FORTiS™ is the new enclosed encoder that enables machine tool builders to improve machine tool performance and increase uptime while enhancing the efficiency of assembly, maintenance, and servicing. The innovative FORTiS enclosed linear absolute encoder series is designed for use in harsh environments such as machine tools. It can also be used in functional safety applications up…
What is a Linear Actuator & Why Would You Want One?
By Matt Mowry When I first started working in technical sales for igus® back in the year 2000, we had three series of linear slides: drylin R, drylin T, and drylin N. drylin R and T were dimensionally similar to the round-shaft and profile guides that already existed within the industrial marketplace at the time—of course, our parts were made…
Streamlining material sourcing combining customization with ecommerce optimization
Founded in 1996, CS Hyde can be considered part of the millennial generation or part of the “internet age”. In the past 25 years digital transformation has changed the industry dramatically from prioritizing phone calls, to follow up emails, and now fighting for positioning within a search engine. Ecommerce has influenced the way we purchase…
Demystifying Machine Learning
By Anjesh Shekhar Machine learning can help organizations improve manufacturing operations and increase efficiency, productivity, and safety by analyzing data from connected machines and sensors, machine. For example, its algorithms can predict when equipment will likely fail, so manufacturers can schedule maintenance before problems occur, thereby reducing downtime and repair costs. How machine learning works…
Embedded vision – What It Is and How It Works
By Frantisek (Frank) Jakubec Embedded vision is a rapidly growing field that combines computer vision and embedded systems with cameras or other imaging sensors, enabling devices to interpret and understand the visual world around them – as humans do. This technology, with broad applications, is expected to revolutionize how we interact with technology and the…
Identify Failures Before They Happen: The PF Curve
By Tom Knauer The P-F curve is often mentioned in condition monitoring and predictive maintenance discussions. “P-F” refers to the interval between the detection of a potential failure (P) and the occurrence of a functional failure (F). The P-F curve is an illustrative generalization of what happens to an asset, machine or component as it…
Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturing – RFID is on a Roll
By Max Baker With more and more consumers setting their sights on ‘Drive Electric,’ manufacturers must prepare themselves for alternative solutions to combustion engines. This change will no doubt require an alternative automation strategy for our electric futures. The battery The driving force behind these new electric vehicles is, of course, the battery. With this…
Guided Changeover Solution Reduced Can Labeler Changeover Downtime by 50%
Reduce format change downtime. Improve ramp up of the production line. after a completion of changeover. Reduce training requirements and the need for experienced personnel. Increase productivity and profitability. A global leader in food manufacturing had a specific need to improve production efficiency. After evaluating and piloting they decided to implement the Balluff “Guided Changeover…
Snap Signal® Simplifies Smart Automation
In today’s manufacturing environment, data is everything. Capturing that valuable data—information that can guide critical decisions about production, labor, and machine maintenance—can be accomplished using existing sensors and other devices without a wholesale device changeout. The ability to capture actionable machine data from across a factory is central to Banner Engineering’s Snap Signal series, a…
Electronic valve technology
The following is an overview of different technologies available when selecting the correct electronic valve for your application. Spider Valve Technology Invented and patented by Clippard, this deceptively simple design features only one moving part with a mere 0.007″ of travel. The spider is an armature spring that undergoes a variety of proprietary processes, including…
Boosting OEE with IO-Link
An open global standard for bi-directional serial communication among sensors and other devices, IO-Link provides simplified installation, automated parameter setting, and expanded diagnostics. Because these systems use an open standard, IO-Link enabled sensors, hubs, masters, and other devices can be integrated into almost any fieldbus or automation system. IO-Link systems have many advantages and abilities,…
Data-Driven Decision Making
Making decisions based on data, not projections or expected results, can produce far more accurate and efficient outcomes regarding your equipment. Sensor data can be collected and turned into information useful far beyond the narrow scope of part presence or absence. This information can be used to help users objectively make critical decisions such as…
At the Forefront of Smarter Automation
Traditional automation on the manufacturing floor has been machines that take input and give output. Operators give instructions to the equipment which then performs the requested procedures more efficiently than people can do. However, this automation equipment has offered little in the way of monitoring capabilities. With the advent of the Industrial Internet of Things,…
Pushing performance: Adding functionality to terminal blocks
By Clayton Windsor Terminal blocks are used industry wide and often thought of as a simple component to connect one wire to another. Most of the time that is exactly the case. However, there are many different varieties of terminals that users can consider, including additional functionality such as fusing, disconnect, or electronic components for…
The Keys to a Successful Mold Transfer
By PTI Engineered Plastics Sometimes the best-laid plans are unattainable. When this happens during production, the results can be devastating. Time, money, and effort may seem wasted — which is no small loss during a product launch or ongoing production. Just imagine halting the injection molding process of a critical component used in a medical…
A new dimension of manufacturing
With ACOPOS 6D, B&R heralds a new era of manufacturing. Shuttles carry individual products freely through the machine, powered by magnetic levitation. Gone are the days when conventional transport systems imposed rigidly defined timing on the production process. ACOPOS 6D enables economical small-batch production with frequent changeover between products of different designs and dimensions. ACOPOS…
Top 6 overlooked benefits of a custom-engineered design
Could switching to a custom save you money? By Justyna Rapacz, Marketing Engineer Picture this – you’re looking at our retaining ring selection guide to find a ring suitable for your application. You locate a ring series that looks promising. You flip through the catalog in search of the standard part, only to discover that the required…
How does RPA fit into modern automation solutions?
In the world of automation, AI and robotics are the hottest topics. Nearly any discussion about automation eventually makes its way back to them. Rarely, however, is robotic process automation (RPA) talked about. This blog will do just that, discussing how RPA came about, when and why it’s used, and how it stacks up against…
SOLID STATE RELAYS: Basic and Proper Selection
A solid state relay (SSR), is an electronic device that silently switches loads on or off when an external voltage is applied to its control terminals. Their lack of moving parts and silent, quick switching are merely a few of the distinct advantages an SSR has over an electromechanical relay (EMR). Two and three pole…
Great Expectations Realized by Roller Innovation
Providing a better product is the goal of every engineering department. When it comes to rail guides, the key factors that make a great unit included rigidity, accuracy, and damping capability. Each of these features has been available—in varying degrees—in products presently on the market. But, with the idea of providing a better product, we’d…
Precision and Plastic Gearing
The function of gearing is to mesh with other gear elements to transmit altered torque and rotation. In fact, gearing can change the speed, torque and direction of motion from a drive source. In this eBook, the editors of Design World detail the most common gear types for precision applications — as well as the…
Hybrid Systems Improve Metalworking Practices
The move toward digital technologies is transforming metalworking machines and practices, leading to advances in quality and productivity. The transition from traditional methods to the creation of hybrid systems that have been revitalized with electronic technologies is creating exciting new opportunities for Italian metalworking companies, proving that the possibilities for improving productivity, product quality, and…
Training Matches Workforce Skills with Technology
Today’s original equipment makers find themselves at the intersection of Industry 4.0 technology and craftsmanship in training workers. Italian companies have long been admired for their craftsmanship and respect for the expertise of their workers. Workforce training is an integral part of their culture. Today, as electronic technologies transform how machines are designed and built,…
Creating New Ways to Build Products the World Needs
Technology is transforming Italian machinery in every industry, from new hardware and software to new materials and processes. Italian companies are investing in creating more powerful and longer lasting batteries, 3D sensors and other quality control systems for developing new e-mobility motors, energy saving designs and advanced software for improving textile manufacturing and recycling. Explore…
From Farm to Table, Consumers Want Sustainable Food and Packaging
From farm to table, the food industry is working hard to deliver healthier eating and sustainable production processes. Italian companies have long been leaders in the crafting of equipment to make high-quality food products. Today they’ve taken a similar leadership role in making healthy and sustainable products and packaging for the food processing industry. Compostable…