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Hexagon and Authentise partner to deliver first open end-to-end software for additive manufacturing

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division and Authentise have partnered to extend the Additive Manufacturing (AM) control loop from the machine level to connect the end-to-end value chain from design, manufacturing operations and quality assurance to make additive manufacturing more predictable, repeatable and traceable. Data from shopfloor manufacturing operations, engineering data from the design phase, materials properties and quality data from validation and inspection processes hold the key to automating serial production improvements and enabling design improvements. However, the technical challenge of connecting these silos and applying these data have inhibited the ability to consistently apply AM to new designs. New solutions delivered through the partnership will apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) with Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to mitigate waste and quality issues during the design phase and improve the repeatability of additive manufacturing processes within a site or between global locations. Through the partnership, Hexagon and Authentise will build solutions to industrialise AM technology by digitising every step of the workflow from part design through production to final product and quality assurance utilising their unique stack of technology capabilities to connect the digital thread of a part and trace its pedigree. This is made possible by a shared commitment to open architectures that integrate data and automate workflows between Hexagon´s best-of-breed applications for AM and the third-party equipment and software manufacturers chose to use. Mathieu Pérennou, Global Business Development Director Additive Manufacturing, Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division says, “Together with Authentise, we are building a next-generation framework for our customers to manage flexible, fully digitised production workflows in private cloud environments. “For manufacturers, AM is a complex and changing market with many excellent tools, printers and materials to apply. We believe our open and flexible systems will enable us to respond quickly to customer’s needs and integrate with […]

Hypertherm-Releases-Major-Version-Update-Of-Robotmaster-Robot-Programming-Software-e1587636836929

Major version update of Robotmaster robotic software now available

Hypertherm has released Robotmaster Version 7.4. This offline robot programming software version contains several enhancements designed to further simplify robotic programming, including: Major enhancements to Remote Tool Center Point (RTCP) that allow for an improved end user experience and exploit the full capabilities of any robotic cell. Additions to the surface paths with added strategies and advanced tools for applications such as polishing, grinding, deburring and more. The surface paths are designed to tie-in perfectly with the enhancements to RTCP or traditional configurations for robotic finishing. Faster processing times when saving, loading, and calculating jobs, plus improved real time feedback during simulation for faster part programming times. Enhancement to the Robotmaster Interactive Simulation Environment (RISE), delivering a more realistic simulation for external axes, along with tools to better control motion between the robot and external axes. “With Robotmaster V7.4 we’ve responded to our customer base with features and enhancements that we believe take a big step forward,” explained Garen Cakmak, leader of Hypertherm’s Robotic Software team. “Take the RTCP improvements as an example. These will allow users to realize more value from their robotic cell investment.” Building upon the redesigned V7 architecture, first introduced in 2018, Robotmaster uses integrated CAD/CAM functionality to make robotic programming easy and intuitive for everyone, even first-time users. The software is used by a wide range of industries to program robots for tasks that include surfacing, 3D milling, additive manufacturing, welding, painting, and more.

Simcenter Testlab optimises testing productivity and collaboration

Siemens Digital Industries Software announces the availability of the latest release of Simcenter Testlab software. It is part of the Simcenter portfolio of simulation and test solutions within the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of integrated software and services. The latest release includes updates to Simcenter Testlab Neo, enhanced model-based systems testing, introduces a new technology for accelerating structural dynamics called Digital Image Correlation, and frontloads analysis of full vehicle noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) during the design process. Test and simulation engineers as well as test campaign managers can benefit from this latest release for multi-disciplinary test-based performance engineering, specifically designed to offer test and simulation teams new capabilities to innovate smart products more productively. The latest developments within industry can bring innovation, but also bring new demands and requirements, including the need to achieve realistic and predictive results more efficiently than ever before. Test teams are now working closely together with simulation teams, as the ever-declining number of prototypes available calls for the use of digital twins in the early stages of development. At the same time, there is an ever present need to obtain the most information possible from massive amounts of data, collected by testing and generated by simulation. In Simcenter Testlab, test engineers have access to new technologies that can increase productivity when collecting and processing data. The effort to compare and correlate test and simulation results is minimised, and validated simulation models – digital twins – can be used during the physical testing activities to generate valuable extra data. At the same time, Simcenter Testlab provides direct data access to many simulation results formats, enabling simulation engineers to benefit from the data processing capabilities within the software as well as the consistency of selected processing functions and parameters between the physical and virtual tests. Characterising the structural behaviour of […]

Demand v Supply: Take control of your stock in 2021

By Jakes Mantle, Solutions Director at SYSPRO Australasia The famous Benjamin Franklin quote ‘by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail’ has been used many times over. As the ripples from 2020’s global events are still being felt throughout the manufacturing industry, this quote seems to add more weight to the current economic environment. Many manufacturers have adapted well but now more than ever, it is essential for manufacturers to manage their supply chain, plan to reduce waste and enhance resources. It is during challenging periods such as these that Demand Driven Material Requirements Planning (DDMRP) can really help a manufacturing business be prepared and take control of its inventory. DDMRP is an operational supply planning and scheduling methodology. It takes much of the manual work out of planning and execution by using advanced supply chain management software to compress lead times and enhance visibility. It combines Lean’s focus on reducing waste, pull vs. push processes, and the Theory of Constraints to become a new set of demand-driven planning tactics which enable smarter decision-making across a business and the supply chain. A key feature of DDMRP is the strategic positioning and sizing of decoupling buffer stocks to manage customer lead times while reducing the impact of normal variability and improving overall flow. Decoupling stocks is like having a safe but not excess stock level so that the inventory associated with one stage of production does not slow down other parts of the manufacturing process. Taking control to the next level Whether you manufacture consumer products, food and beverage or even aerospace parts, DDMRP can help any manufacturing industry that creates made-to-order items. It is important to note that DDMRP is not the same as MRP, MRP II or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). DDMRP is a more advanced way of […]

Verizon Business takes private 5G global

Verizon Business has launched its international private 5G platform for global enterprises located in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Delivered in partnership with Nokia, the offering will enable businesses to deploy a private industrial grade dedicated 5G network capability within their premises. In addition to ultra-low latency and increased speed, a key benefit of a private 5G network is the ability for businesses, particularly those with manufacturing, distribution and logistics facilities, to deploy a customised on-site mobile network, eliminating the need to transmit data through public networks. A private 5G network is a self-contained network whose components all reside in a single facility, consisting of micro towers and small cells and connects to an organisation’s Local Area Network (LAN) and enterprise applications. It will utilise Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud, a private wireless network solution with automation enablers that will allow for application deployment through a web-based interface. Verizon has been leading global efforts around 5G. In addition to its 5G Lab and production studio in London, the Company recently announced a 5G roaming service in South Korea and is a founding member of the 5G Future Forum, a group of global 5G leaders accelerating the delivery of 5G and interoperable MEC-enabled solutions. The launch of private 5G will also enable Verizon Media to deliver its next-generation content creation, production and distribution technologies at scale and in real-time to global audiences for customers. The announcement follows recent MEC partnership announcements with Microsoft, Cisco and AWS. In August, Verizon recently announced its successful completion of lab trials with Corning and Samsung on its new 5G mmWave in-building solutions.

Unique plastic plain bearing applications wanted!

The manus award celebrates its tenth anniversary and introduces its first sustainability prize An offshore inspection device, a floating catamaran and a driver assistance system for people with reduced mobility. What they have in common is the extraordinary use of high-performance plastics in bearing technology with which they won the 2019 manus award. A joint initiative, which the plastics specialist igus announces every two years, is now looking for unique applications with plastic plain bearings. The winner will receive prize money of up to 5,000 euros. To mark the tenth anniversary of the manus award, the jury is offering a sustainability prize. 445 entries from 32 countries – that was for the 2019 manus award. Applications ranged from industrial environments such as asparagus harvesters and functional live-in kitchens up to laser measurement techniques in athletics. The large number of special entries did not make it easy for the jury to choose the three winners. The Scottish inventors of an offshore inspection device, the German developer of a high-speed catamaran and a French company that developed a driver assistance system to enable people with a walking disability to drive a car, were all the lucky ones. “Over 3,000 different submissions have already been received by manus from all over the world in the last 10 years. These different applications show the diverse uses of plastic plain bearings”, explains Tobias Vogel, Vice President and Head of the iglidur plain bearings & drylin linear technology division at igus GmbH and jury member of the manus award. Now the application phase for manus 2021 has begun. Four prizes – prize money of up to 5,000 euros The manus award comes with prizes of up to 5,000 euros. To mark the tenth anniversary, applicants now also have the chance to win a green manus award. […]

Emerging technologies of 2020

Microneedles for painless injections and tests These tiny needles, at no more than the depth of a sheet of paper and the width of a human hair, could bring us pain-free injections and blood testing. “Microneedles” penetrate the skin without troubling underlying nerve endings, and can be attached to syringes or patches, or even mixed into creams. They could allow blood tests to be done at home and sent to the lab or analysed on the spot. And because their use doesn’t require expensive equipment or high levels of training, testing and treatment could be delivered in under-served areas – making care more accessible. Sun-powered chemistry Making many of the chemicals we rely on requires fossil fuels. But a new approach holds the promise of reducing the sector’s emissions by using sunlight to convert waste carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. Recent developments in the sunlight-activated catalysts needed for this process are a step towards creating “solar” refineries to produce useful compounds from the waste gas, which could be turned into everything from medicines and detergents to fertilisers and textiles. Virtual patients If the goal of swapping humans for simulations to make clinical trials faster and safer sounds simple, the science behind it is anything but. Data taken from high-res images of a human organ is fed into a complex mathematical model of the mechanisms that control that organ’s function. Then, computer algorithms resolve the resulting equations and generate a virtual organ that behaves like the real thing. Such virtual organs or body systems could replace people in the initial assessments of drugs and treatments, making the process quicker, safer and less expensive. Spatial computing Spatial computing is the next step in the bringing together of physical and digital worlds we’re already seeing with virtual-reality and augmented-reality apps. As with VR […]

The Best in Black: igus high-performance polymer iglidur J3B

The advanced material is attractive with a low coefficient of friction and a new black design. For the bearing of pivoting and rotary applications, Treotham introduces iglidur J3, a lubrication-free and long-lasting igus tribo-polymer. The endurance runner convinces, above all, with its proven, very low coefficient of friction. As the yellowish material did not always match the design concept of the user, igus has now further developed the tried-and-tested tribo-polymer into the black iglidur J3B. But igus always has the right material for other applications as well. The intuitively operated iglidur online expert system helps with the selection. High dirt resistance, low coefficient of friction and toughness to combat edge and impact loads; features that are in demand in many industries. To satisfy this demand, igus launched the high-performance polymer iglidur J3 for its plain bearing range in 2015. The tribo-polymer displays its advantages especially in pivoting and rotary movements. igus has now further developed the “endurance runner” into iglidur J3B (B for black). The new black high-performance polymer adapts to the design of furniture or even sports and leisure equipment. “Particularly the customers who use our flanged bearings wanted to use iglidur J3, but the slightly yellowish material often did not fit into the design of the application. Now we can deliver a long-lasting solution with proven properties”, explains Stefan Loockmann-Rittich, Head of iglidur plain bearing technology Business Unit at igus GmbH. The iglidur J3B increases service life, especially for applications with low and medium loads, making it ideal for the bicycle industry, for example in pedals, brake levers or suspensions. The iglidur J3 is also used in the mountain bike pedals from Crankbrothers. For years, the American company has been promoting the premium components and is relying on the lubrication-free and dirt-resistant plain bearings made of high-performance polymers. Online expert […]

Safety at high speed with igus e-chain system in the linear motor robot

Twice as fast and half as heavy: this is what makes the linear motor robot from Fibro Lapple Technology(FLT) different from other solutions. In order for the linear robot to be able to get production up and running quickly and reliably, a compact, durable and quiet energy supply was required. A side-mounted igus energy chain system with pre-harnessed chainflex cables proved to be the optimal solution. Linear robots are the automation tool of choice for machine or press loading, order picking and high-bay warehouse loading or even for transport and handling tasks. Due to the demands of production for faster, more intelligent and economically profitable solutions, Fibro Lapple Technology has developed a linear robot which fulfils the desire to maximise production performance. In a new carbon design, the linear motor robot saves up to 50% in weight compared to conventional solutions. The weight reduction enables twice the speed, accelerations of up to 26m/s2 and twice the positioning accuracy. Instead of a rack and pinion drive, the designers chose a linear motor because it allows very high dynamics. An unsupported igus energy chain of the E4.1 series ensures a secure energy supply for the z-axis. The integration of a suitable energy chain solution in the compact installation space of the x-axis was a challenge, because a classic gliding or unsupported solution was out of the question due to the high forces. Complete energy supply system directly from a single source An E4.1 series energy chain is used with additional sliding elements that further reduce wear. The designers also used the igus range for the cables. They chose pre-harnessed chainflex cables – so-called readycables – that are specifically designed for use in the energy chain and, thanks to a large number of tests in the company’s own 3,800 square metre test laboratory, […]

Autonomous Mobile Disinfectant Robot

Autonomous mobile robot company SESTO Robotics has launched a dual-function Autonomous Mobile Disinfectant Robot. Addressing the urgent need for tiptop hygiene standards and minimum environment infection risk during Covid-19, the robot can efficiently and effectively disinfect facilities 24-hour, round-the-clock, with its dual functionality, eliminating 99.99% of bacteria, germs and viruses. SESTO HealthGUARD is designed to self-navigate and manoeuvre around tight places, avoiding obstacles and people, making it suitable for many indoor facilities. The robots are versatile and safe, and automate labour-intensive and repetitive tasks in healthcare and manufacturing facilities. There are no “off-days” or “after hours” for viruses. And the self-navigating, fully-autonomous robot is ready for round-the-clock thorough facility disinfection. Powered by SESTO’s proprietary user interface, operators can easily set up cleaning missions, schedules and deployment on a tablet or laptop. This means operators can conveniently change and update the robots’ cleaning routine as necessary. The robot provides an industry-leading utilisation rate of up to six hours on a single charge, auto-returns to its charging station when required and battery hotswap in less than five minutes. Responding to the growing concerns around environmental infection and community spread with the outbreak of Covid-19, the team at SESTO Robotics conceptualised the product in less than four weeks, integrating the disinfectant unit on its industry-adopted mobile robot platform. The proof-of-concept was rolled out in mid-April to much interest across industries ranging from retail malls, bus operators, hotels and healthcare facilities. Manual cleaning and disinfection may be inadequate and subject to human error, especially in large spaces. During operational hours with human traffic, SESTO HealthGUARD can disinfect the environment with hospital-grade disinfectant from its multi-nozzle sprayer, eliminating 99.99% of bacteria, germs and viruses. The multi-nozzle sprayer targets high-touch surface areas and enables facilities owners and operators to disinfect large surfaces more efficiently and thoroughly. […]

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