Automation – Page 410
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ArticleMaking the best of India
Turning Tata aroundNew challengesGlobal reachWhat India lacks in infrastructure it makes up for in engineering talent and resourceful enthusiasm. In this first of two reports on the region, AMS looks at Tata Motors and talks to Eric Vas about the manufacturing challenges of this rapidly growing marketAs one drives through ...
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ArticleGreen is the new brown
Sometimes it just isn’t possible to build on a brownfield site, so those building on greenfield sites must do so in an environmentally sensitive wayAs you might expect of a country as environmentally sensitive as Canada, the major OEMs and Tier Ones – most of which are concentrated in Ontario ...
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ArticleMaterials bounce back
Sensitive material can add value downstreamWorking with software developersWaste not, want notNew possibilities with nanotechnologyBonding rubberMoulds and foamsAlternative challengesThose offering different materials to the automotive marketplace now need to argue a considerably more complex case than mere physical characteristics and priceAnyone tracing the history of material use in the automotive ...
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ArticleBuilding the perfect Bentley
Building the Bentley Production SystemNew assembly linePenny for your thoughtsSetting the pacePull and feedQuality for tomorrowUK car production is a rare sight these days and it took a dramatic turn around in production processes to keep Bentley on British soil. AMS went to Crewe to talk to Senior Production Manager ...
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ArticleHMS uses robotic program for simulation
Simulating complex toolingIt’s all in the retrofitToday’s production lines need to be flexible and adaptable, and one way of ensuring that the robotics is up to the job is to do 3D simulations using an innovative programFlexibility, affordability, and efficiency are key ingredients of today’s successful automotive assembly lines. In ...
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ArticleFit for automated purpose
Greater product varietyDevelopments in weldingReprogrammable robotic devicesClose co-operation between user and supplierThere was a time when ‘hard’ automation – tailor-made, dedicated installations – was the trend, but things are moving to a more flexible approachIt appears that the use of robots in the automotive manufacturing sector is entering an unpredictable ...
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ArticleKeep on rolling
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 – ...
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ArticleShifting gears to stay afloat
Downsizing in the land of bigThe suppliers’ future is not brightStrength in international operationsThe future’s not brightOff-shore gains give GM a pushWhen the chips are down . . .Ford’s multi-million dollar face-liftShifting the profitability goalpostsAre recent developments in US carmaking a sign of an industry in crisis, or is there ...
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ArticleMaking cars while the sun shines
Pre-heated airLiving in a material worldSunshine came softlyGeo-heat pumpsShooting the breezeGeneral savings globallyGovernment assistanceThe enthusiasm for alternative energy sources is heating up as carmakers face increased cost, but it seems that solar and wind power can only fulfil their promise if the right subsidies are in place Alternative energy. Why ...
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ArticleWaste not, want not
Air today, gone tomorrowEfficiency firstMade to measureHeat harvestingPinch pointFrom lean to greenAlternative energy has yet to provide enough power to run a factory, but when it comes to cutting operating costs it’s worth looking at what can be improved on the factory floorChildren’s programmes around the world show how to ...
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ArticleDriven to succeed
Planned accelerationBringing in further production technologyCollaborative concurrent engineering at Bentley Motors produces design-to-manufacturing efficiency and the benefits of 3D communication throughout the enterpriseWith a heritage covering almost a century, Bentley Motors is among the world’s most iconic brands. Since its parent became Volkswagen, the company has experienced a renaissance with ...
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ArticleEnd of the line?
Need for flexibilityMachining centresFlexible transfer linesMatching industry demandsIntegrated modulesPerfect matchCycle-time savingsContinuous performanceModular evolutionFlex flow extensionNew methods for machiningDrivetrain machiningStandards and specificationHybrid transfer linesFlexible Manufacturing has transformed the traditional transfer line and machine providers are now offering cell-based, hybrid systems to meet the demands of cost saving and batch production. AMS ...
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ArticleUnder the drill
Tools for the jobReducing frictionFrom art to partSingle fixture allows for machining and inspectionExpert help is at handComposites represent a paradigm shift in materials technology for a new generation of automotive manufacturing engineers. AMS looks at the current and future challengesComposite materials provide a number of manufacturing challenges for production ...
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ArticleThe demands of machining
Investment saves money in the long runForging flexible machiningThe cost of flexibilityIt’s a grind for crankshaftsLinear drive technologyYou’re only as good as the last great production run you had, and in an increasingly competitive market, having the right machines and processes to do the right job is criticalWith its reputation ...
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ArticleIn the Lotus position
Federalising the carGlobal outsourcingSafety in handPreparing for productionFuel for thoughtThermal efficiencyBenefits of methanolHydrocarbon reactionMethanol futureWhile production at Lotus remains a traditional, hands-on affair, the company’s engineering division is looking at the potential of methanol as a renewable fuelPlay the association game with automotive terms and ‘handbuilt’ invariably ends up paired ...
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ArticleAbaqus advances
Dassault Systèmes has released Abaqus 6.8, its technology-leading unified finite element analysis software suite from SIMULIA. Engineers, designers, researchers, and scientists can use Abaqus to lower costs and reduce cycle times through the realistic simulation of stress, impact, crush, fluid-structure interaction, thermal dynamics, and other complex behaviours of products, materials, ...
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ArticleDürr’s measuring system moves in the fast lane
Today’s technology, based on stereo photogrammetry and laser arrays, is rapidly overtaking yesterday’s laser triangulation. The new technology is incorporated in Dürr’s innovative x-3Dprofi le wheel geometry measuring system, which has, since its launch, been integrated into 16 wheel alignment test stands. The breakthrough came at the end of 2007. ...
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ArticleWhen worlds collide
Exploiting the synergiesSpeed is of the essenceThe breeding ground for leading technologyPutting learning experiences into practiseWhile Formula One and the automotive industry have diverged on chassis technology, the transfer of ideas is alive and well in powertrain development. But F1 teams do not necessarily lead the wayThe first part of ...
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ArticleUnrivalled load switching capability
Omron Scientific Technologies has released its G7Z high-capacity power relay - a compact and powerful alternative in applications where bulkier and less effi cient contactors have traditionally been used, occupying valuable panel space. Historically, conventional power relays have been limited to applications up to 25 A, but the rugged G7Z ...
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ArticleLight curtain reduces downtime
SICK recently launched its C4000 Select safety light curtain, a unique product that allows customers to use DIP switches for confi guration - instead of a PC. It also offers an integrated laser alignment tool, condensed, intuitive diagnostics, and the ability to cascade three C4000 Select pairs or a S300/S3000 ...