Industrial Robotics Tech Papers Resource
September 2017
Digital Transformation in Manufacturing: Challenging Times, Changing Business Models
POSTED: 09/18/2017
The competition to capture the attention of today’s consumers is fierce. In almost every consumer serving industry – including consumer goods, electronics, and automotive – manufacturers are struggling to win the interest and dollars of consumers. The reason? More competition. The changing competitive landscape is putting intense pressure on manufacturers whose
6 Things We Learned from the Robotiq Challenge
by Chris Thompson, Marketing Supervisor
POSTED: 09/14/2017
Have you ever seen a hotel ballroom filled with robots, conveyors and engineers? We had the opportunity to experience it first hand earlier this week when Robotiq asked us to sponsor their second annual Robotiq User Conference in Quebec City. The conference included a challenge where eight teams of 12 engineers
August 2017
7 Myths About Implementing Simulation Software Uncovered
POSTED: 08/30/2017
Implementing new technologies doesn’t always go as expected, and the same can be said for implementing manufacturing simulation solutions. We have several examples of companies that completed smooth and fast implementations, and were able to see immediate results from integrating manufacturing simulation into their workflows. But, there are also examples
Turn Production Plans into Project Success
POSTED: 08/22/2017
Any seasoned engineer can tell you stories of how reality got in the way of a beautiful model, drawing or calculation. A screw hole that couldn’t be accessed by a screwdriver, an assembly line that moves too fast for a worker, or even a plant wall that has to be moved
July 2017
Should I Add Robots to My Facility?
by Patti Engineering
POSTED: 07/07/2017
Recently, we noticed that we’ve had an influx of customers asking about adding robots to their production line. Maybe it’s because robots are becoming cheaper, more flexible in their applications, and easier to integrate and support within production lines. Either way, we thought we’d answer a few frequently asked questions
Do I Need a Vision System for my Robot or Should I Fly Blind?
by Joe Palace, Senior Electrical Engineer at Patti Engineering
POSTED: 07/07/2017
When a robot performs an application, a process, or a validation check on a part, it relies on that part being the same size and being in the exact location before it does its routine. But what if this part is not the same size or is not located where
Tips and Tricks for Motoman Robots
by Nick Sadro, Controls Engineer at Patti Engineering
POSTED: 07/07/2017
I was recently working on a large project where I was responsible for programming several Yaskawa Motoman robots for material handling and dispensing applications. Over the course of a few months and many hours spent with a Motoman teach pendant in my hand, I learned several tips and pointers to
Coordinate System Frames in Industrial Robots
by Nikhil Niphadkar, Controls Engineer at Patti Engineering
POSTED: 07/07/2017
It’s easy to teach a robot if you know what frame to teach the points in. If not, it can be a nightmare! If you are having hard time teaching a robot point in space or you are spending more than a few minutes to teach the point, I have
May 2017
by Dan Junker, CMSE, President
POSTED: 05/04/2017
The “Grandfather Clause” If your factory uses the “Grandfather Clause” for an older process or machine, this article will save you, your people and company a lot of money and maybe a life or limb. Is it your understanding that your machinery is “Grandfathered”? And you don’t
April 2017
Servo Spot Welding Offers Superior Performance and Lower Lifetime Costs for Auto Manufacturing
by Gary Rosengren, Daniel Cass & Aaron Dietrich
POSTED: 04/25/2017
The leading global automotive manufacturers rely on robotic servo spot welding equipment for the assembly of automobile bodies to ensure high productivity, lower costs and higher quality compared to older-style pneumatic spot welding equipment. Introduction Leading global automobile manufacturers rely heavily on robotic equipment. According to the International Organization of Motor
March 2017
6 Ways that PC-Based Motion Control Outperforms Hardware
by Dipesh Mukerji, Vice President Marketing & Strategy
POSTED: 03/09/2017
PC-based motion control solutions deliver 6 main advantages: 1. Cost reduction. The cost of installing software is much lower than purchasing traditional hardware required, such as multiple DSP & FPGA boards and wiring cables. This reduces the overall cost of acquisition as well the maintenance cost of the system after it
February 2017
Why Motion Control Software Makes Sense for Your Business
by Dipesh Mukerji, Vice President Marketing & Strategy
POSTED: 02/02/2017
Traditional motion control applications came with limited options. The high cost to acquire the required appliances and the many applications used in the process made streamlined motion control difficult. Using the right motion control software makes the process much easier and more convenient. It ensures the quality of production is
November 2016
by Kate Nadeau
POSTED: 11/22/2016
Introduction Manufacturing companies contributed $2.17 trillion to the U.S. economy according to the most recent annual data. [1] Manufacturers, of which 98.6 percent [2] qualify as small businesses, have become more agile, more productive and leaner in recent years. These advances have reduced both time to market and labor costs.
Challenges with Traditional Ethercat Configuration Processes
POSTED: 11/16/2016
EtherCAT is a very flexible protocol. It allows connection of I/O modules, motor, drives, communication devices, couplers and even controllers. For each hardware type, there are different data exchange methods. A motor drive can use CANopen over EtherCAT (CoE) or
July 2016
Innovating Small Assembly Robot Integration Concepts within the PLC
by Chris Elston , Sr. Controls Engineer
POSTED: 07/13/2016
Introduction For many years, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) have remained the industrial controller of choice among control, automation, and design engineers. PLCs are often referred to as the “master” controller that sequences the main logic and manages network data on automated equipment. They are considered the hidden
