Automation – Page 208
-
ArticleNew hot stamping technology
Schuler has presented its new PCHflex technology, a further development of the "Pressure Controlled Hardening" process. The company says it allows a flexible and economical production of hot stamped parts with high output performance and consistently quality - combined with process reliability.By controlling pressure during hardening, the necessary press force ...
-
ArticleMulti-axis energy supply system
igus claims its triflex R energy chain can be easily installed into complex robot applications, often found in harsh industrial environments. This multi-axis energy supply system features a high tensile strength ball and socket joint, offering high force absorption. The system also has a fibre rod and other retraction options ...
-
ArticleFord in focus
In the past year, Ford has concentrated on delivering its high-profile programme for an aluminium-bodied F-150 pick-up truck, but the OEM has also started reorganising its manufacturing footprint in North AmericaFord's ambitious programme to produce an aluminium version of its F-150 pick-up truck has not been without its problems and ...
-
Article聚焦福特
福特公司去年的生产重点是全铝车身F-150皮卡车。这个宏伟的计划，在实现过程中充满了困难和资费超资问题。计划要比预期的投产市场长一些，导致F-150在2014年中期失掉三分之一的市场份额，以及2015年中期四分之一的份额。此外，虽然福特公司一直希望对手制造商能够追随其后，引进一系列全铝身卡车，但是这样的事情并没有发生。最直接的竞争者，尤其是GM和Ram公司，尽管他们也选择性地采用了铝，但一直都很坚决的以钢铁来制造卡车车身，尤其是车门和保险杠。日本汽车制造商的大尺寸皮卡车，尤其是Toyota Tundra和Nissan Titan，还会继续使用钢作为主要结构材料。此外，保险行业表示对维修F-150的成本表示担忧，尽管随着年中脱销，供不应求，但是这种担忧并没有影响消费者的选择。F-150一直非常畅销。The technologically ambitious F-150 programme took longer than anticipated to get up to full production生产与需求的挑战为了解决压低燃油消费以及提高CAFÉ（公司平均燃油经济性）比率问题，福特公司决定为F-150打造全铝车身，尤其是因为之前车型的重量很高。福特公司还想要从技术上打造与对手公司全然不同的新车型。尽管在F-150的生产初期遇到了一些技术难题，但是到2015年夏季为止，让福特公司为难的已经是满足需求的问题了。满足需求可不是简单解决的问题，因为一个主要供应商，Metalsa公司因为最初的管道填充问题而无法解决产量问题。因此，福特公司不得不找到第二个供应商，Tower公司来提供钢质底盘架构。目前，Tower公司在密西根Bellevue工厂安装两个新的装配线，以满足福特公司的需求；据公司称，这份合约价值每年达到1亿美元。转移生产除了解决F-150生产瓶颈中的各种问题，福特公司还开始改变了北美制造足迹。7月，公司报告称，随着紧凑车型需求下降，（Focus和C-Max）福特已经决定将密歇根Wayne工厂的生产，转移到墨西哥的工厂。2018年，这些车型都将转移到新的平台上。11月报告显示，与UAW的广泛协议中要求，不仅是Focus和C-Max的生产要从密歇根转移到墨西哥，而且Taurus, Fusion和Lincoln MKC的生产在这些车型使用周期结束时，也要停产。墨西哥是未来在北美生产Focus和C-Max汽车最有倾向的地方，而小型Fiesta(目前在墨西哥)的生产会转移到泰国，腾出地方给从密歇根转移过来的生产。Fusion的生产将继续在墨西哥。目前这里的生产只是补充美国的生产，而将来会成为Taurus的生产地，是不是唯一的，目前还不清楚。福特公司在北美的表现，与在欧洲、中东和南美的失利，差距越来越大一旦这些车型转移的生产，福特在美国生产的车型就只有Mustang和Lincoln Continental。相比之下，福特美国的生产线将重点生产皮卡车和越野车。UAW协议增强了在美国生产Ranger皮卡车和Bronco越野车的信心，这两个车型已经从福特北美的生产线中消失了很多年了。Ranger最后一次是在2011年中旬明尼苏达州的St Paul生产，尽管Ranger品牌的皮卡车主要是用澳大利亚的车身构架设计在南非、泰国、阿根廷生产，而且在尼日利亚少量生产配件；Bronco的名字从1996年就已经不见踪影了。The Mustang and the Lincoln Continental will be the only cars Ford makes in the US. The main focus will be pick-ups and SUVs车型窘境随着F-150在美国的销量一路走高，福特需要一个小型皮卡车来提升燃油效率，而且也有消息称，福特将要把巴西小型卡车，Troller带到美国，虽然这个车型在美国的销量似乎很少。另一个可能在Wayne生产的车型有Transit Connect小型厢型车，这个车目前是从西班牙巴伦西亚的福特工厂，向美国进口。在2008经济衰退余波中，福特在Wayne的工厂接受了5.5亿美元的改进费用，从一个大型卡车厂转变成紧凑车工厂。资金的而一部分来自政府补助，用于转型生产更加节能的汽车，比如Focus和C-Max汽车。目前生产的版本中并不包括混合动力车型，至少要道2018年才会考虑这个问题。在新的Focus平台上生产混合动力车，美国的可能性要比墨西哥高。然而，随着油价的下降，美国消费正迫于经济压力不断缩小汽车大小的趋势已经减弱，大型汽车销量又开始抬头，而紧凑车的销量又下降了；2015年的前半年里，美国Focus的销量下降了3.2%，而同期C-Max的销量下降了17%。福特在美国缺乏紧凑型跨界车 — 或者B-段SUV。福特没有从巴西货印度进口EcoSport，因此无法与Chevrolet Trax和Honda HR-V相比；事实上，印度媒体报道，2017年有可能从印度香美国出口90,000浪汽车。然而，福特迫切需要这种增长型车段，已经等不到那时了，因为市场需求很高，而且还要降低平均燃油经济性数据。但是一直有报道称，福特可能会推迟北美的EcoSport进口行动，知道2018年或2019年。目前福特在欧洲的表现并不很成功 — ...
-
Article- 紧紧接合
工程师们正在开发能将复合材料使用到高产汽车的工艺将复合材料组件融合到汽车结构上来 — 就是将他们与其他复合材料的零部件接合起来，而且更重要的是，接合到金属零部件上 — 成为目前最大的挑战。几十年来，接触点焊是汽车制造商接合金属结构的主要方法 — 这是一个典型的方法，任何车辆都需要2,000到5,000个焊点。这个工艺廉价（每个焊点大约0.05美元）、快速（每个焊点不到1秒钟），很容易进行自动化，而且没有独立耗材。然而，接触点焊无法接合复合材料零部件。事实上，复合材料是以热固性基质为基础的 — 比如环氧树脂 — 根本无法焊接，也就是说，使用这些材料制造的零部件必须用粘合剂或机械方法。热塑性塑料为基础的复合材料可以被焊接，但是在汽车构架组件上的应用还在起步阶段。眼下最恶性的方法就是在制造过程中，将金属元素融入到复合材料零部件上，这样就能使用传统的而结合方法。然而，这种异型接头零部件在设计上存在很大困难，因为要暴露在高机械负荷当中。碳纤维增强塑料的粘合剂很多汽车制造商都采用粘合剂来解决这个问题，这个方法就是进行热固性CFRP（碳纤维增强塑料）到CFRP的接合。为了粘合Hyundai Intrado跨界概念车底架上的碳纤维增强塑料，这个韩国汽车制造商的项目合作伙伴Axon Automotive，选用Scott Bader公司生产的Crestabond M1-20结构性胶黏剂。Loops of CFRP, joined by structural adhesive from Scott Bader, make up the chassis of the Hyundai Intrado crossover conceptAxon Automotive及母公司Far-UK公司技术总监，Kevin Lindsey说：“将所有的部分粘合起来之后成型的底座，能为整个汽车减少很多重量。”据Lindsey称，粘合剂很好地综合了高负荷粘附强度、灵活性、韧性和钢冲击性能，甚至在低室温情况下也是如此。为了装配底座，包括粘合许多钢和铝支架，粘合剂采用了机器人系统，上面有物体分配器和气动枪 — Axon发现这个系统能产能稳定的结果，并且成本效益很高。在大规模生产中使用粘合剂粘合剂接合方法已经被证明可以在大规模生产中应用。这种接合方法还被宝马公司应用到CFRP密集i车型的结构上。与传统的生产线不同，这个占地32,000平方米的莱比锡汽车车体修理厂 — 宝马公司特别为这些汽车生产建造 — 非常凉爽，而且安静。"将所有的部分粘合起来之后成型的底座，能为整个汽车减少很多重量"– Kevin Lindsey, Axon Automotivei3上面的CFRP单体式结构包含的组件数量，比金属结构少得多。这些组件是通过ABB机器人和控制系统装置，全自动完成。由于焊接没有火花，这些机器人周围的护栏都是有木头和亚麻制成的。每个i3车体的接合长度都是173米。接合工序的每个阶段都是用光激活，并用照相机监控。在接合里侧架和外侧架的时候，有一个机器人用一个湿透的毛毡坐垫清洁接合线，这在工序之间进行变换，第二次则使用聚氨酯胶黏剂。另有一对机器人将两个组件压在一起，知道粘合剂凝固。宝马公司在减少硬化时间上获得成功，你那合计在90秒之后就发生效果。在90秒之后就完全发挥力量 — 是传统工艺时间的十分之一。一个补充性热塑工艺 — 即通过将一系列热灯安装在机器人末端执行器上 ...
-
ArticleSticking together
Engineers are developing processes for composites to be incorporated into high-volume vehicle productionIncorporating composite components into automotive structures – joining them to other composite parts and, perhaps more importantly, to parts made from metals – presents a new set of challenges. Resistance spot welding has been used by carmakers to ...
-
ArticleDynamic motor for large machine tools
Siemens has launched a number of servomotors for use in machine tools. Covering a wide range of applications and offering high torques, the new developments include the Simotics S-1FT7 compact synchronous servomotor with shaft height 132 as well as the Simotics S-1FG1 servo geared motor, which is available in a ...
-
ArticleIntelligent production
Mercedes has upgraded the van assembly lines at its Ludwigsfelde plant with a new, automated systemAccording to my guide around Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfelde, Peer Braun, the working environment has been greatly improved; it is much quieter and open, the idea being to view the whole assembly process from one side of ...
-
ArticleToyota Cambridge to build RAV4
Canada – The move is part of a reorganisation which will see Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) become the OEM’s North American hub for sports utility vehicles, with a line-up consisting of the Lexus RX at Cambridge and the RAV4 at both Cambridge and Woodstock. The RAV4 will enter production ...
-
ArticleFiat 500 reaches 1.5m units in Europe
Poland – The production milestone was achieved at the Tychy plant, where a white 1.2-litre Pop rolled off the line for shipment to a customer in France. The Fiat 500 has reached 1.5 units eight years and four months after its launch.The car is now on sale in more than ...
-
ArticleRobotic gear handling cell technology
ABB Robotics says its robotic gear handling cell technology will handle multiple gear styles and sizes and is suited for a variety of power transmission operations ranging from large commercial, military and industrial vehicles to automobiles.The handling cell is designed to improve system performance and uptime where the heat treating ...
-
ArticleShaping the future
This year, for the first time, Euromold went to Düsseldorf, where the event showed signs of being revitalisedEuromold departed Frankfurt in Germany after 21 years, with legal wrangles in the background, and now other shows targeting similar market segments have emerged in the shape of Frankfurt’s FormNext and the Moulding ...
-
ArticleHeiss takes over at BMW Brilliance
China – Replacing Olaf Kastner, Anton Heiss will become president and CEO of the joint venture while continuing to manage its production sites in Shenyang. Kastner will take over as head of BMW Group sales in China from Karsten Engel, who will return to Germany.Heiss joined the BMW Group in ...
-
ArticleSkoda celebrates 120 years of production
Czech Republic – The company has grown from its origins as a small-scale bicycle manufacturer in the 19th century to become a vehicle-maker which is active in more than 100 markets worldwide.In 1895, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement started designing and manufacturing bicycles under the name Slavia. Four years later, ...
-
ArticleDriving electric automation
This year's SPS IPC Drives Exhibition will focus on the opportunities and challenges of Industry 4.0The SPS IPC Drives Exhibition in Nuremburg, Germany, has carved out a niche as the premier event covering all aspects of industrial automation and control systems, with the entire spectrum of products and services in ...
-
ArticleHenriksson to lead Scania
Sweden – Succeeding Per Hallberg, Henrik Henriksson will take up the role of president and CEO from January 1. He will also become a member of the Volkswagen Truck & Bus board of management (Truck board).Henriksson joined Scania as a management trainee in 1997 and went on to hold a ...
-
ArticleSubaru to build large SUV at Lafayette
US – Entering production in 2018 at the Indiana plant, the three-row vehicle will be larger than the retired Tribeca it replaces. The addition will bring the OEM’s manufacturing line-up in the country to four models: the Legacy, the Outback, a new Impreza compact sedan and a five-door model beginning ...
-
ArticleEDM series with tubular shaft motor
Mitsubishi Electric says its Wire Cut EDM (electric discharge machine) series feature a new drive concept based on combining tubular shaft motors with a fibre optic control system.The company claims these motors ensure smooth and highly controllable movements without 'cogging'. Their control is based on an optical network which enables ...
-
ArticleSights set on progress
Machine vision innovations can boost both product quality and the efficiency of manufacturing operationsThe automotive industry is a major consumer of machine vision systems and can proffer numerous examples of successful installations on almost all continents. For instance, Industrial Vision Systems (IVS) has recently designed and built a 15-camera, integrated ...
-
ArticleMcLaren starts Sports Series production
UK – The first car in the new family being made at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking is the 570S Coupé, which will be followed by the 540C Coupé and an additional, undisclosed bodystyle in 2016. The first 570S Coupé which rolled off the line has been delivered ...