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
What are Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and how are they becoming more widely used within industrial manufacturing? What are Automated Guided Vehicles? Automated Guided Vehicles or AGVs, are a form of vehicle that moves autonomously from location to location to carry a payload, usually in the manufacturing process. They are not run by an operator when … Read more
Learn how to set up Ethernet/IP communications, including steps for both the FANUC controller and the Studio 5000 environment for a Rockwell PLC. Connecting a PLC to a FANUC robot via Ethernet/IP offers numerous benefits for industrial automation. It gives access to integrated control, allowing coordination between different manufacturing process components. The PLC can send … Read more
There are multiple methods for mapping inputs and outputs to an industrial robot. In this article, we cover two of the most popular methods: letting the robot or the PLC control the I/O signals. There is one unavoidable question to ask during your next robotic design, no matter what brand of robot is used: you … Read more
This article dives into automated palletizing and the different ways you can automate the palletization process through PLC and robotic controls. What is Palletizing? Once a manufactured product is complete and ready for shipment it generally needs to be palletized for convenient distribution. Without automation, workers have to physically handle and stack the product before shipment, … Read more
What are autonomous mobile robots and how did they come to be a crucial part of the industrial manufacturing industry? Why are Autonomous Mobile Robots Important? Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have changed the way manufacturers and warehouses operate. They are often the backbone of cheap drop shipping industries and function around the clock to help … Read more