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The less-is-more approach to six-axis robot design
Machine Design, May 2008
By Kenneth Korane
The less-is-more approach centers on designing cable-management systems for six-axis robots — including cables, hose, tubing, carrier, and connectors — in three separate segments. This differs from the current industry practice of using long, single-piece cables and hoses rigidly attached to the end-of-arm tooling.
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Six Key Machine Control Challenges Solved
Rahul Kulkarni, Product Marketing Engineer, National Instruments
When designing your next-generation machine, cutting-edge technologies in control systems, software architectures, and electromechanical components differentiate your automation system from the competition. This article explores the top software and hardware challenges machine builders face today and offers a performance-driven approach to solving these challenges.
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Build to last
By Dan Hebert, PE, Senior Technical Editor, Control Design
Every automation component you buy for your machines has costs associated with it. The most obvious are upfront purchase and installation costs, but maintenance and support costs can dwarf these upfront costs. This article looks at how machine builders and their suppliers view total lifecycle costs associated with automation hardware and software, with the focus on reducing costs while still maintaining performance.
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The Lean Advantage
Control Engineering Asia, November 2008
By Filippo Focacci and David Simchi-Levi
There are fewer applications of lean manufacturing in the process and hybrid industries, in part because there is not a natural fit between lean and these industries, and in part because manufacturing processes in these industries tend to be very complex. Indeed, it is difficult to adapt lean manufacturing strategies that have been implemented in discrete manufacturing to the process and hybrid industries.
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The Adaptive Approach
Control Engineering Asia, November 2008
By Peter Dickin
Capable of providing a real boost to manufacturing productivity, adaptive machining techniques use in-process measurement to close information gaps in the process chain.
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The power of integrated motion control
Process On-Line, October 2008
Integrated motion control solutions can be implemented into machine designs to reduce the size, cost and complexity of a machine. Industry demand for smaller, less expensive and more flexible machines is only going to increase. Integrated motion control is a solution that is transforming machine design practices.
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How does automation fit in and work with Lean manufacturing?
Advanced Manufacturing, October 2008
By Chris Stergiou
Lean manufacturing increases capacity by eliminating waste in labour, motion and processing. Capacity is also increased as the result of fewer defects and one way this is accomplished is through automation or Jidoka, also known as Autonomation.
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Condition Monitoring Pays Healthy Dividends
Chemical Processing, November 2008
By Johan De Wever, BASF
BASF’s Antwerp complex decided to implement predictive maintenance based on monitoring the condition of key assets. We periodically take vibration measurements on some 3,000 machines throughout the facility. Moving from time-based maintenance to this approach has resulted in significant cost savings because fewer unexpected equipment breakdowns occur.
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Using photoelectric sensors on the production line
Plant Engineering, November 2008
By Greg Knutson, Banner Engineering
Photoelectrics now deliver big performance in smaller packages, thanks to electronic miniaturization. Not only are today’s compact photoelectric sensors simpler to mount and implement in a wider range of applications, they are often available at a lower cost.
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Control system mounting options
Control Engineering, November 2008
By Michael Thompson, Timken
Mounting options can be broken down into several basic categories: wall-mount, rail-mount, panel-mount, rack-mount, or cage-mount. Each type of mounting has unique attributes that designers must consider.
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Industrial Machining Embraces Nano Positioning
Control Engineering, November 2008
By C.G. Masi
Today, advances in automated machining allow tolerances to reach below one micron (1 mm). that’s 0.00004 in! Conventional measurement techniques become physically impossible. Actuators relying on fine-pitch precision ballscrews simply can’t do the job. These are real concerns for growing numbers of engineers, as some applications already require holding positions to a tenth of a nanometer.
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Do PLCs Eliminate Need for a DCS?
By Bill Lydon, Contributing Editor
In the past it was fairly easy to determine whether a PLC or a DCS was right for an application but in recent years this has become more difficult. It is argued that more powerful PLC products coupled with new software tools provide an integrated process control system rivaling a distributed control system (DCS) for process control applications.
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Easier Pieces
Control Design, October 2008
By Jim Montague
Machine builders create modular, interchangeable machine assemblies. Improved software and network connectivity provide the linkage.
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Intelligent Down To The Last Meter
Industrial Automation Asia, September 2008
By Klaus Ebinger, Hans Turck
IO-Link integrates conventional and intelligent actuators and sensors into automation systems without extra effort and expense. Devices that currently have ‘intelligence on board’ are ideal for applications with IO-Link.
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Predictive Maintenance: The Diagnosis For Machinery Health
Food Manufacturing, October 2008
By Dave Staples, SKF Reliability Systems
Predictive technologies can be implemented to detect developing machinery faults at an early stage. The key to choosing appropriate predictive technologies is to understand how a particular machine fails, what symptoms will be visible and detectable before it fails, and how fast that machine will deteriorate.
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Automation Insights Network
By Rick Zabel, Publisher
Automation Insights Network is a select group of controls and automation professionals who agree to help us cover news, emerging trends and technologies on various automation topics. Every two months, we will ask people in the Network to share their observations, knowledge and expertise with us. We take that information, distill it, and pass it on to our reporters and editors for use in future stories.
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Industrial Ethernet Growth Slowed by FUD
By Bill Lydon, Contributing Editor
The promise of Industrial Ethernet is clear: it will revolutionize manufacturing by tightly integrating control and business systems, if users can overcome their fear, uncertainty and doubt(FUD). One failure can trigger a cascade of problems and result in a significant loss of time and money. There are many issues surrounding the use of Ethernet in industrial control applications that give control engineers reasons for concern.
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The Business of Wireless
Control Engineering Asia, September 2008
By Madanmohan Rao
With increasing investment by big players and more momentum in wireless standards, the business case for wire-free industrial solutions is becoming clearer.
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Imaging highlights explosive atmosphere
Intech, October 2008
By Edward Naranjo
IR gas imaging is an accurate, reliable, and cost-effective solution for detecting large clouds of escaping gas.
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Integrating Next Generation Motion Control with Programmable Automation Controllers
By GE Fanuc
White paper discusses recent trends that have led to the need for PACs, benefits of integrating the latest generation of motion control with PACs, and the critical capabilities OEMs should assess when selecting such an integrated automation control system.
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Getting into Discrete
Control, September 2008
By Rich Merritt
Part 2 of Domino Theory. ISA-88 is moving into discrete automation, too.
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Five Questions to Ask When Designing an M2M System
Sensors, September 2008
By Daniel Collins, Jasper Wireless
Currently, millions of machines communicate with each other without human intervention and that number is set to grow. If you're designing an M2M system, here are five questions to ask yourself to ensure a successful outcome.
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How Much Safety Is Enough?
Control Design, September 2008
Q: How do we decide exactly what level of safety is appropriate for our custom machinery? Answers by several experts, including Pilz, B&R, Banner and more.
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Give new life to old equipment and improve performance with little outlay
Advanced Manufacturing, August 2008
Every plant has one, a troublesome automated system that’s been around forever. This situation presents a dilemma: how to get more reliability and uptime from this obsolete system without investing huge amounts of money?
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ISA - Change the name to represent the industry
By Rick Zabel, Automation.com
The proposed name change of ISA (to "International Society of Automation") is up for a vote again during ISA Expo in Houston, October 14-16, 2008. Last year, the change was voted down, but I have yet to hear a compelling argument against the change. And there are many reasons for the change. If ISA is truly the global society of automation professionals, then its name should reflect its cause. It's time for a change!
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Prototyping of the Virtual Type
Control Design, September 2008
By Don Talend
Simulation tools give controls engineers opportunities to get involved in the product design process from its origin and to test machinery virtually so it becomes operational faster.
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Smart Cameras Resolve Control Issues
Control Engineering, September 2008
By C.G. Masi
Speedy data reduction is only one benefit of increasingly advanced machine vision technology. Smart system integrators are applying that technology in more and better ways.
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Industrial Robots with Image Processing in the Photovoltaic Industry
By Adept Technology
Using industrial robots in photovoltaic processing brings shorter processing times, lower wage costs, less breakage and therefore higher cost effectiveness. In recent years most manufacturers who have invested in this technology have done so with great success.
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PROFIBUS hits new highs, PROFINET to follow?
By Bill Lydon, Contributing Editor
This year's PTO General Assembly Meeting again was attended by an enthusiastic group of users, suppliers, and distributors that apply PROFIBUS and PROFINET technology. Michael Bryant, Executive Director, was master of ceremonies and forecasted PROFINET will be the leading Ethernet Technology for automation applications.
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The winds of change bring automation opportunities
By Rick Zabel
Maybe it's because oil, natural gas and propane prices are so high. Maybe it's because it's an election year. Whatever the reason, it's about time we see more activity - in Wind.
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Artificial Intelligence: Not Just Science Fiction
Industrial Automation Asia, September 2008
By Augustine Quek
Artificial intelligence can be defined as ‘the study and design of systems that perceive its environment and takes actions which maximises its chances of success.’ Not surprisingly, automation and manufacturing processes have taken advantage of AI technology to improve productivity as the industry becomes increasingly competitive.
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Machine safety pays off
Plant Engineering, August 2008
By J.B. Titus, Siemens Energy & Automation
From the most sophisticated manufacturing operation to the simplest relay-based system, machine manufacturers and end users now have economical and effective choices to enhance machine safety. If a manufacturer's downtime costs $10,000 an hour, it does not take long to justify a low-cost, integrated system that saves time and increases uptime.
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Architectures for Economical Motion
Machine Design, August 2008
By Chuck Lewin , Performance Motion Devices
Motion-control costs have more to do with what’s needed to hook up components than with the motor and controller. Too many connectors or the wrong style connector means more failures, higher manufacturing costs, and potential servicing headaches.
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Resolution Resolved
Machine Design, August 2008
By Scott Schmidt, Aerotech
Surprise! There’s no guarantee a stage can make moves on the order of its resolution specs. The minimum incremental move is often far different than system resolution. The true minimum incremental move is the smallest move the stage can consistently and reliably deliver. It is often defined by some value of uniformity in step size.
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Shifting safety responsibilities
Control Engineering, August 2008
By David Greenfield
A new ANSI standard will move certain safety responsibilities from employers to OEMs and machine tool providers. Packaging OEMs are already responding.
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Plays well with others
InTech, August 2008
By Ellen Fussell Policastro
With the convergence of people and expertise comes technological convergence as well—all cascading into a new form of automation where the lines between engineering and IT are becoming more blurred. The key is learning just how to meld the two for the greatest manufacturing success.
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When did you last inspect your safety light curtains?
What’s New in Process Technology, July 2008
While safety light curtains may appear to be fit-and-forget devices, with no moving or contacting parts to wear, most suppliers state in their documentation that light curtains should be inspected regularly. In this context, 'regularly' is normally interpreted as 'annually'.
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Evaluating a CAM Package
Machine Design, July 2008
By Larry Haftl
CAM packages offer software designed to turn a part design into toolpaths and G-code that can be used to machine that part. Most of the software products offered are sophisticated, mature products that are used by thousands. Even though all of the software is designed to do the same thing, the approaches that the packages take are unique.
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Specifying Linear Motion Systems
Assembly, August 2008
By Danielle Collins
When sizing and selecting linear motion systems for assembly machines, engineers often overlook critical application requirements. This can lead to costly redesigns and rework. Worse yet, it can result in an overengineered system that is more costly and less effective than desired.
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Rebuild or Buy New?
Control Design, August 2008
By Mark Lamendola
The three principal types of rebuild projects are, from least scope to greatest, an automation upgrade, a recondition/rebuild and repurposing an existing machine. Rebuilding can be an obvious alternative to buying a new machine, particularly if the need to physically replace the old one isn’t clear cut.
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Global Market Compliance: A Local Approach Eases a Complicated Process
By Udo Heinz & Sky Mehringer, TÜVRheinland
Helping a product achieve global compliance for safety, EMC, documentation, testing and certification is a complicated and time-intensive process. To place a product in other countries, manufacturers must maneuver a complicated maze of compliance requirements.
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State of Manufacturing & Automation in the U.S. Looks Good
Could it be that high fuel prices, the weak dollar and crises in the U.S. manufacturing industry are creating opportunities? Andy Chatha of ARC Advisory Group thinks so. He says the U.S. industry has suddenly become competitive on the world market, and companies are no longer moving operations overseas. Instead, many are expanding their facilities, and he predicts a boom in automation right here in the U.S.
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Keep operations safe
Chemical Processing, July 2008
By Angela E. Summers and William H. Hearn, SIS-TECH Solutions
Accidents often occur when equipment is improperly designed, installed, operated, tested and maintained. Adequate theory and standards are available to ensure safe operation of process equipment. The problem isn’t bad people and lack of competency — it’s that the systems governing equipment integrity aren’t rigorous enough to ensure the required reliability.
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Selecting an automation systems integrator is about more than cost
Advanced Manufacturing, July 2008
By Chris Stergiou
Once upon a time, most plants had in-house machine design departments to develop new equipment. Alas, this is no longer the case as manufacturing doctrine is driven by a strategy of outsourcing non-core competencies. This “back to basics” approach means that in-house efforts are geared to product design and development and this has created a manufacturing process knowledge gap as in-house engineers are focused on production
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IT project management in manufacturing: biggest obstacles are time and scope
Advanced Manufacturing, July 2008
By Jennifer Colasanti
Info-Tech recently completed in-depth research on IT Project Management. Data was collected from 51 manufacturing organizations representing a variety of company sizes. Not a single manufacturer surveyed indicated that they were “very successful” at executing projects on time. Managing scope creep was at the top of the list of challenges.
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Tools Provide Global Collaboration
Automation World, July 2008
By Gary Mintchell
Managing today’s manufacturing enterprise is impossible without collaboration. Most companies have employees located in facilities around the world who need to work together in real time. New technologies are required to enable widespread collaboration.
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Getting Up the Profit Hill Faster
Automation World, July 2008
By Gary Mintchell
The complexity of manufacturing demands study and reflection to keep production lines moving. One of the biggest challenges is finding where the problems are that cause reduced output of finished goods. Manufacturers have an array of good tools to help them implement proven operational excellence strategies.
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Don’t Rip Out Your Old Automation Just Yet
Automation World, July 2008
By James R. Koelsch
Tearing everything out and starting again from scratch is not always an option. Some manufacturers are devising strategies for upgrading their installed automation over time in an orderly way. One example involves PACs.
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Electronic Controls for Mobile Hydraulics
Machine Design, July 2008
By Andrew J. Smith and Brian Van Batavia, Eaton Hydraulics
The mobile-equipment industry is integrating more electronics with traditional hydraulics to address customer demands for higher performance and greater efficiency, but standard hardware and software are critical for efficient and economical systems.
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Without a Trace
Managing Automation, July 2008
By Jeff Moad
OEMs are turning over more responsibility for designing, assembling, and even maintaining subsystems to suppliers in the interest of reducing lead times and sharing program risk and cost. At the same time, OEMs are demanding that suppliers provide more — and more up-to-date — information about things like what specific parts are in a given subsystem, when the parts were produced, by whom, under what conditions, and what quality tests were performed on them.
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A Holistic Approach to Safety Automation
IEN, July 2008
By Dan Hornbeck, Rockwell Automation
Manufacturers are focusing on safety automation solutions that keep their people safe, their machines working, and their bottom lines robust. Thanks to the holistic approach to safety automation – which emphasizes global standards, innovative technologies, trained personnel and ongoing risk assessment, all working together – manufacturers have a best practice template to implement and achieve a high level of safety.
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In a state of flex: specifying the correct continuous flex cable types
South Africa Instrumentation & Control, July 2008
Through the use of unique stranding and cabling techniques, and specially blended insulating and jacketing materials, continuous flex cables have reduced downtime on high-speed automated equipment.
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Nesting Heuristics Less Effective than Vision Emulation
By Thomas R. Cutler
Previously, most nesting algorithms were simple heuristics, and did not consider the alternatives; Vision Emulation combined with Multi-Dimensional-Combinatorial-Nesting technology guarantees the highest efficiency while insuring that production schedule and priorities are optimized.
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Factory Automation: Secret's in the system
InTech, July 2008
By Ellen Fussell Policastro
If you are packaging pills, building automotive parts, or labeling bottles of soda, you might think your processes do not have to be as secure as a nuclear plant or chemical plant. Think again.
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Accessible automation
Process Industry Informer, June 2008
By Nick Brooker, SKF
Implementing an effective automation solution has never been easier thanks to the latest generation of electromechanical linear motion technology.
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Loose Lips Sink Assembly Systems
Assembly, June 2008
By John Sprovieri
To ensure they will be first to market with a hot new product, manufacturers often go to great lengths to protect the secrecy of what they’re assembling and how they’re assembling it. To help their customers maintain a competitive advantage, systems integrators follow a host of standard operating procedures designed to keep secrets under wraps.
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What Happened to all Those 'Flexible' Factories?
Assembly, June 2008
By Austin Weber
No matter what definition is used or how it is interpreted, it’s beginning to look like the flexible factory concept may be just a myth.
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Measuring Return on Automation
Automation World, June 2008
By Gary Mintchell
When operations managers and engineers evaluate how to improve manufacturing processes, they often look at implementing new or improved automation systems. They know the operational benefits the system is designed to bring—improved quality, less waste, reduced manpower, increased productivity, faster product changeover and the like. They may not have even thought about the larger financial ramifications to the corporation.
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Getting From Point A to Point B
Automation World, June 2008
By C. Kenna Amos
Generally, the ability to configure and implement motion-control profiles electronically provides a more powerful and flexible solution than previous mechanical solutions.
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Will This Machine Work?
Control Design, June 2008
By Dan Hebert
There are many different ways to test and verify that your machine and its automation system will perform as intended prior to final fabrication, installation and commissioning. Includes examples of PC, PLC and PAC-based controls.
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IEC 61131: Part III—The Benefits
Control Design, June 2008
By Jeremy Pollard
Rockwell, Schneider, Siemens, GE and Wago all have their own programming environments. The business of automation won’t allow for real interoperability of these competing products. The main difference from 20 years ago is that there is some form of commonality. There are some good reasons to use an IEC 61131-based product.
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Know Your Cuts of Cable
Control Design, June 2008
By Phil Burgert
Ask wire and cable manufacturers about the wiring and cable that’s best for use on machines, as well as in plant networks, and you’ll hear multiple combinations of insulation and jacketing materials, foil and braided shielding and corrugated armor. Using the wrong wire or cable could cause machine or safety problems and potential interference
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Solid-State Relays Enhance Reliability
Control Design, June 2008
By Don Talend
With the lines between solid-state relay (SSR) and programmable logic controller (PLC) capabilities blurring in recent years, SSR manufacturers see a major role for relays in maintaining equipment functions and reliability.
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Green Technology: More-Efficient Motors
Machine Design, June 2008
By Leland Teschler
the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 applies to motors made after Dec. 19, 2010. It boosts mandated efficiency levels for motors covered under the old Act and applies standards to seven motor types formerly excluded. Motor makers say this fills a gap in the original legislation.
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Top tips on squelching electrical noise
Machine Design, June 2008
By Helge Hornis and Thomas Sebastiany, Pepperl+Fuchs
Industrial automation equipment must often perform reliably under some of the harshest conditions imaginable. One of the factors that make industrial conditions harsh is electronic noise pollution. Industrial devices and sensors must operate reliably in a caucophony of electromagnetic emissions both intentional and unintentional.
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Interlocking a matter of safety
InTech, June 2008
By Michael Carey
A common mistake when designing an automation system is to incorporate too many interlocks. Creating too many interlocks restricts the ability to operate the system when the system goes into abnormal operation.
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Soft starter designs, functions
Control Engineering, June 2008
By Mark T. Hoske
When a variable speed drive isn’t an option, a soft starter can ease the initial impact of the motor starting and soften the blow when it shuts off. Soft starters are especially useful for conveyors, fans, pumps, and any equipment where starting or stopping at full speed applies too much stress or could damage the product being moved by the machine.
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Living With Safety Testing
Control Engineering, June 2008
By Peter Welander
While safety testing of instrumentation and control equipment adds cost and time-to-market for vendors, the upside for end users is more important than most realize. Those logos and stickers on all manner of equipment should remind you that much goes into keeping you, your home, and your plant safe.
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Don't judge a supplier by its name
By Frank Hurtte, Contributing Author.
For those of us who live and breathe the rarified vapors of technology based automation, it's pretty hard to fathom how life existed without electronic automation. Yet, it has been a short 30 years since the venerable PLC became anything more than a novelty outside of the Big 3 in Detroit. Sometime in the late 1970s, microprocessors changed our lives forever. Since those early days, the power of these tiny chips forever changed the way we think about manufacturing.
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Custom Controls Survey - Complimentary assessment, tips and tricks
We are conducting a brief survey on custom controls — that is, board-level controllers used in place of standard PLCs or process controls. If you use custom controls in your automation applications, please take a minute to tell us why you use them and what challenges you face. You may be eligible to receive a complimentary controls assessment, plus tips and tricks on how to lower your control costs.
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Regional Manufacturing Expos Prove Most Valuable
By Thomas R. Cutler
Deciding which conferences, webinars, and expos are worthwhile for manufacturing engineers and buyers to attend often feels like a dangerous yellow brick road, never knowing quite what to expect.
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Hushing Up A Serious Problem: Gaseous Noise
Maintenance Technology, May 2008
Uncontrolled noise in process operations is a serious problem. All noise attenuation solutions are not created equal, and no one product will be effective in every situation. It is, therefore, important to understand what is creating noise before attempting to fix the problem.
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M2M: Moving Towards Mainstream
Industrial Automation Asia, May 2008
By Augustine Quek
M2M most commonly refers to Machine-to-Machine but has sometimes been referred to as Man-to-Machine, Machine-to-Man, Machine-to-Mobile and Mobile-to-Machine. M2M also means Mobile-to-Mobile for wireless telemetry or telemetric technologies. M2M technologies continue to find new applications with ever expanding markets.
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Leverage your automation tools and automate the process — not the parts
Advanced Manufacturing, May 2008
By Chris Stergiou
Automation of high mix, low volume operations can be achieved by rejecting the notion that it can’t be justified. It’s possible to meet the challenge with creative process automation. By leveraging the knowledge of automation tools and framing this challenge as a goal that is achievable, it becomes a question of how, rather than if.
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Hydraulic Accumulators Boost Machine Speed and Productivity
IEN, May 2008
By Ed Godin, Parker Hydraulic Accumulator
With a simple piece of hydraulic equipment -- an accumulator -- it is possible to boost speed and productivity without increasing the size of the power unit as long as there is dwell time in the hydraulic circuit.
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How to Apply Direct-Drive Linear Servomotors
Machine Design, May 2008
There’s a growing demand for smaller linear motors. Manufacturers have developed new direct-drive linear servos in response. Among the first steps in selecting a motor is the definition of a speed profile representing various load movements.
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ABB is powered up and running at high efficiency!
By Bill Lydon
The products and services shown at ABB Automation World in Houston, Texas along with the enthusiasm of the ABB employees and users would seem to explain why the company’s 1st quarter 2008 earnings beat investment analysts’ consensus by over 40%. The three-day trade show and conference ran from April 29 through May 1 in Houston, Texas. There was a great deal of energy and enthusiasm at the event which showcased ABB products, ABB services, partner products, and over 300 workshops/training sessions.
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Chasing Moore’s Law – The Truth Behind the OS and CPU Upgrades for Industrial PC Users
By Alan Koch, Advantech
COTS electronic hardware and software have caused real problems for the industrial PC users, who benefit less and less as each operating system and CPU revision cycle passes. There may be no reason to upgrade. Probably 50% of industrial control applications would run fine on a military-grade 80486-type device using the DOS operating system.
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The Advantages of Small Form Factor HMI
By Hector Lin, Advantech
A modern small form factor HMI can be purchased for about the same cost as a dozen push buttons and indicator lights, providing better control, easier operator interaction, easier maintenance and support, and much greater operational utility for the same cost.
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What's in a name?
by Jeff Payne, AutomationDirect
PLC, DCS and PAC are a few acronyms used to describe what originally replaced relays in the late 1960s. So, what are the differences and why do we need to call them by so many different names?
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Going Green Again...
Control Engineering, May 2008
By Jeanine Katzel
Concerns about energy efficiency and environmental practices are back and gaining momentum, so automation vendors and their customers are helping ensure that manufacturing is one of the greenest sectors of the economy.
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Consider the Consequences of a Cyberattack
Industrial Networking, May 2008
By John Rezabek, ISP Corp.
One only can assume that fear of bad press must keep most victims from publicizing or revealing any successful cyberattack. Reports of serious breaches in industry still seem to be few and far between.
That we are vulnerable is hard to deny.
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The State of Safety
Control Engineering Asia, April 2008
By G Venkatesh
With machine safeguarding now the fastest growing segment of the discrete manufacturing automation market, this article examines how far industrial safety has moved up corporate responsibility checklist.
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The Players in CAM software development
American Machinist, April 2008
By Larry Haftl
Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software offers machine shop operators a fast return-on-investment productivity improvement solution, but finding the CAM package that offers a shop the most potential benefit is anything but easy. There are more than 40 CAM software packages available, and more are introduced to the market each year.
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Support the Smart Machine Platform Initiative
American Machinist, April 2008
By Bruce Vernyi
The Smart Machine Platform Initiative is one of the few federally funded research programs targeted to assist manufacturing, and it’s a program that can help to keep U.S. manufacturing ahead in technology and competitive in the global economy.
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Alarm management life cycle provides process insight
Plant Engineering, April 2008
By Prasad Pai, GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms
As HMI/SCADA systems transition from being visualization tools to analytical tools, alarm management systems have gained importance and are now central to the success of an effective control system.
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Motors Move Toward More Efficiency
Machine Design, April 2008
By Leland Teschler
The next generation of motor-powered appliances and industrial machines will be energy misers thanks to new electronics and speed controls.
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Making Sense of Electrohydraulic Controllers
Machine Design, April 2008
By Michael Liedhegener, Bosch Rexroth
Machine builders sometimes have misconceptions about hydraulic-based motion. Hydraulics is not considered exceptionally precise, or able to support complex, synchronized multiaxis operations. The advent of closed-loop electrohydraulic motion controllers has changed the situation, making practical hydraulically powered equipment that is extremely precise, repeatable, and adaptable.
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Is Mechatronics Simulation Ready for Machine Builders?
Machine Design, April 2008
By Sugato Deb, National Instruments
A new study, “System Design: New Product Development for Mechatronics,” implies it’s make-or-break time to get on board with design simulation tools.
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Designing for Mechatronics
Design News, April 2008
By Beth Stackpole
Engineers are grappling with how to more effectively design products that have mechanical, electronics and software components. But this not your father’s systems engineering approach.
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Implementing Ethernet-based Industrial Protocols in Embedded Systems
Implementing Ethernet-based Industrial Protocols in Embedded Systems
IEN, April 2008
By Bob Blumenscheid, Digi International
Increasingly, industrial and machine control is implemented using Ethernet-based networks, with all devices in the network connected by either twisted pair cable for 10/100 Ethernet connections, or wireless networks, using 802.11 based devices, supplanting earlier serial-based industrial networking protocols, such as CAN and Modbus.
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Knowledge and Focus are Key for Effective Safety Audit
Control Engineering, April 2008
By Steve Dukich and Mike Duta, Rockwell Automation
The challenge for a machine auditor is two-fold: To know which standards apply, and to understand what the standard requires. This is Part 2 of a two part series on the keys to conducting a successful safety audit program.
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Standards benefit batch
SA Instrumentation & Control, April 2008
By Andrew Ashton
Companies are finding that many of the ISA-88 principles for batch control can be applied in the continuous process field and in packaging automation.
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FPGA Can Speed Development
Control Design, April 2008
By Stuart McFarlane
Standard FPGA-based platforms and software tools have enabled machine control applications that were previously not possible or feasible. By using digital techniques, signal-to-noise ratios have improved, analog drift has been reduced, and flexibility has been increased.
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Integrating PID Controllers into Automated Processes via Ethernet
Sensors, April 2008
By Sean Wilkinson, Watlow Electric
Ethernet's popularity in industrial applications stems from its ability to exchange information, in real time, between processing equipment and Ethernet-based management systems.
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Save with the Right Distributed Motion Control
By: Peishan Juan, Advantech
Not all distributed motion control approaches are the same. There’s a need to pay attention to the degree of time-determinism, the amount of integration in control loops, the types of motors that can be managed, the openness of the software interface, and other specifications.
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Special Motor Design
Control Engineering Asia, March 2008
By Thomas Fladerer, Siemens, and Dieter Seifert, Univ of Applied Sciences
Many requirements cannot be met by standard solutions. In such cases, motors need to be specially matched using electrical designs different than standard designs.
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Getting More From CAM and CNC Software
American Machinist, March 2008
By Larry Haftl
Using a CAM package, staying current on it and taking advantage of recent hardware and software developments are the basics for getting the most out of your machines. The costs are relatively low and the returns are high.
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The 10 most-common Mistakes Made When Sizing Pneumatic Rodless Actuators
Machine Design, March 2008
By Cory Danks, TOLOMATIC
Rodless cylinders both support loads and supply guidance, eliminating the need for other load-bearing elements and reducing costs, size, and design time. Here’s what to watch for.
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Getting Standards Under One Roof
Managing Automation, March 2008
By Stephanie Neil
Most application integration has relied on proprietary point interfaces or middleware that multiplies over time, becoming expensive to build and maintain. What many want is one language that can be spoken between the plant floor and enterprise applications. Standards groups are at work. (Registration required)
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Why, what and when to automate on the manufacturing floor
Advanced Manufacturing, March 2008
By Chris Stergiou
Automation’s key driver is the economic justification of the investment for that automation which has to compete with other potential investments within manufacturing, but also with other company investments internal/external for the same scarce company capital. The untimely execution of an automation strategy fails to both deliver its promised economic benefits and can increase costs.
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