Automation – Page 419
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ArticleAuto wheel mounting and rotor-rooting
A vision system assists in automated wheel fitting, solving one of the toughest final assembly challenges. Ever tried lifting 35-pound castings on to a machining line for a whole shift? Nor have the operators at TRW Automotive, because it has systems in place to do thisHow the camera system worksAdditional ...
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ArticleMetton lightweighting in the hood
Vehicle makers are continually looking at ways to reduce the weight of their products, thereby decreasing costs but, at the same time, improving efficiency for consumers. Heavy duty rigs dressed in Metton are becoming the lightweight champions of the worldCycle times have been reducedSeasonal effects on materialsThe challenges of using ...
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ArticleTrucking’s new titans
China’s commercial vehicle market is keeping pace with the boom but don’t expect to see Chinese trucks in the West. Meanwhile, a robust economy and keen interest in Indian vehicles is driving sales for the country’s commercial vehicle makersOverloaded roadsTechnology transferBrand loyaltyExport marketsWith all those outbound container ships laden with ...
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ArticleKerk VHD Series antibacklash assembly
Kerk Motion Products, one of the world’s premier manufacturers of non-ball lead screws, offers its VHD series, ideal for eliminating drag and wear associated with high pre-load forces. The Kerk VHD Series anti-backlash assembly provides the maximum loadcarrying capability and the highest axial and radial stiffness of any Kerk nut ...
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Safety locking series from Omron
Omron Scientific Technologies has introduced its SLD series switchlocking devices. The SLD Series enables personnel to quickly lock a safety interlock switch to a safe position allowing for certain types of maintenance. The series is intended for use as an alternative control method while performing tasks that are routine, repetitive ...
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ArticleModular safety at Eisenach
The process of welding the tailgate on the Corsa at Opel Eisenach has been overhauled without any compromise to safety, with automation expert PilzSensory deprivationPeople scannersLike most body shops the one at Opel Eisenach is heavily automated, almost a 100 per cent in fact, save for eight workstations on the ...
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AutoForm Engineering releases EasyBlank
AutoForm Engineering has released EasyBlank for rapid calculation of developed blank outlines from imported 3D CAD part geometry.It uses AutoForm-OneStep simulation technology and calculates material optimisation and nesting layout, making the software particularly useful at the quotation stage of a project.EasyBlank is free to download and use, and users of ...
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ArticleGrand range of parts at Crewe
While a Bentley may be something more than the sum total of its parts, making sure those parts are engineered, regardless of model year, to the company’s exceptional standards is a priority for continued prestigeWhat’s in a nameParts and parcelsPrice and ApplicationKey to the pastBuried deep within the bowels of ...
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ArticleHyster shows foresight on the Fortens forklift
Hyster is pleased to announce the launch of “Raised Operator” versions of both the H2.0-3.5FT & H4.0-5.5FT Fortens Series IC-engine forklift trucks. The new Raised Operator option is designed for use in applications where the load carried can often hinder the driver’s view.To enhance visibility over the attachment and associated ...
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ArticleAutomotive robots reach for the sky
Airbus has completed a major research project that has brought automotive robots up to aerospace tolerances – a process that incorporates Delmia V5R16 Robotics software and should reduce costs, cut production time and improve quality.Realistic Robot SimulationAdaptive ControlCo-operating robotsCompany-wide, we drill around 50 million holes per year and half of ...
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ArticleCutting out the carbon
Volvo Trucks is paving the way for CO2-free truck making while Ford embraces wind power and the photovoltaic cell. These are just two of the innovations emerging from an industry committed to reducing both carbon output and the cost of manufacturingBiomass and windpowerEnergy reduction remains criticalDifferent energy models for each ...
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ArticleTurning up the WiC
BERU F1 is working in harness with carmakers to protect and package wiring solutions for today’s more sophisticated vehicles.Reliable protectionVersatilitySignificant advances in the materials used in wiring harnesses offer the automotive industry opportunities to enhance the packaging, weight and functionality by combining composites and loom into a single component.Today’s automotive ...
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ArticleCool coatings
Heat resistant ceramic coating offers OEMs reliability and performance advantages. Developed originally for the UK nuclear industry, a zirconia-based coating is finding increasing uses in the automotive industry.Thermal managementCut the wrapCeramic coatings have been used previously to retain heat within specific sub-systems or to protect components and operators from excessive ...
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ArticlePump up the volume
Carbon fibre has long been the preserve of the super car elite – but those days are coming to an endCarbon fibre is finding favour in structural componentsProduction processes must be developedCarbon gives the necessary weight savingsMention composites in the context of car design and thoughts automatically turn to the ...
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The race for better metals
Motorsport engines demand higher performance and that means the manufacture of very pure metals. It’s an area of intense competition and innovation, as Nigel Eames of MCT explainsPurer steelMaterial researchOne of the most gruelling automotive environments for metals is that found in a motorsport engine, where reliability and performance are ...
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ArticleDesmo dangers solved
Ducati’s famed Desmodromic valve system allows its engines to reach tremendous speeds but demands absolute precision in machining and assembly Taking controlEye for detailDucati has realised that the machining of valuable components for its Desmodromic engines must be carefully controlled. Different tools are used hundreds of thousands of times during ...
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ArticleSpreading the Ethernet
The demands of commercial vehicle making are being met with increasingly sophisticated automation software, including integrated Ethernet communication and client/server architecturesCommunication protocolsUnity automation platformAutomation faces particular challenges when it comes to the production of commercial vehicles because of the wide variety demanded. Theoretically, the number of variants that might need ...
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Holding the energy line at GM
General Motors is embracing energy savings and improved performance with a new decentralised vacuum system from PIAB. AMS talks to Senior Manufacturing Project Engineer Dan Anfinson about getting a grip on the competitive edgeA firm grasp on safety and performanceIncreased up-timeDan Anfinson recognises that competition is the driving force in ...
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ArticleFrom function blocks to engine blocks
Schneider Electric has developed digital function blocks that allow cost efficiency and application support for major Tier One suppliersReady for reuseProgramming project bookAs Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programmers know well, there are two schools of thought on how you program them. There’s the North American “ladder logic” camp, and the ...
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ArticleThis smart little worker needs no rest
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, ...