Tue.May 16, 2023

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3D Printing Viability Determination

Automation World

Awareness of 3D printing’s use beyond prototypes is becoming more well known. But how do you know if a part or product should be 3D printed or produced via traditional methods?

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ABB predicts top US robotics trends

Design World

• Labor shortages present new opportunities for robotic automation • AI and connected digital networks will make robots easier to use, enabling them to take on more tasks in new industries • More specialist partnerships between industry and educators will close the robotics skills gap With annual revenue in the U.S. robotics market expected to… The post ABB predicts top US robotics trends appeared first on Design World.

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Building a Temperature Controller Simulator Using OpenPLC and an Arduino

Control.com

Variable control allows external conditions, like temperature, to be monitored so the controller can activate devices to heat or cool the system as needed. Simulate a temp controller with low-cost components!

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The virtues of bend simulation for press brakes and helping a shop's downstream

The Fabricator

If bending is a mess in a sheet metal fabrication shop, so is virtually everything else. That’s why simulating bending jobs before they reach the press brake and the rest of the shop floor makes so much sense.

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Speeding Robotics Automation with AI

The $53 trillion manufacturing economy in the US is undergoing a major automation paradigm shift due to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thanks to new practical frameworks, automation projects that were once impossible or inefficient to implement are now being fast-tracked, and robotics automation is becoming increasingly relevant to a growing number of users and scenarios.

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What is sensor activated?

Design World

Some of the earliest uses for sensors that emerged over a hundred years ago involved direct actuation for control. Think of the mercury thermostat. A thermally responsive coil moves with changes in temperature and tilts a mercury chamber until it closes a set of contacts to turn on a heater in the home or office […] The post What is sensor activated?

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Festo Connects To Emerson DCS

Gary Mintchell

Quick news update from Festo —who is certainly keeping their PR machine busy. Festo now offers CPX valve manifold configuration to Emerson DeltaV DCS systems for fast, simple, and effective programming, commissioning, and validation of Festo-based pneumatics for skids and machines. This first-of-its-kind third-party commissioning solution brings one of the world’s most versatile valve manifold control platforms, CPX, to the DeltaV DCS ecosystem.

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Litmus Adds Digital Twin Support

Gary Mintchell

There were a couple of process automation news items. Now, let’s switch to the industrial edge and talk data. Litmus announced the availability of digital twins for users of Litmus Edge and Litmus Edge Manager. Now manufacturers have a streamlined way to collect, contextualize, normalize and analyze data with visual representations of purpose-driven digital twin models.

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Emerson’s enhanced perimeter defense solution

Design World

Emerson, a global software and engineering leader, is improving perimeter security for the DeltaV distributed control system (DCS) with its new NextGen Smart Firewall, a purpose-built control system firewall designed to provide easy-to-install and easy-to-maintain perimeter security for all industries. More ruggedized construction, increased bandwidth, and role-based access provide users with increased performance and more… The post Emerson’s enhanced perimeter defense solution appeared fi

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Hands-on review: Dyson Zone

E&T

Do you remember when Google launched its now-discontinued Glass wearable computer? The entire world acted like mean schoolkids, rounding on early adopters of the tech and calling them Glassholes. The response was predictable, awful, hilarious. Well, Dyson’s new wearable is technologically impressive but equally Marmitey and puts you at risk of playground insults.

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Ensuring a smooth end-of-life transition through understanding product lifecycles

Design World

Power equipment and instruments have long life cycles primarily because their functions are ubiquitous. The key to robust application management is understanding how the products used in your application contribute to the success of your test and measurement goals. In this white paper, learn about a product’s lifecycle, how that lifecycle can affect any end-of-life… The post Ensuring a smooth end-of-life transition through understanding product lifecycles appeared first on Design World.

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The Manufacturing Edge: Five Strategies to Outpace the Competition

The world of manufacturing is evolving—and so must the factories that drive it. This eBook reveals five transformative strategies that can help manufacturers gain a lasting competitive edge. Through insights from aerospace leaders, energy innovators, and the factories of tomorrow, we show how manufacturers are moving beyond traditional approaches. From building smarter, adaptable systems to embracing iterative design and fostering resilient cultures, these strategies are shaping the future of pr

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Steel prices cycle down from early 2023 spikes

The Fabricator

Steel buyers are finally seeing steel prices fall from early 2023 price spikes, but now they wonder where they will bottom.

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AutomationDirect controllers: new I/O, communication and power options

Design World

AutomationDirect has released several new modules for the Productivity family of controllers. Two new lower-cost, high-resolution, four-channel analog input modules, supporting current (0-20 mA) or voltage (0-10 VDC) signals, are now available for the Productivity1000 PLC. The ProductivityOpen Arduino-based controller line now offers a 2-port serial communications shield that provides a reliable interface between the… The post AutomationDirect controllers: new I/O, communication and power

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Manufacturing Supply Chain Management – Best Practices for SMEs

MRPEasy

Supply chain management encompasses everything from negotiating vendor contracts for raw materials to handling returns of a product. While it is a central concept for any company producing or selling physical goods or even services, this post focuses on the importance and best practices of SCM from the perspective of small and medium manufacturers. What […] The post Manufacturing Supply Chain Management – Best Practices for SMEs appeared first on Blog for Manufacturers and Distributors.

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Global plastics recycling market to grow 50% by 2030, report says

Plastics News

Market Research Future says recycling is expected to grow throughout the remainder of the decade, driven largely by demands in packaging.

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Are You Over-Complicating Your Linear Motion or Leaving It Out Altogether?

As automation continues to evolve, the demand for smarter, more integrated solutions will only grow. The Accuride FULLELECTRIC® is a new approach to powered linear motion that represents the next evolution in system design. By integrating compact electric actuators directly into Accuride's industry leading drawer slides, this approach addresses the pain points of traditional systems while delivering reliable performance.

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Yaskawa Motoman to expand robot manufacturing headquarters in Ohio

The Fabricator

obotics manufacturer Yaskawa Motoman has announced plans to expand its headquarters in Miamisburg, Ohio.

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ABB: Top US robotics trends

Robotics Business Review

John Bubnikovich, ABB US Robotics Division President, is making several predictions on key trends in robotics automation in the US for 2023 and beyond. The post ABB: Top US robotics trends appeared first on Robotics Business Review.

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Up in Smoke Welding Apparel wins $30,000 grant from FedEx

The Fabricator

FedEx has awarded $30,000 to Up in Smoke Welding Apparel, Fulshear, Texas, one of 10 small businesses to receive the grand prize as part of the 11th annual FedEx Small Business Grant Contest.

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FANUC Places Education Centre Stage at Inaugural Automation UK Show

MEM

As part of its campaign to inspire the next generation of robotics engineers, automation experts FANUC UK will showcase a suite of education-themed initiatives at the first ever Automation UK event (stand B14, 20-21 June 2023, Coventry). With a fifth of manufacturing workers set to retire over the next decade, engaging with young people is crucial to plugging the skills gap and ensuring the UK remains internationally competitive.

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How to Modernize Manufacturing Without Losing Control

Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives

Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri

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MedAccred’s Singular Pathway to Medtech Quality and Regulatory Compliance

Plastics Today

Companies engage with accreditation program to address challenges of expanding medical device regulations and customer requirements.

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Honeywell and Borealis Collaborate for Process Simulation

Gary Mintchell

’m still catching up on a bit older news. One of the benefits of all this digital and digital twin conversation concerns simulating processes. These have uses ranging from training to improving processes. This news concerns a collaboration between Honeywell UniSim and Borealis. Honeywell announced that Borealis will implement Honeywell’s UniSim Live software as early adopters to build process models for optimizing operations through virtual process simulation.

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How to Effectively Grow a Small Business by Expanding Output

Plastics Today

Investing in technology to increase output is the best way forward. R&D tax credits can help jump-start the process.

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iBase-t Achieves Record Revenue in Fiscal 2023

iBASEt

Top line revenue increases 38% YoY; License bookings grew 20% YoY with subscriptions up 7x over prior year Company refreshes brand, reinforcing commitment to customer success and partnering to achieve manufacturing cloud transformation Lake Forest, California, May 16, 2023 – iBase-t, the company that helps its customers simplify how complex products are built and maintained, announced the completion of a successful fiscal year 2023, as the company saw another year of record revenue and profitabi

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Build & Own Scale-Ready Industrial IoT Solution on Flex83 Middleware

Your Industrial IoT software is never ready to scale unless your platform can handle multiple assets at enterprise-level, deploy on any cloud, and provide a modern tech stack for rapid application development with complete IP Ownership, all while reducing cloud operations costs by 90% per connected device. In the technical paper developed with the product team behind Flex83, find how you can build & own your custom IoT platform on the Flex83 Middleware that: Is Scale-ready for 65M+ Connected Ass

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Rhetoric Meets Reality in Plastic Waste Targets

Plastics Today

Why we need practical solutions alongside lofty ambitions while reducing plastic waste and increasing plastic recycling.

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UN targets 80% reduction in plastics pollution

Plastics News

A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme tries to put numbers behind levers that can reduce plastics in the environment.

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Digital Solutions Dominate TIMTOS

Modern Machine Shop

At TIMTOS 2023, digital manufacturing tools were at the forefront of many companies’ booth exhibits. Taiwan has made international news lately for its role as the world’s largest supplier of semiconductors, dwarfing its nearest competitor in both volume and quality. Supporting this industry, which relies on extremely precise processes, is a robust machine tool industry that supplies everything from five-axis machining centers to precise grinding machines and EDMs.

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The Impact of Laser Cleaning Machines in the Aerospace Industry

Robotics Automation News

Shining a light on the future, laser cleaning machines are revolutionizing the aerospace industry. Their ability to cleanly and efficiently remove contaminants has made these machines an essential tool in maintaining aircraft. This article dives deep into the fascinating world of laser cleaning technology, revealing its multifaceted applications in aerospace.

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Retrofits Are Falling Short: Here’s Why You Need MES + ERP Together

Manufacturing today requires both agility and precision. Traditional ERP systems provide enterprise-wide management but lack real-time execution power needed on the shop floor. ION Factory OS by First Resonance bridges this gap, combining the strengths of ERP and MES for seamless integration. While ERP handles long-term strategic oversight, ION Factory OS delivers real-time production control, ensuring speed, flexibility, and precision.

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How to Create Custom Grants for Your Moldmaking Business

Mold Making Technology

Grant funding requires a plan that aligns with a shop’s long-term needs and growth strategies. Photo Credit, all images: Getty Images When seeking grant funding, you have two primary choices: (1) respond to a grant request generated by others or (2) work to develop grants that better suit your company’s needs. To learn how to find grants put forth by others, see the “ Free Money!

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How Dual Screen Monitors Can Help Astrophysicists

Robotics Automation News

Astrophysics is a complex profession and requires a lot of research and analysis. An astrophysicist deeply analyzes astronomical observations. They spend a lot of their time using research tools. They gather different information related to planets and astronomical creatures. A typical day of an astrophysicist is completely occupied with loads of work and research.

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ISO 20022 Readiness – An Infographic About the Key Findings From the SEEBURGER Survey

Seeburger

ISO 20022 is happening now: the transition phase mandated by Swift began in March 2023 and the industry is now working towards the November 2025 deadline. But where exactly are banks and corporates in their preparation for the switch?

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Aerobotix and FerRobotics to showcase new robotic taping kit at Automate 2023

Robotics Automation News

Aerobotix and FerRobotics, two robotics companies based in the US and Austria respectively, will exhibit their new Active Taping Kit (ATK) tool at the Automate Show in Detroit, Michigan, from May 22-25. This will be the first public demonstration of the ATK in North America.

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6 Common Production Scheduling Mistakes Manufacturers Make

Effective shop floor production planning and execution can be challenging. Despite technological advancements and methodologies, many manufacturing production managers still encounter issues that result in late orders, cash flow difficulties, and dissatisfied customers. These challenges can disrupt operations, reduce efficiency, and impact overall profitability.