State of the Gear Industry Perspectives takes an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in gear manufacturing today and in the future. Our fifth installment online is an interview with Adam Gimpert, president, Helios Gear Products.

Nidec Machine Tool Corporation announced today that it has launched Robot Camera SPEED, visual inspection equipment for cutting tools (hobbing machines) to process gears and other components, and Robot Camera MAX, visual inspection equipment for broaching machines. 

Automation tasks are becoming ever more challenging. Using intelligent software in combination with the relevant automation solutions not only enables workpieces to be loaded and unloaded but also means that machine tools can be set up fully automatically through automatic replacement of tools and clamping devices. FRAI strives to be an innovative automation partner and is therefore developing highly flexible robot systems to respond to this trend. Concepts such as the mobileCELL are a complete first and enable a wide range of expansion stages, making them as future-proof and competitive as possible.

D:PLOY automatically discovers and configures all the components in a robotic cell—including any leading collaborative or light industrial robot arm and tools—while also integrating external I/O from sensors and machines. D:PLOY will be available for all common robotic applications, making deployment up to 80% faster.

The tedious task of loading and unloading parts into machines has long been a bread-and-butter application for cobots gaining significant traction in the industry. With its 1,750 mm (68.9 in) reach and 20kg payload (44.1 lbs.), the new UR20  from Universal Robots greatly expands automation opportunities such as the ability to reach further into machines, tend several machines in the same cycle, and handle 25% heavier parts. Despite being UR’s heaviest robot, the UR20 is the lightest cobot in its class, weighing only 64kg (141.1 lbs.) making it both a versatile technical tool and a manual laborer.

At IMTS 2022, Stäubli Robotics will exhibit advanced robots used to help manufacturers meet new challenges and changing market demands across a range of industries worldwide. The company will present live demos recreating real-world applications in industrial manufacturing, with an emphasis on robotic machine tending.

Applied Cobotics by PBC Linear recognizes the need for consistent and engaging training programs to help scale up the existing workforce and invite a new generation into the manufacturing industry. 

Beaumont Machine is a builder of Electrical Discharge Machines (EDM) for the aerospace, power gen and electronics production industries. Founded by Ed and Tanya Beaumont over 30 years ago, the company was recently repurchased, after the owners had sold the business in early 2013.

With the new PGL-plus-P, Schunk is introducing a flexible and robust gripper that provides certified safe gripping force maintenance.

Liebherr Gear Technology will be displaying a variety of technologies at Booth #236914 (North Hall) during IMTS 2022.