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.

Did you ever know a famous person back when they had a mundane life? Like when Michelle Pfeiffer was studying to be a court reporter. Russ Waddell – who has spearheaded MTConnect^®, the world’s first and most comprehensive, royalty-free data dictionary of common machine tool and equipment terms – was named a luminary by SME’s Smart Manufacturing magazine.

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

More than 325 IMTS spark exhibitors feature CNC turning and milling machine solutions. They offer an array of solutions for medium to high-volume precision manufacturing challenges. Whether you are making mission-critical parts for demanding applications of engineering custom items for NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, IMTS spark has you covered. 

The MTConnect^® Institute released Version 1.6.0 of the MTConnect standard, the free, open industry terminology or “semantic vocabulary” for discrete manufacturing. The latest version has several important updates, including new data items – even one for humidity.

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.

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.

In his presentation on Monday, February 22, 2021, “Introducing a Plug-and-Play Autonomous Machining System Using Embedded Machine Sensors,” Lou Zhang, director of data science at MachineMetrics, discussed the company’s innovative new approach to predictive maintenance using embedded sensors on equipment to collect 1000 data points per second.

As manufacturing reconnects its supply chains, shops embracing digital technologies are meeting market demands faster. Here are 10 actions that helped this Nebraska machine shop become the factory of the future.

You can view any movie you can imagine in moments. You can get pizza in 10 minutes. You can get trash bags or new shoes delivered in mere hours (still creepy, Amazon).  So why wait for the knowledge you need to do business now?

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.

In his presentation AI-powered Process and Quality Monitoring for Automotive Welding, Matteo Dariol, lead innovation strategist at Bosch Rexroth, will discuss the value of data process monitoring and visualization in predicting weld quality, and the important role of the cloud and edge computing to enable the solution.

Necessity is the mother of innovation.  This is how a small-town factory of the future came to be. Discover 10 tips you can do right now to upgrade your plant to save time and money.

How fast is the electrical vehicle market growing? When will self-driving vehicles be on the road? With production for both increasing, here are tips to prepare for a future that promises a high-mix, lower-volume operation from a recent webinar hosted by Today’s Motor Vehicles and Today’s eMobility.

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.

To be globally competitive, manufacturers are implementing digital inspection solutions that include new software, computer tomography, robots, and the digital twin. But with so much to choose from, the search can be daunting. To serve you, IMTS spark is featuring a variety of options including 15-minute live demos, on-demand technical sessions, and exhibitor showrooms from trusted partners.