Machine Building

BS 8611:2016, ethical design and application of robots

BSI has published British Standard BS 8611:2016, Robots and robotic devices. Guide to the ethical design and application of robots and robotic systems. The following article looks at the new standard's contents and its implications for robot suppliers and integrators.

4th October 2017

It's time to torque ISO 6789-2:2017

Having been named as the first laboratory in the world to be accredited to perform calibrations on hand torque tools to the newly revised BS EN ISO 6789-2:2017 standard, here, Neill Brodey, Managing Director at Norbar Torque Tools, takes the opportunity to outline the key changes, and what they mean for manufacturers and tool users alike.

3rd October 2017

How to solve the problem of matching drive components

Warren Harvard, Product Manager for Electric Drives at Festo, discusses the challenges facing machine builders and what can be done to improve the selection, connection and configuration of electric drives systems.

2nd October 2017

Why do DC motors fail? How to specify to prevent failure

Everything in this world has a limited time to operate, nothing lasts forever. So what factors play a key role in putting a DC motor out of action? Patrick Vega of maxon motors discusses the issue.

29th September 2017

Where to position electrical enclosures

A TV property pundit once said that the three most important factors to consider when assessing a building were location, location and location. According to Chris Lloyd, Managing Director of Spelsberg UK, the same adage holds true when choosing where to position electrical enclosures. Here, Chris takes us through the correct decision-making process for locating that perfect spot.

28th September 2017

Bearing reconditioning can save time and money

By reconditioning large rolling bearings rather than direct replacement, companies can save time and money, while ensuring that the bearings are restored to an acceptable, functionally reliable condition, says Dave Wall, Senior Applications Engineer at Schaeffler UK.

28th September 2017

Mobile robots solve customisation conundrum for manufacturers

While stationary robots are well-established and important parts of many factories and production plants, mobile platforms and manipulators will become an integral part of the factory of the future. Bruno Adam, Omron's Mobile Projects Director Europe answers how the manufacturing process is evolving and why factories, driven by greater product customisation, will move from traditional linear models of conveyors and autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to more intelligent types of mobile robots.

28th September 2017

How to choose an industrial adhesive

There has been a surprising number of mishaps with glue over the years. People commonly mistake the adhesive for eye drops or lip balm, leading to trips to A&E. When choosing their adhesive, engineers don't need to be quite as concerned as the general public, but should avoid making any costly mistakes to avoid bonded surfaces from failing. Here, Peter Crossen, VP of the Maintenance and Partsmaster Innovation Platform at NCH Europe, looks at the considerations to be made when choosing an industrial adhesive.

27th September 2017

The importance of cutting-edge software in Industry 4.0

The results of an Industry 4.0 study by PwC show that manufacturers intend to invest five per cent of their revenue on digitisation by 2020. The most substantial part of the 907-billion-dollar investment will be spent on digital hardware like sensors and human-machine interface (HMI) panels "" but what about the software that brings this equipment together? Here, Stefan Reuther, Chief Sales Officer of industrial software expert, COPA-DATA, explains the importance of using cutting-edge software in industrial facilities and the risks of using outdated systems.

26th September 2017

Injection moulding by collaborative robot arms

Rapid and accurate handling of injection moulds for prototyping and short-run manufacturing relieve injection-moulding machinery operators from physically demanding, repetitive work and eliminate the risk of injuries. Universal Robots (UR) can be used across all areas of plastic and polymer production, including injection moulding applications. They are able to run most applications autonomously, allowing your business to handle moulding even when employees have gone home.

22nd September 2017