Automation Portals
- Automatic Identification
- Design & Simulation
- Digital Factory
- Electrical & Control Panels
- Embedded Automation
- Factory Automation
- Fieldbus Networks
- Flow, Level & Process Inst.
- Fluid Power, Valves & Pumps
- HMI & Operator Interfaces
- Industrial Communications
- Industrial Computers
- Industrial I/O
- Machine Control
- Machine Safety
- Manufacturing Intelligence
- Motion Control
- OPC
- Plant Management & Maint.
- PLCopen
- Process Control
- Process Safety
- Programmable Controllers
- Robots & Robot Controllers
- SCADA & RTU
- Security
- Sensors
- Systems Integration
- Test, Measurement & LIMS
- Vision
- Wireless Connectivity
- Network Portals
- EtherCAT
- EtherNet/IP
- PROFINET
- Industry Portals
- Building Automation
- Chemical
- Food & Beverage
- Machine Tools, CNC & DNC
- Material Handling
- Oil & Gas
- Packaging
- Pharmaceutical
- Power & Energy
- Transportation (Microsite)
- Water & Wastewater
- Event Portals
- Hannover Messe
- ISA Automation Week
Robots & Robot Controllers Portal
Robots & Robot Controllers Products, News, Articles, Events & Resources
Welcome to the Automation.com portal for Robots & Robot Controllers with valuable information and resources for controls and automation engineers to apply robots to automate manufacturing processes. The field of robotic controls is constantly changing with powerful processing, integration with vision systems, speed, precision and repeatability.
Get the latest information on Robots & Robot Controllers sent to your desktop as soon as they are published on this page.
Articles
 |
Small multi-axis industrial robots add new twist to lean manufacturing
- 02/04/12 InTech, February 2012 By Charlie Miller, ABB Robotics Smaller robots are ideal for assembly, machine tending, pick-and-place, dispensing, and packaging applications. Often referred to as tabletop robots, they can be mounted from a variety of angles, from a ceiling, wall, or shelf. |
|
Exploring robotics for the factory of the future
- 01/15/12 Plant Engineering, December 2011 By Suzanne Gill A European Commission co-funded project is testing the idea that industrial robot technology could provide a good base for machining, being both flexible and cost-efficient. Researchers are engineering robots to perform CNC operations. |
|
Design for TCO
- 01/15/12 Control Design, January 2012 By Dan Hebert Features that reduce a machine user's Total Cost of Operation are welcome, but how can machine builders justify the extra hit to the purchase price for some of these longer-term cost reductions? How do they sell the potential savings to their customers? |
White Papers
|
The Benefits of Using Rigorously Tested Routines from Numerical Libraries
- 03/13/11 By Numerical Algorithms Group This white paper intends to help robotics and automation engineers understand how and why to incorporate use of extensively documented numerical libraries into their application development practices. |
|
Machine Vision for Factory Automation
- 03/08/11 By Teledyne Dalsa Many key tasks in the manufacture of products, including inspection, orientation, identification, and assembly, require the use of visual techniques. By replacing human inspection with machine vision, the net result is greater productivity and improved customer satisfaction through the consistent delivery of quality products. This paper helps users match machine vision options with application requirements. |
|
Know Your High-flex-life Cable
- 02/05/11 By Northwire Cable designed to survive 10 million to 20 million flexing cycles is high-flex-life cable. It’s different from high-flex cable, which is designed to be supple and highly flexible. High-flex-life cable may actually feel stiffer than high-flex cable. The two products are distinctly different and mutually exclusive. |
Application Stories
|
A Handle on Better Packaging
- 12/29/11 Control Design, December 2011 By Jim Montague PakTech's MPA60 Multi-Purpose Applicator uses Beckhoff's PC-based controls and a Fanuc robot arm to apply TwinPak handles to packs of juice bottles at a line speed of about 60 cases per minute. |
|
Robotic upgrade for automotive fitting line
- 12/18/11 Control Engineering Europe, December 2011 As part of a major investment by Norgren at its Lichfield manufacturing site in the UK, Kawasaki Robotics has replaced two aging robots with Kawasaki RS06L robots. |
|
Automated Solution Reduces Manual Handling By 90% At Cooperage
- 12/18/11 Process and Control Today, December 2011 Diageo, a premium drinks company, built a £10m cooperage in Clackmannanshire. CI Logistics combined materials handling with robotics, to automate cask movement throughout each process. |
Resources & Literature
|
Machine & Process Safety Engineering Guide
Omron Scientific Technologies introduces the 2011-2012 Guide to Machine and Process Safeguarding. The guide also highlights Omron STI’s Safety Library with access to educational resource material including fully-illustrated articles on safety regulations and directives, risk assessment, types of protective measures and background on safety technologies. |
|
FIPA publishes vacuum cups catalog
- 01/24/12 Vacuum cups catalog covers more than 2,100 different vacuum suction cups arranged clearly according to industry, applications and series. |
|
IMPACT Vision Software Download
IMPACT vision software pairs with smart camera technology to provide enhanced usability and inspection capabilities for challenging machine vision applications. The API (application programming interface) works with the Microsoft ActiveX platform, allowing IMPACT data to be seamlessly embedded in local machine and/or factory control systems. Includes Pinpoint Pattern Find tool for high-speed inspection of randomly oriented, scaled, and located parts—with sub-pixel accuracy. |
Training News
|
ABB introduces robotic educational package for schools
- 08/14/11 ABB’s educational package will give students the opportunity to learn the skills needed to effectively manage modern robotic manufacturing systems. |
|
Online Robotics Training Program
This self-paced, interactive Robotics Technician Certificate training program offers an easy-to-use home study format that requires a computer and internet connection to complete. The CD-ROM based multimedia program is divided into 13 modules, each consisting of about ten sections, or major topics. |
Training & Seminars
Cartoons
Product Announcements
|
Dynomax Offers Lightweight Robotic Spindles
- 12/30/11
DynoSpindle Model 1860 series features compact, high-speed motorized robotic spindles designed for finishing operations requiring high-precision. |
||
|
Dynomax Introduces New Robotic Grinding Spindles
- 12/30/11
Dynogrind spindle series is designed specifically for robotic grinding of abrasive materials such as glass, ceramic, composite and forged materials. |
||
 |
_thumb.jpg){kind=small}
|
Frommelt releases Guardian Defender Safety Door
- 02/01/12
Guardian Defender guards machinery, contain processes and protects employees from robotic/machine movement zones. |
Company & Organization News
|
How China is Stealing Our Secrets
- 01/22/12 PD&D, January 2012 By Michael P. Collins U.S. Intelligence agencies say that both Russia and China steal technology information over the internet as a matter of national policy. It is hard to say if China is still the red menace from the cold war, or if they have morphed into a new form of winner-take-all amoral version of capitalism. |
|
igus supports FIRST robotics competition
- 12/21/11 For the seventh consecutive year, the company has signed on as a diamond supplier for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). |
|
ATI Industrial Automation increases manufacturing space
- 11/18/11 The expansion more than doubles ATI's current manufacturing and inventory capacity while allowing 50 new employees to be hired. |
Project News
|
RMT Robotics to supply Mobile Robots to system integrator
- 10/04/11 The ADAM robots will be used to automatically transport work-in-process materials and finished goods between production machines and the automated storage system. |
|
Ford invests in structured-light inspection
- 07/23/11 Vision Systems Design, July 2011 In Europe and North America, Ford has begun a project to install robotic plant laser inspection technology in 17 assembly plants for a planned investment of approximately $100 million. The new laser-based systems will provide a structured-light approach to improving the fit and finish of automobiles. |
|
RMT Robotics to supply Robot Gantry to Hanwha TechM
- 06/26/11 RMT will supply a multi-gantry cured tire palletizing and shipping buffer system to Hanwha TechM in South Korea. |
Event News
|
Industrial Supply 2012 Showcases U.S. Industrial Subcontractors
- 12/06/11 Leaders in the subcontracting business will be presenting their latest product developments in industrial materials to a vast audience attending HANNOVER MESSE. |
|
HANNOVER MESSE 2012 focuses on sustainability
- 11/21/11 By adopting "greentelligence" as its keynote theme, HANNOVER MESSE 2012 has put the spotlight squarely on green technologies as a central growth driver for industry. |
|
China is Partner Country of HANNOVER MESSE 2012
- 06/28/11 The People's Republic of China will be honored as the official Partner Country at HANNOVER MESSE 2012 (the Hannover Fair) in Hannover, Germany. |
Events
Contribute to the Automation Portals
Send your articles, white papers, application stories, resources, training and events for publication consideration to content@automation.com.