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Walt Machine President Tommy Caughey waited years to pull the trigger on a collaborative robot for his high-precision optical parts business. He struggled with the suggestion that installing a robotic vision system might be more difficult than it was worth and require extremely specialized expertise to execute properly.Each year, the company receives a huge order for scientific camera assembly parts that strains his staff and creates a production bottleneck. Given the length of time it takes to …

The high cost, minimal flexibility and programming complexities of robotic welding cells have historically prevented smaller job shops and manufacturers from considering automated welding as a viable part of the production process. However, with a shrinking skilled workforce, more companies are assigning their welding experts to oversee multiple robotic welding cells. According to the American Welding Society, 40% of manufacturing companies have been forced to decline new contracts due t …

The most common usage of the term “machine tending” is loading and unloading a machine with parts or materials. Since those entering the workforce are becoming less and less interested in positions with this activity, more companies are installing robots to compensate for the smaller pool of potential operators. A robot can insert raw material into a machine, initiate the activity, and remove the finished item once the activity is complete. The robot does not need to take a smoke break, use …

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics was founded in 1989 with the mission to inspire young people in STEM fields and today provides a mentor-led program that promotes competition, creativity and teamwork. This week, Automation Distribution representatives introduced collaborative robots to the FIRST Robotics team at Lower Merion High School, Kobe Bryant’s alma mater. The team participates in complex competitions each year, which require the time c …

Talk about versatile. Not only does the Universal Robots cobot mimic the movements of a human, now it can appreciate a good stiff drink as well. As part of an ensemble of robotic arms outfitted with special end-effectors, the arms are programmed to pick up glasses, fill them with ice and then complete your beverage with the mixer of your choice and send it on down a conveyor belt to deliver it to your seat.The “Cocktail Bot” determines which of two types of glasses is bes …