All Assembly articles – Page 27

  • ps1
    Article

    Production systems return competitive edge

    2010-03-01T10:34:13Z

    Virtual assemblyFord plans for global modelLean machine: GMS propels the new GMFord’s flexible bodyshopNissan flexes in TennesseeChrysler goes commonJapanese firms build on past successFlexible plants across the USFlexible production now lies at the heart of global automotive manufacturing. Using reprogrammable tooling in bodyshops, standardized equipment in paintshops and common build ...

  • mean-1
    Article

    Lightweight vehicles mean longlife conveyors

    2009-09-01T11:52:06Z

    Need for flex – small platform sharingGM’s commodity approachMasters of global material movementConsider the changes in vehicle sizes and weights over the last few years. The Mercedes-Benz W140 (1991-1998) S-Class saloon weighed approximately 2,000kg, depending on specification; the W220 (1999-2006) around 1,800kg, and the latest model, the W221, has remained ...

  • radio-1
    Article

    Remote handling by radio control

    2009-09-01T11:35:21Z

    Fixed routes and flexibilityControl systems – the devil is in the digitalIf there was ever a ‘Cinderella’ technology that has suffered at the hands of tough economic times, it is the automated guided vehicle (AGV). Unmanned, remote-controlled material handling by AGV was mooted by many as the answer to speeding ...

  • flex-2
    Article

    Robots flex their muscles to multi-task

    2009-09-01T11:12:16Z

    Softly, softlyWelding – man or machine?Robots have traditionally been a single-task tool; in the earliest days of robot usage, engineers designed tasks and tooling for one robot carrying out one operation, be it welding, heavy (and light) lifting, machine tool changing, etc. Empowered by increasingly sophisticated control systems, time and ...

  • robotics-1
    Article

    AMS 10th Anniversary: Conveyors & robotics

    2009-07-01T10:45:54Z

    Beyond weldingLending a robotic handWhat goes up must come downGetting it thereImproving functionalityNo other application in automotive production is, or will ever be, as robot-intensive as welding. In 2000, AMS reported that both GM and Ford were purchasing robots in their hundreds for the production of the new Corsa and ...

  • assembly-1
    Article

    AMS 10th Anniversary: Assembly & testing

    2009-07-01T10:22:00Z

    Interviewed by AMS in 2000, Henrik Hakonsson, CFrom clay to CraySilence is goldenEngine and part testingMeeting the targethief Executive of Bruel and Kjaer, called for ‘intelligent’ tools which would make sound and vibration testing equipment both easier to use and better at data collection.“There is a definite need for innovation ...

  • robots-2
    Article

    Robots extend their reach

    2009-05-01T10:59:49Z

    With production levels under close scrutiny in the current credit squeeze, OEMs that have already invested in automation are well placed to manage the challenges ahead.Flexible vehicle assembly‘Welds’ apartReasons to be cheerfulThe automotive industry is the world’s biggest user of industrial robot technology. The automation of such operations as welding, ...

  • of1
    Article

    One for all integrators

    2008-11-01T09:59:47Z

    Rising quality expectationsResistance to changeVirtual design and buildGetting it right from the startFactoryTalk – optimising manufacturingAVL’s growing ambitionsPreparing staff for global demandsHow integrators and suppliers are adapting to ensure they keep up with the changing demands facing carmakersAs the automotive industry flattens in mature economies and emerging countries play catch ...

  • l1
    Article

    See the light

    2008-09-01T16:21:25Z

    Colour verificationTraceability focusPass the glassPicked and placedA wide range of applicationsPowerful and user-friendly vision systems are making this technology increasingly popular for assembly line tasks. AMS assesses the benefits of the latest technologyWhile vision equipment is not considered emerging technology, until recently the systems have necessitated a reasonably high level ...

  • sf1
    Article

    Safety comes first

    2008-09-01T15:57:53Z

    Different safety needs for automationSelf-installation systemWithout the right level of protection, assembly can be a hazardous place. Thankfully there is a plethora of barrier-free innovations designed to make even the most automated lines safe for all workersFor all its benefits, it is easy to forget that with automation comes the ...

  • aa1
    Article

    Quality at any cost?

    2008-09-01T15:39:42Z

    Measuring suitable for varied model mixesNotifying staff when tolerances are outComparing absolute data with CAD dataHigher accuracy levelsVerifying sub-assembly buildsThe latest measurement innovations for assembly line environments and an assessment of whether ‘quality at any cost’ still holds trueNot so long ago, the remit for production engineers was to remove ...

  • kr1
    Article

    Keep on rolling

    2008-09-01T09:30:52Z

    Conveyors should be seen as fixturesCapacity issues caused problemsSkid system used as a bufferHigh flexibility and rapid cycle timesConveyors can seem a humdrum type of factory equipment - a moving track transporting a load from one place to another within a production environment. The operational variables also seem straightforward – ...

  • things-1
    Article

    All things automatic

    2008-05-01T17:11:13Z

    From June 10 for four days, the Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany will put everything in automotive manufacturing to the test at Automatica 2008. We preview a show that promises to attract 30,000 visitors to 900 exhibitors Automatica offers international coverage of assembly and handling technologies, robotics, machine ...

  • mm1
    Article

    Makers mark

    2008-05-01T15:18:18Z

    Automated identificationAesthetic applicationFlexible installationDesktop systemsMarked improvementLight applications for lasersSMD applicationsPotential drawbacksWhile manufacturers have long seen the light when it comes to lasers, some are still in the dark when it comes to their use in parts identification. AMS finds an industry hiding its light under a bushelFeatured in all digital ...

  • ct1
    Article

    Carrying the can

    2008-03-01T15:19:48Z

    Flexible systemsPeugeot in ChinaLegacy worriesMoving bodies and parts from A to B demands a flexible conveyor system and it’s a case of mix and match for most OEMsThere are a number of options available when it comes to conveying work in progress in automotive facilities but they generally fall into ...

  • ar1
    Article

    Hinrichs wants a revolution in robotics

    2008-03-01T12:18:22Z

    Forefront of efficiencyCompetitive operatingPriorities for recoveryThe role of robotsQuality gainsPlanning and programmingParamount safetyRobot wish listJoe Hinrichs has got a wish list. He wants to see robots on the shopfloor that will revolutionise productivity and offer new levels of skilled automation and safety. AMS talks to him about the future of ...

  • af1
    Article

    Armed robotic forces

    2008-03-01T10:50:33Z

    New trends in roboticsIncreases and decreasesUser-friendly robotsSpeed, accuracy and qualityRobot assemblyProduction flexibilityRobotic relationshipsOEMs and robotics suppliers are collaborating closely on user-friendly solutions to the production processThe automotive sector, with its seemingly neverending quest for greater productivity, has proved to be a fertile breeding ground for robotic innovation. The body shop ...

  • ft1
    Article

    Following the guidelines

    2008-03-01T09:36:27Z

    Flexible conveyorsChoosing the right AGVAutomatic unloadingControl systemsFinal assemblySafety firstFuture advancesThe specific use of automated guided vehicles between shipping dock and assembly line is offering carmakers safety-conscious production savingsSeveral decades ago, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) were being heralded as the ultimate answer to the material handling requirements of automotive OEMs. Plants ...

  • rest-1.jpg
    Article

    This smart little worker needs no rest

    2007-07-01T15:03:40Z

    New module programming and configuring technology from Mahle Powertrain puts an end to end-of-line testing. AMS reports on the opportunities for assembly line flexibility and cost savings that come with VPPRail systems become expensivePlug and let playMeasuring contentWhen it comes to the programming and testing of today’s electronically sophisticated vehicles, ...

  • rack-1
    Article

    From rack to track

    2007-03-01T14:37:54Z

    In age of increased automation, getting parts to the assembly line in a reliable way has led to an increase in the use of automated guided vehicles. AMS looks at the latest developments in material handling and the safety advantages of the AGV.Hands-free futureFlexible facilitiesServer informationLaser guidanceMyths and challengesBMW LeipzigDearborn ...