Machine Building

SMAC develops ultra-high-speed pick-and-place

SMAC has helped to develop what is believed to be the fastest and most precise three-axis pick-and-place system in the world today.

5th April 2007

Pneumatic and electrical actuators used in harmony

MacGregor Welding Systems has made extensive use of Festo pneumatic and electrical actuators and controls in a fully automated assembly cell for producing sensors.

3rd April 2007

Boeing buys Breeze 20 all-electric tube bender from Unison

Boeing Integrated Defense Systems has purchased a Breeze 20 all-electric tube-bending machine from Unison. It is being used to fabricate hydraulic and fuel line components required during the manufacture and service of Chinook and V-22 Osprey helicopters.

31st March 2007

TorqSense transducer assesses torque in artificial knee joints

A medical researcher is using an industrial torque sensor from Sensor Technology to analyse the performance of implanted replacement knee joints, with the aim of increasing the understanding of their long-term post-surgery performance.

28th March 2007

Gripples orientated thanks to Cognex Checker camera

Aylesbury Automation has has supplied a Cognex Checker 'smart camera' to Gripple to enable complex components to be orientated without the need to use conventional sensors. Furthermore, the future-proof same will cope with new designs of gripple components with no need to change tooling or sensors.

26th March 2007

Robotic packaging cell increases output four-fold

AA Robotics has designed and installed an automated packaging system based on Denso robots, enabling Stanley Tools to maximise the benefits of lean manufacturing, reduced stock holding and faster deliveries for blade dispensers.

26th March 2007

Troax machine fencing safeguards healthcare warehouse

Swisslog has implemented an automated materials handling system for a warehouse in Northampton for a client in the healthcare industry. Machine fencing and anti-collapse pallet rack safety screens have been designed and installed by Troax, working in conjunction with Swisslog.

26th March 2007

Valves and manifolds help make isolation units more compact

Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions has used various products from Parker Instrumentation in Topside Umbilical Termination Units (TUTUs) for a North African offshore project.

23rd March 2007

DRO and Spherosyn scales halve cycle times on lathe

Hayward Mills Associates, a firm of church bell hangers, has retrofitted a Newall B60 digital readout (DRO) and Spherosyn scales to a Colchester Triumph lathe to replace an older DRO that was difficult to use and becoming unreliable.

22nd March 2007

Microlog MX data collector helps to balance fans

Daniels Fans has purchased an SKF Microlog MX portable data collection system but, rather than using it for conventional conditioning monitoring, the company is using the system to balance fans during production and as part of on-site servicing and maintenance operations.

22nd March 2007