I’ve always been a planner, and a new calendar feels like a blank slate of possibilities. 2025 promises an exciting year for AGMA Emerging Technology, with a packed schedule of programs. We began the year with a webinar featuring Noel Mack, CTO of LIFT: The National Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Institute. If you missed it, it is available on-demand on the AGMA website. Alongside committee meetings, we’ll host eleven webinars (first Wednesdays) and live presentations at key AGMA events, including the Annual Meeting, SNL, and the Motion + Power Technology Expo.
RoboDK, founded in January 2015, is proudly celebrating its 10th anniversary. Since then, the company has grown from an academic spin-off into a global leader in robotic simulation and programming software. RoboDK now supports over 1,000 robots from 90 manufacturers and remains committed to making robotics accessible, affordable, and efficient for industries and educational institutions worldwide.
As manufacturers continue to face shortages of skilled labor, Mazak helps them address the issue with the opening of its new Customer Solutions Center located in Florence, KY. The secure facility specializes in the development of production-ready, custom automation solutions that allow manufacturers to overcome existing labor issues while increasing production output.
By acquiring READY Robotics’ automation IP, Standard Bots is able to accelerate the development of their AI-powered platform, and their mission to improve accessibility in robotics space. This IP purchase includes all the software, patents, and trademarks owned by READY Robotics.
Since I have had the privilege of visiting numerous gear plants and research centers in the U.S., as well as 170 in 33 countries, and I closely watch the progression of technology, I wanted to share my observations about some technological advancements. For the purpose of this article, I will focus on three key areas: Robotics, Machine Tools, and Heat Treating.
The Industrial IoT Conference (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) explores the potential of intelligent machines, prescriptive analytics, sensor driven analytics, and block chain solutions. Attendees learn about the industrial IoT technologies that are driving the transformation in manufacturing, supply chain and operations. Attendees include implementors, manufacturing companies, supply chain professionals, service providers, IoT manufacturers and more. Topics include implementation, warehouse logistics, robotics, sensors, cybersecurity, data analytics and more.
From drive and fluid technology to digital platforms and IT security to industrial internet and robotics, Hannover Messe reflects the manufacturing industry’s broad scope and provides important economic and social impulses every year. Additional 2025 topics include 5G technology, additive manufacturing, automation, sensors, e-mobility, material handling and more.
I fly out west to Los Angeles later this month. It will mark the fourth time AGMA will provide a curated tour on the RAPID+TCT show floor. Each year brings more clarity on developed technologies, I am always looking for one or two tweaks that move the needle on the next possibility for additive manufacturing to impact traditional manufacturing processes. Are we looking for mass-produced 3D metal gears? The short answer is: no. But we are always watching indicators that may change that answer.
Continuing a global relationship that spans more than 20 years, eight-year KUKA Strategic Partner ENGEL, a leader in plastic injection molding machines, technologies, and turnkey solutions, has become a KUKA Robotics System Partner. In its new relationship with KUKA, ENGEL will not only continue to incorporate KUKA robots as standard components in its injection molding solutions but also integrate and retrofit KUKA robotic products into existing plastic injection molding machines and systems.
Congratulations Gear Technology on your 40th Anniversary! This magazine has been publishing emerging technology in gearing before we used the term, “emerging.” I constantly search past issues to get information on topics we are discussing in committees. From skiving to electric drive development, and lubrication to the beginnings of strain wave gear technology, I have found great information for the work that we are doing today. Thank you!
Gear backlash refers to the clearance, or play, between the teeth of gears in a mechanical transmission system. Gear designers have strived to minimize gearing systems’ backlash due to the impact on precision, efficiency, noise, vibrations, wear, motion control, system complexity, and safety. Their significance varies depending on the applications, but designers need to carefully consider these factors when developing robotics systems to ensure they meet the desired performance and safety standards.
Between intimate workshops with industry giants, keynotes, networking events, innovation competitions and live demonstrations, Automate offers comprehensive automation education and cutting-edge robotics, vision, AI, motion control and other technologies. Automate delivers the latest innovations in manufacturing automation technology from more than 800 leading exhibitors. Each day also offers inspirational keynote sessions and theater presentations to help attendees find the best solutions for their unique business needs.
Southern Gear has equipped two Doosan CNC Horizontal Turning Centers with advanced RoboJob Turn-Assist robots, thus reducing workpiece load/unload times by 50 percent and allowing skilled machine operators to perform many other tasks.
FANUC demonstrates mobile machine tending. This mobile manipulator solution is produced by Capriol and features a FANUC CRX-20iA/L collaborative robot integrated with an OTTO 100 Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR). The mobile manipulator demonstrated autonomous, on-demand tending of a ROBODRILL vertical machining center, feeding blanks into the machine via a magazine and removing machined parts via a basket. The machined parts are then washed and dried in a separate washer station and new blanks are kitted into a magazine, ready for the next cycle.
Visit DMG Mori's "Home of Innovation" showroom and find out how to optimize your processes with MX - Machining Transformation (Pfronten, Germany). Experience solutions for process integration, automation as well as digital and green transformation. The open house includes 45+ high-tech machines and more than 20 automation solutions, including a world premiere and innovations from various sectors: the DMF 400|11, a new traveling column machine with 4,000 mm travel, and the new PH Cell 500, a modular pallet handling system with a transfer weight of 500 kg. Attendees can also view CELOS X, the holistic digital and data-based ecosystem for optimizing production processes.
PBC Linear (Pacific Bearing Company), a global leader in linear motion solutions, is pleased to announce that it will demonstrate deeper CNC integration for its Applied Cobotics Cobot Feeder at FABTECH 2023, in the Universal Robots (UR) Booth #B17063 in Chicago, September 11-14.
ECM USA has partnered with the prominent global manufacturer, SEW-EURODRIVE, to commission a modular NANO vacuum furnace system completely integrated with advanced automation for their Lyman, South Carolina facility.
As an accompanying event to the International Conference on Gears 2023, the 5th International Conference on Gear Production is one of the most important biannual meeting points for the gear manufacturing industry both for technical experts and for decision-makers. Current challenges and solutions are presented and discussed, strongly emphasizing new potentials in productivity and/or the flexibility of gear manufacturing processes.
Recognizing the role robotics plays in adding efficiency and lowering production costs for manufacturers of all types and sizes, Suhner continues to expand its robotics offering. The fully electric EFC-02 delivers precise, constant force throughout robotic grinding, sanding and deburring processes—resulting in superior, consistent surface quality.
Between intimate workshops, news making keynotes, networking events, innovation competitions and live demonstrations, Automate offers comprehensive automation education and cutting-edge robotics, vision, AI, motion control and other technologies. Automate delivers the latest innovations in manufacturing automation technology from more than 600 leading exhibitors.
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 seventh installment online is an interview with Kika Young, president, and Jared Lyford, director of manufacturing operations at Forest City Gear (FCG).
Player Piano serves as a cautionary tale and remains relevant in the age of automation as it addresses the issues of technological progress and the impact of replacing human labor and the resulting loss of purpose and meaning in life. It highlights the consequences of relying too heavily on machines and the need to find a balance between progress and preserving the human spirit. The novel remains relevant as discussions around the future of work, job loss due to automation, and the ethics of artificial intelligence continue to be important topics in today’s society.
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.
Since founding in 1989, the China International Machine Tool Show (CIMT) held in every odd year has been successfully held 17 sessions so far. CIMT is the most prestigious, largest scale and most influential professional machine tool exhibition in China, regarded by the global machine tool industry as with the same popularity of EMO in Europe, IMTS in the United States, and JIMTOF in Japan.
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.
IFPE, the International Fluid Power Exposition, is the leading North American exhibition bringing together the fluid power, power transmission and motion control industries. IFPE is co-located with CONEXPO-CON/AGG, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
From its creation in 1963, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has organized conferences to serve the aerospace profession as part of its core mission. Spanning over 70 technical discipline areas, AIAA’s conferences provide scientists, engineers, and technologists the opportunity to present and disseminate their work in structured technical paper and poster sessions, learn about new technologies and advances from other presenters, further their professional development, and expand their professional networks that furthers their work.
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.
In the course of the mobility transition, electric and hybrid drives will gradually replace the traditional combustion engine. The battery is a key element in electrification: More and more manufacturers are starting their own production of battery systems and are looking for suitable solutions to do so. Liebherr has looked into the processes extensively and offers system-capable, modular concepts for the automated assembly of battery packs.
Collaborative robots can increase output and improve quality in nearly any production environment. UR cobots can be deployed quickly, with fast ROI, typically within 12 months. Universal Robots USA has released an e-book on how cobots can assist on the shop floor in the following areas:
EMCO caters for customers from industries which are as versatile as the company's range of products. Traditional small and medium-sized companies have been an integral part of EMCO's customer base for many years.
Kadia has been designing deburring robot cells based on 6-axis industrial robots for many years. In the meantime, a new trend is now emerging, solutions with an even higher value-added component, i.e., with general machining processes such as milling, drilling or thread cutting. The robot is thus no longer just part of a deburring machine.
DMG MORI’s new Technology Center in the heart of Somerville, in Northeast USA, will be a hub for research and development of new digitization solutions and processes for customers worldwide.
The Helios TM 250-CNC machine from Tecnomacchine brings together two fundamental strategies that empower manufacturers to deburr gears more productively.
IBS Quality GmbH has launched the new PAM-System (Portable Automated Measurement System), a portable cobot-based 3D scanning and measurement solution, at Control, Stuttgart, Germany, May 3 -6, Hall 3, Stand 3312. The launch is in collaboration with Verisurf Software, Inc., and its integrated 3D measurement software for automated quality inspection, reporting, scanning, and reverse engineering.
As part of a $2 million National Science Foundation Grant, robots from Kuka Robotics are helping the University of Michigan (U of M) advance research that could result in robots working side-by-side with humans on building construction sites. The research involves three KUKA KR Quantec robots along with the company’s robot sensor interface (RSI) software, all of which will allow human workers to use interactive task learning technology to teach the robots to perform construction tasks.
Mazak’s new INTEGREX i-H series platform with SmoothAi CNC and the VARIAXIS i-700T with turning capability will be on-hand at the Experience Tech Aerospace Event co-hosted by Mazak at Sandvik Coromant Center in Mebane, NC (May 11-12, 2022).
US Grinding Days Seminar (3M and Liebherr) is a two-day program designed to provide attendees with industry insights into the latest gear grinding methods, technology, and related topics.
Automatica (Munich, Germany) is a trade fair for smart automation and robotics. The show brings together all key technologies in the international technology hub of Munich for an exchange between industrial, research and political representatives.
The complete Product News section from the January/February 2022 issue of Gear Technology, with new technology from Marposs, Solar Atmospheres, Mahr, Kennametal, Kapp Niles, Southern Gear, SMW Autoblok, WFL Millturn, Doosan Robotics and LK Metrology.
The metalworking fair (Stuttgart, Germany) promises developments for metal-cutting and metal-removing, machine tools, precision tools, measuring systems and quality assurance, robots, workpiece and tool handling, industrial software & engineering, components, assemblies and accessories.
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