Automation and Robotics Articles

Results: 54

	Think before you integrate (in robotic welding) : 8 common mistakes and how to prevent them By: Bob Rochelle If an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Before taking the plunge with robotic welding, stop and... Publish date: March 1, 2010
	5 traits to look for in a robotic cell operator : The right person can make the most of robotic welding By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Figure 1 Robotic cell operators who can visualize how the robotic welding arm moves around a part can become very successful programmers.... Publish date: January 14, 2010
	Keeping sight of the little things : Tips for improving robotic welding with the right wire, gun, and consumables By: Rob Ryan, David Bellamy, and Doug Krebs, Contributing Writers Choosing the right robotic GMAW gun, consumables, and wire can be just as important to productivity and weld quality as the power source,... Publish date: January 12, 2010
	Robotic pipe welding with a human touch : Keeping the operator involved in the act of automating pipe welding By: Carl Heinrich If an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Pipe welders follow "spool" drawings that map out how the... Publish date: September 1, 2009
	Automatizando lo pequeno : Las celdas de soldadura rob�tica evolucionan para manejar producciones cada vez m�s y m�s peque�as By: Geoff Lipnevicius Si la imagen no se puede visualizar, cliquee en el n�mero de la figura para verla. Read article in English Recientemente le cortaron el... Publish date: July 23, 2009
	Back to school with robotic welding : Northwest Iowa CC finds a niche with robotics training By: Amanda Carlson If an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Neighboring industries have turned to automated welding to deal... Publish date: July 6, 2009
	Is it time to put a robot in front of a press brake? : Answering these 5 questions can help you determine if automated By: Dan Davis If an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Dan Aronson, president, P&A Metal Fab Inc., Clackamas, Ore.,... Publish date: June 8, 2009
	Fabricator meets competition challenge with welding robot cells Situation LB Steel LLC/Coburn Steel Products is a privately held fabricating and machining company with about 300 employees and multiple... Publish date: January 15, 2009
	Keeping welding costs from spiraling out of control : Skyline Steel sees laser seam tracking as the answer The large-diameter pipe used for the transmission of gas and oil traditionally has been made using either the longitudinal or spiral welding... Publish date: January 15, 2009
	A 'Case' for agility : Case New Holland keeps robotic welding flexible By: Jim Berge Figure 1 Three identical robotic welding systems stand in a row, each system controlled by one operator. All Case New Holland robot operators... Publish date: September 26, 2008
	Don't be marginalized : How peripherals can maximize your robotic welding performance By: Thomas Jaeger Robotic welding systems introduce speed, accuracy, and repeatability into the fabrication process. The repeatability of these systems can... Publish date: October 14, 2008
	Automation helps ovenmaker cook up profits : Wood Stone Corp., Bellingham, Wash., learns valuable lessons as a result The test kitchen at Wood Stone Corp., Bellingham, Wash., showcases most of the commercial kitchen appliances the company fabricates. Scuzza... Publish date: September 30, 2008
	Robotic GTAW : Manual GTAW developments advance automated process By: Matt Brooks Many welding applications require precise control, exact penetration, or minimal heat input regardless of bead appearance, while others are... Publish date: September 16, 2008
	Automating the Small : Robotic welding cells evolve to handle shorter and shorter runs By: Geoff Lipnevicius Figure 1 Given the right parameters, welding robots can increase efficiency, even with the shortest part runs. Lea este articulo en Espanol... Publish date: September 16, 2008
	Top 10 misconceptions about automation : Myths, misunderstandings prevent fabricators from automating By: Randall Liette Click on images to view larger The new norm is a larger-than-ever variety of high-quality parts in smaller-than-ever lot sizes-requiring... Publish date: June 15, 2008
	Auto weld that ends well : Manufacturer of Tommy Gate liftgates for trucks finds success with robotic welding By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief The robotic welding cell Tommy Gate Co. installed two years ago has a footprint roughly 20 feet by 20 feet. Three years ago Peter Dunlop,... Publish date: June 17, 2008
	Automation in tube and pipe welding : Robots make sense for many reasons By: Chris Norris and Pat Clayton Robotic welding of tube and pipe means more control over a task that can be grueling for welders if done manually. Encompassing applications... Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Inprove your welding process with a mechanized welder By: BUG-O Systems A mechanized welding system from Bug-o Systems will increase production, improve product quality and work environment, reduce metal distortion... Publish date: August 8, 2007
	Analyze your arc welding cost By: OTC Daihen Typical graph showing estimated cost comparisons for proposed and existing welding methods Looking to purchase new arc welding power sources... Publish date: August 8, 2007
	How to keep automated welding from going around in circles : Laser-based seam tracking proves to be the answer at A.O. Smith's American Water Heater Div. facility By: Jeffrey Noruk and Richard Garner Figure 1 In this cell, a person watched two systems continuously weld joints. The person's job was to intervene if the torch didn't follow the... Publish date: July 10, 2007
	The costs of inefficiency : Addressing efficiency and the cost of design change By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer Discovering inefficiencies upfront in a robotic welding workcell such as this can prevent hidden costs later on. U.S. manufacturers can... Publish date: April 10, 2007
	The Pareto principle at work By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer The Pareto principle, named for Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, may be better known as the 80/20 rule. Pareto observed that in most... Publish date: September 12, 2006
	Reaching peak performance, productivity : Alpine uses automation to shorten lead-times, increase production capacity Robotic welding has helped Alpine Engineered Products improve productivity, weld consistency, and overall product quality; eliminate... Publish date: July 11, 2006
	Optimizing flow through robotic welding workcells : A 'Case' Study Revisited By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer Figure 1 One of the new CNH systems welds on a loader chassis. Veteran industrial robotic user Case New Holland (CNH), Fargo,... Publish date: May 9, 2006
	Intelligent Robotic Welding By: Michael Erickson Robotic arc welding has become a mainstay of the manufacturing community, meaning robotic welding vendors no longer have to prove to a... Publish date: April 11, 2006
	Are company politics undermining your robotic projects? By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer "Politicians and diapers should be changed often, and for the same reason." Whether or not you agree with this statement, it actually... Publish date: January 10, 2006
	Positioning your welds : Design objectives for robotic welding fixtures By: Geoff Lipnevicius Robotic welding can improve your productivity, but its efficiency depends greatly on fixturing design and functionality. When applied... Publish date: January 10, 2006
	Robotic welding : Turbo systems fabricator gets industry answers about automation By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer Investing in capital equipment is an especially big decision for a small fabricator. Rad Craig owns Induction Concepts, a Pryor, Okla.,... Publish date: November 8, 2005
	Welding robots and lean manufacturing learn to play together By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer Lean , one of the hottest buzz words in manufacturing, has to do with cutting the fat out of manufacturing processes, including minimizing... Publish date: October 11, 2005
	Simulating a robotic workcell : Taking the guesswork out of automation By: Eric Patty Like many other software tools, CAD continues to evolve at the speed of . . . real time. Even though we think the world moves at a faster... Publish date: March 8, 2005
	Construction Junction : How robotic welding helped improve steel erection Two six-axis robot arms perform full-penetration gas metal arc welds on structural steel. Millions of construction companies strive... Publish date: March 8, 2005
	Racing against the clock : Contract manufacturer measures success one second at a time Time is a nonrenewable resource, and to be competitive, manufacturers must use each second to their best advantage. No manufacturer knows... Publish date: December 7, 2004
	Playing it safe with robotic welding : How machine-safeguarding equipment can protect robots and operators By: Sergio Aguilar, Contributing Writer This robotic welding workcell is guarded on all four sides. The back of the workcell uses the control panel and hard guards to prevent... Publish date: August 10, 2004
	Intelligent controls improve automotive robotic welding : Current applications and trends By: Jean-Paul Boillot, Jeffrey Noruk, and Frederic Arsenault Contributing Writers The automotive industry worldwide has experienced dramatic changes in the last 10 years. Challenges facing the industry include increasingly... Publish date: July 13, 2004
	The challenge of robotic welding aluminum : Understanding fundamental equipment repairs By: Joe Hoffman, Contributing Writer Robotic gas metal arc welding (GMAW) of aluminum alloys has been an industry challenge for many years. Early attempts made to automate this... Publish date: June 8, 2004
	Programming multiple robots : Operating two or more robots from a single point of control By: Mary Kay Morel, Contributing Writer Figure 1 Two robots can weld on the left side of a large vehicle frame, while two other robots weld on the right side, with all robot... Publish date: October 23, 2003
	Selecting equipment for a robotic welding workcell By: Darl Osborne, Contributing Writer Keep the end result—the product that the robotic workcell is turning out —as your primary focus when you select automation... Publish date: August 14, 2003
	Laser-integrated robotics for assembly : How one job shop met an aluminum welding challenge Recently a cell phone manufacturer set out to be the first to develop an all-aluminum flip-type package for its ultracompact cell phone.... Publish date: June 26, 2003
	Loading up on quality, productivity, safety : Skid steer manufacturer uses welding robots to meet customer requirements Like the products it manufactures, CNH Global N.V. has to stay on the move—technologically. The company's Wichita, Kan., facility... Publish date: June 12, 2003
	Robots and dials and knobs—oh my! : GMAW power sources have evolved over time By: George J. Williams, Contributing Writer It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention. You be the judge. In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy wanted to find a way to... Publish date: May 29, 2003
	Welding exhaust system components : Laser technology may aid this traditionally high-volume application By: Frank Brennan, Contributing Writer In the field of automobile exhaust systems, such components as manifolds, pipes, catalytic converters, and mufflers are joined either by... Publish date: September 17, 2001
	Is robotic welding right for you? : Making an informed decision By: Tim Nacey, Contributing Writer Recent shortages of trained labor, combined with advances in technology, present a convincing argument to introduce robotic welding to... Publish date: November 15, 2001
	Taking a closer look at welding robotics and automation : Welding automation is gaining momentum By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer Internet usage, equipment improvements, stricter customer demands, and a shortage of skilled welders have caused robotic welding equipment... Publish date: February 28, 2002
	Get the most out of your laser : Applying commonsense gas supply tips By: Jeremy Barr, Contributing Writer Gas quality and delivery system integrity play key roles in ensuring that downtime and repair costs are minimized. To make sure you're... Publish date: August 29, 2002
	Setting realistic goals for robotic welding projects By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer Companies interested in purchasing robotic welding equipment often expect robots to solve all their productivity and quality problems. After... Publish date: November 15, 2001
	How to Kill a Robotic Project in Five Easy Steps By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer The same few roadblocks always seem to conspire to either cause a robot project to fail or at least greatly limit its success. Too many... Publish date: July 12, 2001
	Welding aluminum tailored blanks with Nd:YAG lasers for automotive applications By: Mohammed Naeem and Richard Jessett, Contributing Writers The automotive industry is continually striving to improve product performance and fuel efficiency by reducing vehicle weights. The recent... Publish date: February 19, 2001
	Automated welding for job shops By: Bruce McHaney, Contributing Writer A robotic welding system represents a significant capital investment for a job shop. The number and diversity of typical products that job shops... Publish date: July 12, 2001
	Robotic arc welding gets smart in real time : Immediacy of information can benefit shop floors By: Tim Nacey, Contributing Writer Though robots probably are best-known for their ability to accomplish repetitive manufacturing tasks, it's no secret that, by themselves,... Publish date: September 4, 2001
	Designing for successful robotic arc welding automation By: Dan Crowe, Contributing Writer This dual robot system uses a large "Ferris Wheel" positioner to give the robots access to the underside of the parts to be welded.... Publish date: February 19, 2001
	Using the tandem welding process to your advantage By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer The idea of welding with two wires is not a new one. Two-wire welding technology has been around for decades. However, only in the past few... Publish date: April 24, 2002
	Remote control fabrication : Researching emerging technologies for practical applications of lights-out operation By: Scot Stevens, Contributing Writer Object Caterpillar®'s Technical Center relentlessly pursues a manufacturing vision for "...one of the world's largest welding shops." It... Publish date: October 24, 2002
	Taking advantage of laser welding : Use increases as laser welding becomes more familiar By: David Farson and Raymnd F. Duhamel, Contributing Writers Applications for laser welding have increased steadily in re-cent years because, like laser cutting, the many advantages of laser processing... Publish date: May 15, 2001
	Mr. Roboto: Welding fundamentals for managers By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer Experience has taught me never to make assumptions about a person's knowledge of welding and welding automation. Often managers and engineers who... Publish date: February 28, 2002

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