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Robotics: Innovations in Grippers  
Assembly, July 2011
By John Sprovieri
New developments range from multifingered grippers that resemble a human hand to a flexible, extendable device that flicks in and out like a chameleon’s tongue.

Harmonising productivity with machine safety  
Control Engineering Europe, June 2010
By Alex Bryce, Pilz
Safety gates, protective covers and machine guards prevent hazards associated with moving parts. However, the correct functioning of a safeguard can only be guaranteed by using the appropriate sensor technology.

Operator Interface Customization  
Control Design, June 2011
By Dan Hebert
Machine operator interface terminals (OITs) typically are customized to improve ease-of-use, create branding for the machine OEM, and decrease downtime. This customization is performed by the OIT supplier, the OEM and/or the OEM customer.

How to Select a Motion Control Network
Control Engineering, June 2011
By Derek Lee, Yaskawa America
Maximize reliability, speed, and ease of operation and maintenance by by selecting an appropriate motion control network.

Linear actuators achieve precision motion control with little to no backlash  
Machine Design, June 2011
By Tony Kliber, Nexen Group
Roller-pinion systems are a better option than rack and pinions where accuracy and a minimum of friction are important.

Browse more articles on the Machine Control portal.

Siemens enhances Sinumerik Operate user interface
Sinumerik Operate now combines HMI-Advanced, ShopMill and ShopTurn operator and programming interfaces to create a single consistent user interface for use with machine tools.

AutomationDirect releases AEM2G limit switches
The switches feature 35 mm wide die-cast housings and are equipped with one normally-open and one normally-closed contact; all units include a three-meter cable.

ABB Robotics introduces standardized motor and gear packages
Motor and gear units are now available in comprehensive packages complete with cablings, serial measurement board (SMB) box, optimization software and safety options.

AMCI adds networking to Rotary Encoders
Rotary sensors are available for EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, Profibus, or DeviceNet communication.

Other Product Announcements

• Haydon Kerk expands G4 linear actuator
• Tolomatic announces IMA55 servomotor actuator
• NK introduces ATQ Frequency Output Current Transducers
• POSITAL adds SSI interface to OPTOCODE rotary encoders
• Hexagon Metrology releases CMS108 laser scanner
• Novotechnik introduces Vert-X 22E rotary sensors
• HEIDENHAIN enhances its ROC/ROQ 400 PROFIBUS rotary encoders
• Aerotech announces APR series rotary stages
• Maxon introduces EPOS2 36/2 motion control motherboards

Browse more Product Announcements on the Machine Control portal.

Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date.

Free Online rolling bearing friction calculator
BEARINX-online Easy Friction helps users identify and maximise the potential for energy efficiency savings within a machine or system.

Tolomatic publishes brochure on linear motion solutions
Brochure describes Tolomatic linear motion solutions for food and beverage processing and packaging automation.

Thomson Publishes Guide to Food Processing Motion
The guide provides specific illustrated examples of motion solutions in bread robot, skewer/assembly, food vending, food press and de-boning applications.

WITTENSTEIN publishes alpha gearbox catalog
Catalog contains alpha inline gearboxes and right-angle gearboxes as well as rack and pinion systems, couplings and sensor technology.

Rexroth publishes Linear Motion Technology selection guide
The guide helps engineers determine which linear motion products meet their application requirements.

Browse more resources on the Machine Control portal.

Aircraft Skin Processing machine uses Animatics’ SmartMotor
Using Animatics’ SmartMotor with Combitronic communication resulted in a 49% reduction of parts used and increased capabilities on the Flexitool aircraft skin processing machine.

Machine Controller Simplifies Development Of Plasma Tube Cutter
Process and Control Today, July 2011
All five electrical axes on a plasma cutting machine for flue pipes are controlled by a Baldor NextMove ESB-2, a compact real-time machine control module which receives commands direct from an on-board PC-based CNC system.

Serapid automates plate bending application
The system at Pacific Press Technologies moves a steel plate weighing up to 5000 pounds approximately 100 inches through a press brake to be bent.

Chocolate bars uniquely packaged  
Automation.com, June 2011
By Bosch Rexroth
Packaging containers can sometimes be quite elaborate. The faster, the better, the more accurate so as not to damage delicate products. This is the challenge for pick-and-place robots and the control technology behind them. Chocolate, for example, is one such product that must be handled with care.

Drive And Control System Leads To Smoother Machine  
IMPO, June 2011
CP Packaging developed VisionPak, an efficient, easy-to-use and highly sanitary servo-driven horizontal form, fill and seal machine (HFFS) by using Rexroth integrated motor and drive, pneumatics, machine control and linear motion systems.

Browse more application stories on the Machine Control portal.

Open-loop PM motor control technology
By Jun Kang, Yaskawa Electric America
Permanent Magnet (PM) motors have higher efficiency than induction motors because there are no I2R losses of the rotor. But widespread use of PM motors has been discouraged by price and requirement of a speed encoder. This paper describes open-loop PM motor control technology.

Torque Feedforward Deep Dive  
By Chuck Lewin, Performance Motion Devices
Many motion applications require high accuracy both during, and at the end of, the move. Even if you are using perfectly optimized PID values to control position, the compensation loop is never perfect because it must manage the influence of a wide range of system forces.

The True Cost of Bearing Lubrication  
June 2011
By Matt Mowry, Igus
In today's economy, machine and equipment manufacturers are feeling more pressure than ever to reduce costs without sacrificing machine performance, but this balancing act can be difficult to achieve. One of the main goals of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is to reduce the initial capital expense for its customers. However, OEMs often overlook a simple solution that can have a positive, long-term impact on their customers' bottom lines: the elimination of bearing lubricant.

Reduce Time to Market  
Automation.com, June 2011
By Eaton
Accelerate delivery time. Learn how next generation operator interface designs reduce development time, enable easy integration and accelerate time to market while enhancing quality and reliability.

Reducing Servomotor Instability
By Marcus Schick, Siemens
Excessive speed controller gain causes instability in a servo system. However, lowering this gain is often not a viable option, so a systematic approach should be used to determine the best remedy of the instability.

Browse more white papers on the Machine Control portal.

Mechatrolink Membership Reaches 900 Companies  
The MMA is a group of Mechatrolink product developers and users who promote the use of Mechatrolink, the most widely used motion control network in Asia.

Manufacturing technology orders up 108.0% in 2011  
With a year-to-date total of $1,984.87 million, 2011 is up 108.0% compared with 2010.

AMT wants to hire robot engineers  
AMT plans to add up to 40 engineers in the next 12 to 18 months.

Okuma Promotes Lisa Rummel to Chief Financial Officer  
Lisa became Okuma’s first female vice president when she was named VP of Finance in April 2007. With the promotion to CFO, she becomes the first female officer within the corporation.

Demand for industrial control equipment rises  
PlantServices.com, June 2011
By NEMA
The NEMA Primary Industrial Controls Index increased 5.9% on a quarter-to-quarter basis during the first three months of 2011. The index has registered sequential gains in six of the last seven quarters and stands 18% above its year-ago level and 40% above the cyclical trough observed in mid-2009.

Browse more company and organizational news on the Machine Control portal.

ControlLogix and RSLogix 5000 Training Seminar
September 27, 2011 - September 29, 2011
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Get familiar with the Process Automation Controller (PAC) which is a much different industrial automation and control device than the PLC. This hands-on automation training seminar-workshop uses Controllogix and CompactLogix processor software by Allen Bradley, called RSLogix 5000.

Machine Safeguarding
October 6, 2011
Location: Eden Prairie, MN, USA
The class is designed to provide the student with a broad understanding of today's practices and products for machine safety and safeguarding. Limit 12 students

PLC/PAC AUTOMATION: Advanced System Integration, Programming and Design (TC36P)
November 14, 2011 - November 18, 2011
Location: Houston, TX, USA
This course defines Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Process Automation Controllers (PAC) architecture, configuration, and programming from out-of-the-box to actual installation.

Meggitt releases online industrial vibration training videos
Videos explain vibration monitoring to beginner and intermediate users and help them understand how to derive the benefits of vibration analysis.

Phoenix Contact announces fall training classes
Training classes will be held for HMI, I/O, Ethernet, network security, wireless and safety technology.

Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Machine Control portal.

Interactive Manufacturing Experience
September 12, 2011 - September 14, 2011
Location: Las Vegas, NV
From some of the United States’ largest industrial technology innovators to the heads of small machine shops and providers of workholding, drilling and grinding tools, manufacturers from across the country will gather this fall at an unprecedented industry summit to chart a new course for the domestic manufacturing industry.

Robotics Summit Virtual Conference: New Applications for Industrial Robotics
September 14, 2011
The New Applications for Industrial Robotics virtual conference features a lineup of dynamic online conference sessions and keynote presentations from industry leading robotics expert. This is a two track conference program which explores the latest advancements and robotics innovation for material handling applications and factory automation solutions.

National Robot Safety Conference XXIII
September 19, 2011 - September 21, 2011
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA
In-depth training on robot and machine safety. Learn about the new ISO and ANSI robot safety standards, risk assessment and functional safety for automated and robotic systems. (Early Bird registration ends August 29.)

AUTOMATION 2011
September 20, 2011 - September 23, 2011
Location: Mumbai, India
Automation 2011 will highlight products trends, services and solutions in the field of Factory Automation, Process Automation & Control System, Field Instrumentation, Robotics, Drives & Various Bus Technology, Building Automation, Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Sponsors flock to The New Applications for Industrial Robotics event
Participating companies include ABB Robotics, Bastian Solutions, Bosch Packaging Technology, DENSO Robotics, Dassault Systèmes, Freescale Semiconductor, Genesis Systems Group, LatchTool Group, and more.

Browse more industry events on the Machine Control portal.

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