From automated to autonomous, mobile robots have significantly evolved in the past decade due to advancements in sensors and big data processing. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are slowly replacing automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in manufacturing and logistics operations due to their greater functionality and flexibility as well as their lower upfront investment cost. We examine their key differences in this article. 

Programming is key to any robotic system because it is how instructions are communicated to the robot to make it function and carry out tasks. We review the three most common programming methods for industry robots: Teach pendants, offline programming or simulation, and lead through demonstration.

Lights-out manufacturing is receiving a lot of press due to its promise of complete automation. The thinking is that if some automation is good, complete automation is even better! However, for most manufacturers, it is more realistic to think in terms of lights-out processes rather than all-encompassing lights-out manufacturing. In this article, we explore the challenges of lights-out manufacturing.

In the past year, several new commercial off-the-shelf robotics applications have come to market to make programming and deploying cobots and robots much easier and faster, and they are designed for workers with very little to no programming experience. We take a look at four recent sets of software tools to provide a flavor of what’s out on the market right now.

Move from pandemic reactions to concrete actions and build a disruption-proof business. Use insights from Deloitte’s postelection poll of more than 350 U.S. executives in the energy, resources, and industrial sectors to guide your next steps.

From custom products to custom solutions, manufacturing technology providers are no stranger to customization. Now you can get custom content.

It’s a beehive of activity at the Lincoln Electric Additive Solutions facility in Cleveland, Ohio, where 18 buzzing welding robots are busily 3D printing large metal parts. These systems are using wire arc additive technology, which, after years in development, is now ready to revolutionize large-scale metal manufacturing.

Should musicians rely on manufacturing technology for peak performance like NASCAR drivers do? Unlike traditionally molded and forged instruments, Harrelson Trumpets are precision-machined, making each instrument a truly perfect artistic masterpiece. 

Whether you’re playing paintball with friends, training with a pro team, or testing your military skills, you want your equipment to be accurate. Dimensions in gun barrels that are off by millimeters can throw off a shot by several feet. Sunnen Manufacturing’s high-tech vertical honing machine creates paint gun barrels to be within ±0.001 accuracy.

Nasal swabs for virus testing could have been a supply chain casualty if not for the rapid response capabilities of the additive manufacturing industry and associated research groups. If you ever wondered exactly what healthcare providers are shoving up your nose, here is the answer.

What does it take to win the world’s most grueling rally race for 18 consecutive years? Relentless improvement. Learn how Europe’s leading high-performance motorbike stays at the head of the pack using 3D scanning technologies to optimize aerodynamics and components.

The more complex the global marketplace becomes, the more attractive the idea of partnership is to many companies. Companies typically enter partnerships to seek benefits they cannot access themselves, and they seek partners for several reasons, including access to complementary capabilities, greater financial strength, access to new markets, to pool resources, or to reduce risk.

Advancements in technology abound. Which ones can help your manufacturing business thrive? IMTS spark features15-minute product demos, technical sessions, and exhibitor showrooms from trusted partners on CNCs, controls, and software. Plus, Spark offers interactive sessions on economic forecasts, tech trends, and leadership approaches to tweak your manufacturing business strategy. 

Alexander Zoller, President of the company that bears the family name, inherently views tooling with a systems approach, which includes identification, presetting, measuring, inspection, automation (tool control, measurement, handling), storage systems, software, data transfer, and digital twin solutions. It’s not just a simple drill — it’s your bottom line.

Metalworking fluids cool, lubricate, and soothe—wait, that last one is shaving cream. Seriously, this is the lifeblood of metal removal. Here are 10 facts to help you know more about metalworking fluid.

Did you know that the U.S. Department of Defense has taken its first step to implement Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)? Here’s important information and links to get started so you can compete for DOD contracts.

The innovation that makes our world possible was developed by you, your families, and the manufacturers who came before us. Help us preserve the knowledge, stories, and manufacturing equipment for future generations to know how new technology enabled precision manufacturing.
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In the coming decade, new technologies and manufacturing processes will lead to the creation of new types and classes of materials and products. Manufacturing is a dynamic industry and will likely become exponentially more so given these changes.

The Intelligent Flexible Manufacturing Cell project, featured at IMTS 2018, is now hosted by a Virginia research consortium showing OEMs and suppliers how they can more efficiently build qualified parts by leveraging open standards and the digital thread.

Recently, America Makes and AMT teamed up with the Federal Drug Administration to begin the process of surveying the 3D manufacturers of PPE who rushed to our nation’s aid. Together, we have created a survey with the goal of answering this primary question:

How did 3D printing help consumers, responders, and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Fill out the survey now!