply system that safely houses the energy cables, and as a result, enables manufactures to increase reliability and make operational cost […]

By March 27, 2013 Read More →
High throughput robot has a large work envelope

High throughput robot has a large work envelope

FANUC has added a new 3kg payload parallel link (delta) robot to its high-speed Genkotsu series. The company says the M-2iA fills a gap between existing 1kg and 6kg arms, providing a large work envelope combined with high throughput performance to meet the needs of mid-range assembly and handling tasks. Two variants of the M-2iA […]

By March 14, 2013 Read More →
Precise detection, isolation and picking of stem cells

Precise detection, isolation and picking of stem cells

Farnborough-based Peak Analysis & Automation (paa), working in conjunction with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, has developed ‘automate.it pixcell’ – a flexible robotic system for precise detection, isolation and picking of part or whole stem cell colonies from Petri dishes. It then transfers the colonies to mircotiter plates ready for further development. The system consists of a very […]

By February 27, 2013 Read More →
Second user robot is half the cost of new

Second user robot is half the cost of new

Responding to manufacturers’ demands for more economical automation solutions, Pacepacker Services has launched a second user robot range. It says the Blu-Robot pick and place systems are typically half the cost of a new robot. Incorporating a second user robot arm, Pacepacker’s economical Blu-Robot range comes with over 20 different end effectors to suit bespoke […]

By February 22, 2013 Read More →
BMW buys 2,400 ABB robots for gluing and spot welding

BMW buys 2,400 ABB robots for gluing and spot welding

ABB has won an order for 2,400 robots from BMW Group. Over the next three years the robots will be installed at factories in Regensburg and Leipzig, Germany, as well as in Tiexi, China. The ABB robots will mainly be used for material handling tasks, as well as gluing and spot welding processes. BMW’s choice of […]

By February 21, 2013 Read More →
Palletising robot boosts competitiveness for beer bottler

Palletising robot boosts competitiveness for beer bottler

The installation of a palletizing robot at the end of its bottling line has boosted the competitiveness of a UK heritage beer bottling business. A Kawasaki robot was chosen after trials were carried out on all container types to be palletised. Edwin Holden’s Bottling Company Limited, based in Sedgley, has a distinct heritage feel which […]

By February 19, 2013 Read More →