Machine Building

Technical Articles

Cyber security of medical devices

Every year in Louisville, Kentucky, hackers and security experts gather for DerbyCon. While a get-together of hackers may sound troubling on its own, what's truly disturbing is what came out of last year's conference. Medical cyber crime is on the rise, and there are thousands of critical medical devices which can currently be located online and hacked directly. Rob Phillips, sales and marketing director of Accutronics, discusses the implications.

5th April 2016

Obsolescence challenges for the automotive industry

As the industry that introduced the traditional six-axis robotic arm to its production lines in the early 1960s, the automotive sector has, in some cases, stayed surprisingly stagnant when it comes to innovation. However, in the past few years the race to design and build self-driving cars, augmented reality windscreens and additive manufactured parts has started to gain speed. Here, Mark Proctor, managing director of industrial automation supplier, European Automation discusses the challenges the automotive industry is facing due to the latest automotive design expectations.

5th April 2016

No room for improvement? Consider cabinet-free drive technology

Space and flexibility are key issues in modern manufacturing. Chris Nevin, Industry Sector Manager at Bosch Rexroth, reveals why cabinet-free drive technology is a necessity in manufacturing.

4th April 2016

Manufacturer vs. distributor: the best of both worlds?

As e-commerce becomes ever more popular there's no denying that more engineers than ever before are turning to the internet to source standard parts and machine tool accessories. Often offered at competitive prices and with quick lead times, it's easy to understand why. But, with so many online distributors to choose from, how do you know you're getting a product you can trust? Chris Putman, Sales and Marketing Director for WDS, explains why ordering direct from the manufacturer often allows you to benefit from the best prices, the best delivery times and the best product.

31st March 2016

The potential of predictive analytics for machine builders

The cost of production downtime varies significantly from one industry sector to another, but without a doubt, when it occurs, downtime is a troublesome and expensive inconvenience for all manufacturers. More often than not, halts in production could be avoided, so imagine just how much manufacturers could save if machine data was available to anticipate breakdowns. The good news for industry is that the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) is allowing machine builders to design and manufacture intelligent machines with predictive analytics capabilities. Here, Martyn Williams, Managing Director of industrial automation software expert COPA-DATA UK, discusses how machine builders can use predictive analytics to minimise the maintenance and downtime costs of their products.

29th March 2016

Why use thermal imaging for quality assurance and safety?

This article from Flir Systems explains the advantages of thermal imaging compared with conventional machine vision systems for industrial automation applications where there is a need to monitor for reasons of quality assurance or safety.

22nd March 2016

Collaborative robots in the automotive industry

The world's first industrial robot was an idea conceived after a conversation about science fiction novels between inventors George Devol and Joseph Eagleburger in 1954. Six years later, Unimate had secured its place in the robotic hall of fame as the world's first industrial robot. It was then put to work on the General Motors assembly line in 1961. Inevitably, the public were sceptical of the safety issues surrounding Unimate. And with only Gort, the laser-firing robot from the 1950s thriller The Day the Earth Stood Still for reference, who can blame them? But after 50 years of practice, today's industrial robots are a much less scary affair. Here, Jonathan Wilkins marketing director of industrial automation supplier European Automation discusses the newest and perhaps most exciting realm of industrial robotics: collaborative robots.

21st March 2016

The industrial IoT and the need for Time-Sensitive Networking

This article discusses the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and the resultant need for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) - which is being addressed by the recently formed AVnu Alliance.

16th March 2016

Foodie fads spark robot rethink

TV cooking programmes are driving legions of fans back into the kitchen. Seven of the top 10 most-seen shows of 2015 were episodes of Bake Off, with demands for specific ingredients and products featured, sparking a sales bonanza after each broadcast. Similarly, a slew of new dinner kits are inspiring home cooks to prepare more ambitious meals at a fraction of the effort. This trend is compelling retailers to rethink store layouts, how they group products together for consumer convenience and how swiftly they react to the scramble for the latest "˜must have' ingredient or kitchen gadget.

15th March 2016

Functional safety system cuts time to market for CNC machines

Implementing functional safety on new CNC machinery is an overriding trend in the metalworking machinery marketplace, reports machine control vendor NUM. And 2015 has proved to be the seminal year, as 100 per cent of NUM's OEM customers who are developing new machines using its latest Flexium+ control platform are also adopting some level of functional safety. This major step change in technology is underpinning a growth rate of some 300 per cent a year in the company's functional safety products, and NUM expects to see further major growth during 2016.

11th March 2016