Changes in technology are spurring manufacturing to expand in the U.S., speakers said this week at a trade show.
Visibility, uptime, profits, and part quality: why a networked manufacturing floor is no longer a nice-to-have
Schaeffler Technologies AG saw an opportunity to improve manufacturing throughput and reduce the required cell footprint of certain automated tasks.
Improving workplace safety is good for everyone, but issues and strategies can vary between younger and older employees.
FANUC America held a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction of its new West Campus facility in Auburn Hills, Mich.
FANUC America, a leading supplier of CNCs, robotics and ROBOMACHINEs, announced a West Campus expansion that will push its operational space in Oakland County, Michigan to nearly two million square feet.
The SafeMate research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the “Innovations for the Production, Service and Work of Tomorrow” program, strategies and concepts were developed for the introduction and design of collaborative assembly workplaces.
Why use a metrology device on or near a machine tool? It isn’t just useful for making sure a tool is present or monitoring tools for wear or breakage. On-machine measurement technologies can save time and money, by speeding up processes and eliminating extra personnel, and they are a critical step in the movement towards “lights-out” manufacturing.
Micro components continue to shrink in size, demanding ever-greater precision and improved handling of parts with sub-micron-sized features. New approaches in micro machining technology include higher-precision systems from traditional micro machining developers, as well as techniques using additive manufacturing processes and semiconductor wafer-scale technology on the smallest of micro parts.
The challenges to manufacturing as it evolves into the 21st century are now familiar, and impact how metrology must contribute. Manufacturers face uncertain production volumes with roller-coaster demand, shorter production runs and faster product development cycles. Automation, while alluring as a way to reduce cost, needs to adjust.