The Year of Living Digitally March 9, 2017 When Kimberley Hagerty became lean transformation manager at Pratt & Whitney’s Hot Section Module Center, she quickly realized that the company, while flush with the most advanced technology needed to make “the world’s most advanced jet propulsion system in the world,” lacked the “most advanced processes and systems that supported the manufacturing of that technology,” she told people attending The Digital Transformation, a smart manufacturing seminar SME held here recently.
Lasers and Robots: Marriage of Convenience March 1, 2017 As both robots and lasers improve their capabilities, they prove to be even better partners in more applications
Innovative Safety Concept Adds Flexibility to Modular Production March 9, 2017 A dynamic safety concept has been implemented in the Industrie 4.0 demo production plant of the SmartFactoryKL consortium on the basis of an industrial, Ethernet-based communications protocol.
Why Optical Metrology Is on the Move March 16, 2017 Recently, the power of optical metrology combined with automation has been recognized. What makes automating metrology operations so important?
ABB Sells Its First US-Made Robot March 14, 2017 ABB has sold its first robot manufactured in the United States. The IRB 2600 robot is the first to be produced at the ABB Auburn Hills, Michigan, facility, and was sold by ABB Value Provider, CIM SYSTEMS, INC. to Hitachi Powdered Metals USA.
Full Stream Ahead: Waterjet Smooths Production February 6, 2017 More shops than ever are embracing waterjet cutting systems. And for the most part, the reason is that a number of customer-driven improvements/innovations to waterjet technology make it even more user friendly, productive and appealing to an ever-broadening array of manufacturers.
Spacecraft Valve Body 3D Printed in Titanium February 3, 2017 Larger titanium aircraft components are being manufactured faster with selective laser melting 3D printing technology from SLM Solutions NA Inc.
Advances in Titanium Machining—Do More on Less Floor February 6, 2017 The demand for titanium components by the aerospace industry began as a whisper about 15 years ago and steadily grew to a sustained, raucous shout over the last five and likely won’t quiet for several more.
New Graphene Synthesized for Industrial Uses February 7, 2017 Materials researcher Metalysis Ltd. (South Yorkshire, UK) recently announced that it has developed a new synthesized graphene material that holds potential for future industrial production. Metalysis, which is focused on commercializing its proprietary electrochemical metal-powder manufacturing technology, said its R&D successfully produced graphene using the company’s own process.
Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM) Latest Institute To Join Manufacturing USA January 13, 2017 An independent institute founded by Carnegie Mellon University will receive more than $250 million to launch an advanced robotics manufacturing institute in Pittsburgh, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Friday.
