There are a lot of companies considering in-house automation or consulting with integrators for automated systems. But where do you start, and how do you even pick a project for automation? One of the most impressive things in the manufacturing world is when products are being made with little or no intervention, giving operators more … Read more
During national safety month, let’s dive into a safety feature required by OSHA: machine guards. OSHA Machine Guarding Standards Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the regulatory body in the United States for ensuring labor safety and devises protective methods from a severe or life-threatening injury. Machine parts, especially moving ones, can harm the … Read more
For many manufacturing processes, Cartesian robots work well. However, there are times with a robot with more movement capabilities works better. Learn about six-axis robots, how they move, and popular applications. Cartesian robots move on the x, y, and z-axis. It has three degrees of freedom for movement. The disadvantage of Cartesian or linear robots … Read more
This article discusses the importance of rev counters when troubleshooting a robot and how to update rev counters as needed. What are Rev counters? Rev counters are the servo motor encoders on the axis motors of a robot. Although the term Rev counter is considered an ABB term, all robots use encoders on their servo motors, … Read more
Cobots are poised to provide major breakthroughs in robot integration alongside the workforce. The questions around safety are certainly warranted, as this single factor is the biggest consideration when integrating them into any project. Collaborative robots, or cobots, are quickly gaining traction in the workforce. The strength of these machines lies in projects where ultra-precise … Read more
This article discusses force control in robots and how it can be applied in a few different ways. What is Force Control? Force control is a method of monitoring the forces a robot experiences during movement. During normal operation, a robot encounters a multitude of different forces based on its position in space, speed, and … Read more
Industrial robots have replaced many of the dangerous and repetitive tasks that workers have faced in manufacturing. But they have far from replaced the workforce. They have made vast improvements in production rates, safety records and the ability of companies to respond to global competition. Robots are not a new kind of technology at all. … Read more
Controlling an industrial robot can be done through the use of well-crafted signal handshakes. Follow along as we dive into several robot-to-PLC communication strategies. In an automated environment, we use program instructions, oftentimes in ladder logic or structured text, to command robots and other equipment to do work. However, external devices like those robots and … Read more
This article will provide links and resources for those looking to integrate robotics into their process without having to go back to school or spend hours researching programming languages. This article will present visual block-based programming. An interface that requires no coding experience, block-based programming lets users select blocks with commands more or less in … Read more
With technology becoming more connected and smarter, understanding robotic programming is becoming even more of a valuable skill. Are you keeping up? The current skills gap and the number of baby boomers preparing to retire has sparked some concern in the manufacturing industry. How can manufacturing advance with technology if companies can’t find workers with … Read more