Editorials
April 2017
Is Industry 4.0 the New DotCom Boom?
POSTED: 04/03/2017
Fear stalks the land. The Robot Apocalypse is nigh, destined to steal our jobs and our future. Worse yet the machines are made elsewhere (Germany, Japan, even China) and America is being left behind in the race for manufacturing prowess. We’ve heard this story before. In the late 1980s, the U.
February 2017
Patented SwRI Inkjet System Can Literally Ink a Jet
POSTED: 02/28/2017
Disruptive system enables robotic printing on large complex surfaces, including aircraft San Antonio - Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), a leading innovator in advanced science and applied technology, has secured a patent for a technology for large-scale robotic inkjet printing on aircraft and other complex surfaces. “As aircraft decorative coatings have become increasingly
American Jobs Evolve with Robotics
POSTED: 02/13/2017
Robotic automation is continuing to prove its supremacy as it is showing up on all types of factory floors across the globe. This is a reflection of all the undeniable benefits that industrial robots are bringing: faster throughputs, energy savings, lower costs, and a more consistent product. Another key item that
September 2016
6 Ways that EtherCAT Auto-Configuration Saves You Time and Money
POSTED: 09/20/2016
Let’s face it: the standard method for configuring servo motors and drives through network control software is cumbersome and time-consuming. For each motor manufacturer, engineers must independently download and install the libraries and files into their IDE and run proprietary configuration tools
August 2016
POSTED: 08/22/2016
When you are working with RTX64, often things can be a bit opaque. You program something, you compile it into a binary and then when it comes time to run it you send it down into this black
Industrial Robots and Manufacturing Jobs – A Catalyst for Loss or Growth?
POSTED: 08/09/2016
When disruptive technologies are introduced to the marketplace, there is an initial uncertainty among the general population about these unfamiliar products, services, or new ways of conducting business. The unknown is scary; change is often met with resistance, and people may ask themselves how such innovations will affect their livelihoods and
July 2016
How Brexit Will Impact Industrial Automation and Manufacturing
POSTED: 07/12/2016
Somehow it still seems like a joke that only happens in the movies. But folks, this is real life. The United Kingdom (UK) decided to leave the European Union (EU) and fend for themselves
June 2016
A Personal History of Fieldbuses: From Seriplex to EtherCAT
POSTED: 06/20/2016
Last week, I took a walk down memory lane. This particular lane was all about fieldbuses. I needed to make some space for some new hardware, and had to throw out some antique hardware to do so. An old Seriplex module
Eric the Robot – Foreshadowing The Inevitable Future of Humans and Robots Living Harmoniously
POSTED: 06/01/2016
By: Terri Hawker, Director Product Management Listening to NPR the other day, a story about Eric, one of the first UK robots designed in the late 1920s, it amazes how far we have come in the area of robotics. Back in 1928, a couple guys were able to create a robot that could
May 2016
POSTED: 05/24/2016
By: Jeffrey Hibbard, CEO KINGSTAR Made in China 2025: A Look Inside China’s Latest Industrial Innovation Policy Last week, China-based home appliance maker Midea made a profound statement with its 4.57 billion euros ($5.17 billion) takeover offer for German industrial robot maker Kuka, one of the world's biggest 4 robot suppliers. Without context, it seems
February 2016
The #1 Reference Book on Stress Analysis and Transducer Design Using Strain Gauges
POSTED: 02/24/2016
The classic, definitive work on strain gauge measurement The strain gauge has become an essential tool in stress analysis, part optimization, safety testing and technical investigative work. It is also a major component used in the manufacturing of measurement transducers. In this 250-page, richly-illustrated book, Karl Hoffmann describes, in plain language, the
December 2015
Impact Productivity Not The Product
POSTED: 12/31/2015
A common side effect of using air cylinder to performing high-speed diverting and sorting of all types of products, and heavy products at any speed is the of the decrease in productivity caused by the higher energy the air cylinder imparts on the product at the point of impact. This
Identify Potential Processes for Automation - Step 2 of the Practical Guide
POSTED: 12/01/2015
While there are many ways in which production processes can be automated, the best way to introduce automation into your SME is by starting small and simple, and build up your expertise as you go. Tasks that are
What Can Collaborative Robots Do? Step 1 of the Practical Guide
POSTED: 12/01/2015
The bottom line is that with collaborative robots, it is possible to do certain tasks that would have traditionally been done with an industrial robot, but with a smaller, less risky investment and greater flexibility. Being a new technology
November 2015
3 Best Collaborative Robot Applications
POSTED: 11/05/2015
When bathing in a world where robots are a normal part of everyday life, I usually have a reality check when I am meeting customers or doing demos. The thing that I hear the most is: ''What can I do with this robot ?'' It is then that I realize that the
