Mike Kunkle from MEK Consulting - Owner
mekconsulting [at] comcast [dot] net (717) 578-9875
Vishesh, Robotic integrators are always looking for robot technicians and personnel who are capable of programming PLC's. I suggest that you look into pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, or if this is not possible look for trade schools or colleges offering mechatronics classes.

Wes Doneth from Fronius - Tech Support Manager
doneth [dot] wesley [at] fronius.com (877) 376-6487
Keegan, Check out your local community college or narrow your field by investigating the welding industry - www.aws.org

Frank Claude from Dunwoody College of Technology - Principle Instructor
fclaude [at] dunwoody [dot] edu (612) 374-5800, x8206
Please feel free to contact me and may be I could offer some insight as to a direction you could pursue, classes you should have on your priority list now and maybe look at what type of career you would like to pursue in the future.

Frank Claude from Dunwoody College of Technology - Principle Instructor
fclaude [at] dunwoody [dot] edu (612) 374-5800, x8206
DOF is an acronym for Degrees of Freedom. With respect to robots, it relates to the number of axes or moveable joints of a robot. For a robot that has six degrees of freedom it means it has six joints. In general DOF is the number of independent parameters that identify its configuration.

Jeff Chapman from Chapman Group, Inc. - President and Chief Search Consultant
jeffc [at] thechapmangroup [dot] com (480) 483-8833
If they are not going to integrate anything but Comau robots running the B&R control software they are obviously trying to standardize and simplify their robot integration which means they may not need someone with your breadth of skills. I would look for another company that does integrate multiple robot platform types where you will be more valued.

Jason Jamiel from KC Robotics, Inc. - Service Manager & Senior Applications Engineer
jjamiel [at] kcrobotics [dot] com (513) 860-4442
Im assuming that when you use the term “recycling”, you are referring to rebuilding a robot system? If this is the case, in most units depending on the use of its previous work life, almost all the integral parts of a manipulator and controller can be reused. The rotary vector gears or planetary gears are removed, cleaned and checked for wear. The same is true for any harmonic type drives or cyclo drive systems. If the drives are past their life cycle and show play or “slop” that unit is replaced with a new drive. Robot drives that have been replaced are usually then sold for scrap, especially the R.V. drives given their high metal weight.

Jason Jamiel from KC Robotics, Inc. - Service Manager & Senior Applications Engineer
jjamiel [at] kcrobotics [dot] com (513) 860-4442
90% of robots external housings are made from aluminum, and the other 10% may be of steel or other alloy, usually located at the base of the robot, all of these castings are usually cleaned up with an environmentally safe degreaser, then blasted with a walnut (again environmentally safe) based blast using high pressure air. After this process, the robot is reassembled and usually sprayed with an electro-static paint. Using this method of painting reduces waste to almost zero and adheres to the robot in all the hard to reach areas.

Jason Jamiel from KC Robotics, Inc. - Service Manager & Senior Applications Engineer
jjamiel [at] kcrobotics [dot] com (513) 860-4442
In most rebuilds, the only waste that occurs is the replacement of any form of batteries that the system may contain and the old grease that is flushed out of the drives, both of which are collected and sent to a recycling facility that specializes in these types of recycling.

Jason Jamiel from KC Robotics, Inc. - Service Manager & Senior Applications Engineer
jjamiel [at] kcrobotics [dot] com (513) 860-4442
As for the by-products caused by robots in industry performing various tasks, these can be many. In most cases welding robots are the most dangerous as far as side effects to the environment. When welding galvanized metals, a rather toxic gas is created due to the chemicals involved with the galvanizing process. Most industrial companies that use robots for welding have mechanized weld “hoods” that cover the proximity of the working environment that circulate the fumes into a filtering system. Almost all high output welding systems have one of these units integrated into the system.

Jason Jamiel from KC Robotics, Inc. - Service Manager & Senior Applications Engineer
jjamiel [at] kcrobotics [dot] com (513) 860-4442
As for general function, the only waste from robots in working environments is energy consumption. Robot manufacturers are coming out with improvements with every generation of robot they release that reduce energy costs and increase consumable component life such as grease every year. Every company is approaching these goals differently, but given the competitive state of the robotics industry, all manufacturers address these issues.

Jason Jamiel from KC Robotics, Inc. - Service Manager & Senior Applications Engineer
jjamiel [at] kcrobotics [dot] com (513) 860-4442
Hey there, obviously titanium would be the best, but more than likely not cost effective. I would recommend a multilayer aluminum or an "aluminum laminate" you can make this your self and would be very effective.

Jeff Chapman from Chapman Group, Inc. - The Chapman Group, Factory Automation Recruiting
jeff [at] thechapmangroup [dot] com (480) 483-8833
The core of integration is programming so, if you have not already done so, learn how to program a major player's robots. KUKA would be a good place to start since they are a German company and they are very prevalent in factories there including BMW. If you become proficient at robot programming, that and your mechanical design ability will be a great door opener with integrators of the robot you learn to program. Kuka or any of the other larger companies Fanuc, Yaskawa/Motoman, ABB, all have an integration partner list of companies to be sure to reach out to when the time comes. You can get affordable programming training if you take a class at a university that has that robot in their lab or shop. Contact the robot company and ask when and where they have training available. If you need more feel free to ask again.

Chelsea Knoke from Intelligrated Systems Inc. - Marketing Coordinator
chelsea [dot] knoke [at] intelligrated.com (314) 872-5806
Hi, Ariel. Your question was answered by the director of our Mexico City office, and he says that the perfect answer is electronic engineering with subsystem in control at the Universidad Iberoamericana or TEC University. The one with the largest number of signatures in artificial intelligence is la Ibero and also the control area is very good. The TEC miss the human part that la Ibero have. If you should find your robotics experience takes you into the packaging industry in the future, please don't hesitate to call on us. If you have any more robotics in material handling questions in the meantime, let us know also! Thanks.

Peter Dettmer from Madison Area Technical College - Instructor - Automated Manufacturing
psdettmer [at] matcmadison [dot] edu (608) 246-5264
I don't think it is ever to late to go back to school. Many of my students do it. My students' ages range from 18 to 55. It's not easy with a career, personal and family life. Everyone needs to decide for their own what their priorities in life are. In my opinion, personal growth requires continuous learning. I don't know about the St. Louis area, but I'd think that there are some Community or Tech Colleges around that would offer programs, or at least classes in robotics. Vincennes University in Vinncenes, IN offers some great training and progams in your region. Maybe they can refer you to something closer to your location? Good luck!

Isabelle Roberts from BRIC Engineered Systems - Business Development
iroberts [at] briceng [dot] com (905) 436-8867
The best person to talk to is Brian Huse, Director of the Robotics Industry Association. Brian is awesome and knows just about everything when it comes to robots and the future of robots.

Therese Snow from DELMIA Corp - Marketing Communications
therese [dot] snow [at] 3ds.com (248) 205-5143
Hi Rajesh, There are a lot of resources available with Dassault Systemes DELMIA for students and universities alike. You may want to view the downloads on the DS Acaemic website which is: academy.3ds.com

Karen Long from ABB Inc. - Robotic Training and Career Expert
karen [dot] s.long [at] us.abb.com (248) 391-9000
Hi Nancy - ABB Robotics has affiliations with 3 higher education institutions in your general area - Illinois State University (Normal, IL), Fox Valley Technical College (Appleton, WI) and Vincennes University (Vincennes, IN). All of them have very impressive labs and would probably welcome the opportunity to "show you around". If you are interested, please contact me directly via my ABB email address (see below). I would be happy to make the necessary introductions. Best regards, Karen Long ABB Inc. Robotics Training Administrator 1250 Brown Road Auburn Hills, MI 48326 Office: +1.248.391.8693 Mobile: +1.248.670.6818 Fax: +1.860.298.3746 karen.s.long@us.abb.com

Adam Stienecker from Ohio Northern University - Professor
a-stienecker [dot] 1 [at] onu.edu (419) 772-2171
Check out www.facebook.com/onutechstudies for more information on a hands-on approach to manufacturing technology and robotics. As an alternative, feel free to email me or give me a call to discuss further.

Tom Sipple from Motoman Robotics - Technology Leader
tom [dot] sipple [at] motoman.com (937) 847-3364
Nathan, If you pursue an engineering degree, you will have the most choices available to you. If that's not an option, you may consider a two year tech school, studying robotics, mechanical engineering technology, or electrical engineering technology. Provided that you get an engineering degree, the choice of whether you are stuck behind a desk all day has a lot to do with your job choice. I'd be glad to discuss this further, just give me a call. Tom

Adam Stienecker, PhD from Ohio Northern University - Professor
a-stienecker [dot] 1 [at] onu.edu (419) 772-2171
Okeke, I am the director of the Robotics Center of Excellence at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. Depending on the area in which you wish to enter I think we can assist you. We offer a 4-year degree in Manufacturing Technology with a concentration in Robotics. The manufacturing field is currently the field with the most job prospects. However, in the concentration we look also at mobile robots, both design and construction, and many other areas of robotics and control systems. I'd be happy to send some attachments from my email to you if you are able to provide your email. Thank you, Adam

Glenn Dantes from ICR - Robot Sales & Automation Division - Vice President
gdantes [at] icrrobotsolutions [dot] com (586)751-3335
We are a certified robotic learning facility located in Michigan. For more information contact our training coordinator Ron Nester to learn more. 586-751-3335 ext 242

Adam Stienecker from Ohio Northern University - Professor
a-stienecker [dot] 1 [at] onu.edu (419) 772-2171
Gabriel, We offer a 4-year degree in Manufacturing Technology with a concentration in Robotics. A traditional engineering degree gives you only a part of what you wish to learn. Here at Ohio Northern University in this degree, we aim to deliver what you are seeking, specifically mechanical, electrical, and control all in one 4-year degree. Much of our focus is on industrial robotics because that is where many of the jobs are currently, but we also look at the mobile robots including ground vehicles, underwater vehicles, and aerial vehicles. If you'd like more information you may contact my via email. Thank you, Adam

Jeff Fryman from Robotic Industries Association - Director, Standards Development
jfryman [at] robotics [dot] org (734) 994-6088
You might want to look up www.ifr.org and their link to World Robotics

Glenn Dantes from ICR - Robot Sales & Automation Division - Vice President
gdantes [at] icrrobotsolutions [dot] com (586) 779-7266
We an accredited PLC and Robot training facility located in Eastern Michigan. For more information you can contact Ron Nester at 586-751-3335 ext 242 or via email rnester@industrialcontrolrepair.com

Hans-Peter Kranewitter from KEBA Corporation - DI(FH)
kw [at] keba [dot] com
Yes, indeed! The world of robotics and PLCs are growing together more or less. In the future the systems will do everything around the robot-cell and so you need basic knowledge of PLC programming. In my opinnion the automation-worlds' focus is also shifting more and more towards software-development. So - facing an robot applciation - will be more and more an software-job than others.

William Steward from Utica Enterprises Inc. - Robotics Manager
bsteward [at] uticaenterprises [dot] com (586) 726-4300
Yes! At a minimum, students should understand the basics of PLC code and its use in automating robots within a line. While robot programming and processing should be key topics, there should be a few PLC classes also. As an integrator, I have noticed that the best robot programmers have an in-depth understanding of the PLC.

William Steward from Utica Enterprises Inc. - Robotics Manager
bsteward [at] uticaenterprises [dot] com 586-726-4300
The title "Expert" seems to involve all aspects of robotics. An engineer should deep dive into software/programming to get a good idea of how a robot operates and processes data. Also helpful would be a strong understanding of simulation software as well as the mechanics of robotic arms. The hardware side as well as servo technology is probably already a strong point for an Electronics Engineer, but if it is not, I would highly suggest it.

from Motoman Robotics

Cody, the good news is that robotics is a cross-discipline industry, so there is no one special engineering degree that is the magic bullet. The trick is to ensure you are prepared with a wide variety of experiences across electronics, controls, software, and mechanics. But the basis is a strong math framework. Robotics is very dependent on transformations so pay attention in your upper division math classes. I don't have an engineering degree per se. Instead I got a degree in Mathematical Physics and it has served me well in the robotics field. If I had to do it all again, I would get an Engineering Physics degree. Hope this helps and good luck. Erik Nieves - Technology Director, Motoman, Inc. www.motoman.com

from Stäubli Robotics

Robotics is a combination of electrical/electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, and software. A few colleges and universities are starting to offer "mechtronics" programs that combined all three. No matter what field you decided to study, be prepared for a lifetime of learning. robotics are used in a variety of applications. I've learned about welding, painting, dispensing glue, making shoes, making vaccines, making semiconductors chips, and even robots doing surgery. These are just a few of projects I've been involved with.

Jim Devaprasad from Lake Superior State University - Professor, College of Eng., Tech. and Economic Dev
jdevaprasad [at] lssu [dot] edu (906) 635-2131
Hi: FYI, you could get a degree in engineering or technology in different fields (like Mechanical, Electrical, Conputer, Manufacturing) and specialize in robotics. Some universties provide this option. Lake Superior State in Michigan is one of them. For example, you can get an accredited BS degree in Mechanical Engineering with the robotics option/specialization. Best wishes.

from Stäubli Robotics

Some universities now offer "Mechtronics" as a major. This major covers Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Controls including software. Robotics is a multidisciplinary science that people come into from many different backgrounds.

from Stäubli Robotics

At the beginning of your career, all experience can be considered helpful. I would list it.

from Motoman Robotics

Both. CNC's and robots are becoming more alike all the time. The CNC training will be a help to you as more and more companies begin using robots for CNC-type work. Good luck in school - Erik

from Motoman Robotics

I would advise that you focus on EMT or Mechatronics (actually the same thing), as you will need the mechanical (and pneumatic) background that those programs offer. Robot programming and implementation is a good job prospect for future growth. - Erik

from Stäubli Robotics

Doug, You can reach Staubli's application support at applications.robot.usa@staubli.com. We can e-mail you some of the examples we use in training. You can also sign up for our technical database at our web site at http://www.staubli.com/en/robotics/login/ It includes several useful applications and libraries.