The vast majority of jobs still require manual programming, although new offline robot programming tools are evolving and becoming more widely used. The industry standard for CNC machine programming is to employ robust, easy-to-use offline software. As a result, overall manufacturing costs have been reduced, accuracy has improved, machine downtime has been reduced, more complex
Numerous statistics suggest that the majority of companies in a variety of sectors intend to increase their use of automation and robots. Seventy per cent of US companies are planning changes to their operations, with 37% planning to bring production back in-house and 33% looking to offshore and move their operations closer to home. ABB’s
Since 1817, the Parthenon marbles, which date from 447-432 BC, have been in the British Museum. While serving as an envoy to the Ottoman Empire, Lord Elgin bought the marbles, which some say were looted. Greek advocacy groups have urged Britain to return the artworks, claiming that the Turks were violating the wishes of the
An industrial pick-and-place robot is used to handle and place products on a production line. They are typically used in high-volume manufacturing environments where they can quickly and accurately load products onto conveyor belts or other production tools. This may involve actions such as removing products from one machine and placing them on the conveyor
One of the UK’s leading bespoke furniture manufacturers is upgrading its end-to-end manufacturing capabilities with the help of a KUKA robot. The Jali factory in Kent has installed the 7-axis, 100kg payload KR100 model in an automated production cell. It has a flexible end effector that can hold the wide variety of tools required for
The sealants are applied at Ford via a KUKA LBR iiwa cobot. Without the requirement for safety fences, it works alongside human workers and provides relief during the work process. Workers at Ford’s Cologne plant benefit from the adaptability, sensitivity and learning ability of the lightweight KUKA LBR iiwa robot. According to Michael Koch, production
A solid-state joining technique called friction stir welding creates full contact joints with exceptional integrity. There is no need for external filler materials, flux or shielding gases for friction stir welding. All in-process control and quality control is automated, the process is fully repeatable and machine controlled. How does it work? When two workpieces rotate
Universal Robots‘ goal is to increase access to industrial robot technology for small and medium-sized enterprises. As of 2020, Universal Robots will have more than 700 employees worldwide and an annual turnover of more than $200 million, making it the market leader in the production of flexible collaborative robot equipment. Three Danish engineers started it
At an exhibition in Bilbao, Spain, ABB showcased its latest developments in robotics, drives and motors. BIEMH is the industry benchmark for digital technology and creative solutions for manufacturing. ABB‘s products are aimed at boosting productivity, flexibility and safety in industry. ABB demonstrated for the first time a robotic cell for 3D metal printing that
Machine Tending is a term used in the industrial sector to describe the “care and attention of machines”. The metalworking industry, and more especially machining processes, is one of the industries with the highest demand for automated applications. These processes are repetitive and involve medium to long batches. As a result, companies want solutions that
