The EGN Safety is the first certified safety gripping system from Schunk for use with human and robot interaction. It is certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 13849 specifications. If the production process is interrupted by an emergency shut-off, the Schunk EGN goes into either a safety speed mode or a safe stop mode, […]
Integrated Motion Systems
New gripper modules from Schunk with improved lubrication
The new PGN-plus Permanent from Schunk is raising the bar. Its unique permanent lubrication provides a faster and more even distribution of the lubricant, even with short strokes. The complete contour of the patented multi-tooth guidance is lined with grease pockets, which ensures a continuous supply of lubricant. This principle of minimal quantity lubrication increases […]
ABB opens robotics manufacturing plant in U.S.
ABB has announced that it is to start producing robots in the United States. The company made the announcement at the opening of a new robotics plant at its facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The new plant is ABB’s third robotics production facility, alongside Shanghai, China, and Västerås, Sweden, and will manufacture ABB robots and […]
Industrial robotics see more consideration of kinematics
by Lisa Eitel, Senior Editor, @DW_LisaEitel— In today’s advanced manufacturing environment, it would be hard to find a production facility that hasn’t implemented robotics in some process or other. That’s according to Skye Gorter, automation specialist at Cowper Inc. “Robotics have had tremendous impact on manufacturers’ ability to get higher repeatability, precision, and throughput, as […]
Integration: The key to staying successful in today’s growing automation market
by Michelle DiFrangia, Assistant Editor, @wtwh_michelle According to research by MarketsandMarkets, the global market for industry control and factory automation will grow at a CAGR of 8.53% through 2020—so that all industries combined will spend $301.9 billion on automation by 2020. In addition, many research organizations estimate that there will be about 50 billion devices […]
Engineers, don’t overlook (easier) robot setup with new buses
In preparation for a recent feature on trends in robotics, we spoke with Skye Gorter, an Automation Specialist at Cowper Inc. Gorter has almost 20 years’ experience in the automation industry, specializing in motion control, machine vision, and custom robotics. He supports customers with technical expertise and recently began integrating systems for R&D setups. Here’s […]
Tighter integration and programming take positioning stages into 21st century
Few motion technologies show more recent innovation than positioning stages. Their hardware and software are increasingly custom to fit specific output requirements, thanks in large part to tighter integration and advanced programming. No wonder that today’s positioning stages can make moves with incredible accuracy; synchronize complicated axis commands; and optimize travel from coarse and fine […]
New switch mount lets users add sensing to grippers
Now, there’s a new switch mount that lets users easily add position sensors to select jaw grippers. PHD Inc., a manufacturer of industrial automation components, sells the switch-mounting kits for its Series 8400 and Series 190/191 grippers. Here’s a PDF that details the sensor-mounting kit. The mounting kits include a switch plate with slots for either […]
Centralized or decentralized: Which motion architecture is best?
Decentralizing servo technology can lower costs in packaging and food and beverage applications. But centralized motion control has its advantages too. Sometimes the answer to which is better is neither one … but both. By Dr. Arne Linder | Product Management • Kollmorgen Decentralizing servo technology can bring machine and plant construction savings during installation. […]
New Family of Small, Flexible Robots from ABB
The ABB Robotics IRB 1200 is an entirely new family of small robots that features a compact footprint and a large work envelope, providing flexibility, ease of use and short cycle times to a wide range of material handling, machine tending and small parts assembly applications. The IRB 1200 is designed with no offset in […]