Assembly Automation: Volume 21 Issue 1

Modular reconfigurable flexible final assembly systems

Market turbulence forces assembly plants to constantly adjust their production volume of products, variants and quantities. At the same time, assembly plant managers must protect…

Machine safety with fieldbus

Standards have restricted the use of networks and programmable electronics in safety‐related applications. New standards have released technology to enable improvements in safety…

PC‐based control reduces RF cage manufacturing times by 80 per cent

Using the PC‐based control system 4CONTROL, the manufacture of RF cages for radio frequency instruments at Rohde & Schwarz in Germany has been almost completely automated. CAD…

AGVs find their way to greater flexibility

The automated guided vehicle (AGV), one of the popular new technologies of the 1980s, is now seen more as a part of automated handling systems not a standalone concept. It is now…

Trends in precision motion control

Discusses current trends in the application of motors and drives by OEM users. Networks such as CAN and SERCOS are expanding rapidly and being controlled by PC/Windows‐based…

Laser welding adapts to non‐linear tailored blanks

Reports on a new laser welding facility installed by Corus for making complex tailored blanks for the automotive industry. Describes the production of laser welded tailored blanks…

Modular assembly: more a process than an engineering technique

Describes the commercial and technical benefits of using a modular approach to system automation. Written by a supplier of modular automation systems.

Modeling the component assignment problem in PCB assembly

This paper studies a production planning problem in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. A PCB assembly line has several non‐identical placement machines, so the placement times…

Workpiece retention during machine processing

Discusses the failings of conventional fixturing systems such as jigs and clamps and describes how electrorheological fluids can be used for flexible fixturing and workpiece…

New protection for semiconductor quality

New laser welding technology for plastics

Intelligent positioning systems for decentralised automation

Robust, real-time Ethernet is optimised for industry

New servo-electric presses eliminate risk of damage during advanced PCB assembly

Versatile safety relays simplify light curtain integration

Advances in PID Control

Swedish and American conferences joined by friction stir

ThrustTube achieves top cleanroom compliance rating

Human Biomechanics and Injury Prevention

The Finnish light assembly industry a world leader

Testing current leak

Fieldbus: where are we now?

Procter & Gamble signs global strategic PlantScape agreement with Honeywell

European manufacturing sector to be saturated by ERP products and services by 2003

Vehicle control in multi-dimensional environment

New Company, Fortetion Ltd, will provide complete automation solutions for manufacturing companies in the UK and Ireland

Ortems has the keys to supply chain management

Bottle packing line

Internet page

A flexible approach to inspection

Inspecting tapped holes

One card robotic controller

Turck Banner I/O modules and robot station for fieldbus networks

Repeat orders confirm customer enthusiasm for Fisher-Rosemount's PlantWeb architecture

When close enough isn't good enough

Best practice guide to food process automation

PHASA provides faster, better and cheaper assembly of components for Nissan Almeras

Diary

Free PLC software CD from Matsushita

Benefits of DeviceNet open fieldbus standard are easy to demonstrate

New robot combines compact size and full functionality – ideal for most liquids and pastes

The First Snap-Fit Handbook: Creating Attachments for Plastic Parts

European suppliers now dominate US market for automated material handling

New high speed data link for digital data

Scalable automation system

The end of the road

Adhesives in electronics network launches offensive in the field of education

Detecting elevator faults

STATS receives patent for technical enhancement to test handler

Services are critical in the lucrative safety systems market

Automatic filling ammunition

30 years of achievement for ATM

Machine tool safety lock

Automated weld control cuts pipe production costs

Nylon rocker cover