Robots Get Hand-Eye Coordination
Artificial vision, touch and intelligence help collaborative robots cope with the unpredictable.

Fill the Night Shift with a Machine-Tending Cobot
When a large order necessitated adding a third shift, Toolcraft was having trouble hiring anyone to cover it. By investing in a UR5e collaborative robot from Universal Robots, the shop quickly achieved 24/7 production as well as time savings and increased throughput.

Shop Doubles Production Capacity with Robotic Machine Tending
In an unusual case of workers pleading for the adoption of machine-tending robots, Fusion OEM has realized great increases in capacity while freeing up machinists to more complex tasks.

Deal Between Universal Robots, Haas Distributor to Increase Machine Shop Access to Cobots
“There is tremendous potential both for retrofitting existing installations with UR cobots and for getting through the door to new customers, offering turnkey solutions,” says Phillips Corp.

News of Note: August 2019
A market development agreement on a new finishing process, a conference on quick-response manufacturing, new robotics training centers in the United States, and other industry news.

Universal Robots Opens Authorized Training Centers
Through hands-on classes hosted by UR trained teachers, the ATCs aims to broaden users’ understanding of the UR cobots’ range of use cases, while providing opportunities for hands-on practice in real-life applications.

What is the Role of Collaborative Automation in Production?
Thyssenkrupp Bilstein’s North American operations is finding out. The shock absorber manufacturer has eight cobots and counting in its Ohio production facility, plus two autonomous vehicles. Here are scenes from its shop where the picture of automation is changing.

If at First Your CNC Machine Shop Doesn’t Succeed with Robots, Automate Again
Alexandria Industries struggled with its first robotic machining cell. However, the aluminum extrusion components manufacturer — now with more than 20 robots — discovered that by simplifying and standardizing its automation strategy, it could reap the benefits of unattended machining even for relatively low batch sizes.

News of Note: December 2018
ORNL appoints new leadership, Ingersoll remains with current owners, DMG MORI expands and other industry news. 

Universal Robots Hires Former Rethink Robotics Employees
Universal Robots welcomes more than 20 former Rethink Robotics staff members, incorporating valuable expertise in engineering, product development and customer applications.

10 Ways to Think Differently about Robotic Automation
Take another look: A lot is happening in and around robotic automation. What robots might mean for machining and manufacturing is getting ready to change.

Software Helps NASA Automate Robot Programming Process
A process being developed by the NASA Advanced Composites Project uses software to help automate the programming of collaborative robots for safe inspection of composite fuselage components alongside workers, providing more consistent results.  

Robots in Manufacturing: Advice, Predictions from Panelists
Part 1: TechSolve Inc.’s second robotics in manufacturing seminar focused on current and future applications for collaborative robots.

Machining Technology Spotted at Amerimold 2018
Amerimold presents a range of mold production equipment, strategies and best practices. Here is some of the mold machining technology displayed at this year’s event, ranging from automation to CAD/CAM.

UR3: The Most Flexible Tabletop Robot to Work Alongside Humans
From the IMTS Technology e-Newsletter (Sponsored)

Technologies for More Effective Medical Component Manufacturing Seen at MD&M West 2018
Advancements in 3D printing, automation and inspection technologies were prominent at this year's Medical Design and Manufacturing West show.

Vision-Guided Cobot Doubles Daily Production
Walt Machine Inc. needed to meet a short-term rise in production volume. A Universal Robot UR10 with a Robotiq wrist camera and a two-finger 140 gripper enabled lights-out production and reassignment of current staff. 

Two-Man Startup Automates Eyewear Production
Lowercase Eyewear needed a cost-effective way to produce eyewear in the United States. A Robotiq gripper on a UR5 collaborative robot arm enabled repeatable, consistent production so employees could work on more labor-intensive projects.