When organizations look at the prospect of creating or expanding a footprint of automation in their facilities and processes, it’s commonplace to examine the effect that the new equipment will have on enhancing productivity. This boost can often manifest itself in several ways: an increase in throughput or capacity, fewer instances of rework or rejected products, applying human talent more usefully to other parts of the process, a reduction of consumables or waste, or a combination of all of these and more. Our engineers at Intellimech are passionate about understanding our partners’ specific needs and concerns. We work closely with you to help maximize the value that applying automation will provide and deliver tangible return on investment. In this article from MIT Technology Review, a new automated system for laying bricks is introduced and discussed. If you’re looking for a solution to positively impact your organization’s efficiency, connect with the team at Intellimech today and we can help you in creating and capturing value in your processes.
A Little Communication Goes a Long Way
No one would argue that effective communication is a hallmark of any successful team. That same principle applies to successful automated solutions, as well. Communication in an industrial environment can take on many different forms, whether it’s an automated cell’s integration with a manufacturing execution system (MES) for recording part history and serialization, or different cells being coordinated by a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, or even sensors providing real-time measurements to a machine’s control system in microseconds in order to make precise adjustments to a process. The engineering team at Intellimech applies their comprehensive knowledge of industrial and machine networks, from Ethernet-based fieldbuses to office IT networks, to make the best possible use of available technologies to successfully realize our partners’ objectives. In this article from MIT Technology Review, the performance improvement in a robotic system employing effective real-time communication is explored. Whether you have an existing automated system that you’d like to examine your options for updating or are interested in a new turnkey system that integrates seamlessly into your specific manufacturing environment, connect with Intellimech today to learn how we can help you surpass your goals.
A Stronger, Lighter Future Thanks to Composites
The race is on for companies to find new, innovative ways to enhance their product offerings, or even develop new ones, by taking advantage of the unique possibilities that composite materials and their associated manufacturing processes offer. At Intellimech, our team has extensive knowledge and decades of experience with composites manufacturing and has delivered solutions for automated fiber placement, automated tape laying, filament winding, and compression molding processes to a number of diverse industries and customers. In this release, Purdue University announces a partnership with other institutions and the U.S. Department of Energy to develop tools and methods for applying composite technologies to vehicles, wind energy, and compressed-gas storage. If you’re considering applying composite materials and automated manufacturing processes, don’t hesitate to contact us. Intellimech’s engineers are committed to helping our partners succeed by applying these cutting-edge technologies and methods to create and capture value.
Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts
Often, OEMs and manufacturers can act as an anchor for other businesses and the services they provide, creating a sustainable ecosystem within that industry. For example, a medical device manufacturer may require the services of a systems integrator to provide automated manufacturing cells, who would then rely on the services of a skilled machine shop to provide custom components, who then relies on knowledgeable vendors to provide suitable materials, and so forth. Within this network, companies leverage the skills and knowledge of others to create something greater than would be possible if developed in isolation. In this article from MIT Technology Review, an examination of how a comprehensive advanced manufacturing ecosystem fosters and sustains innovation is presented. Intellimech’s engineers take advantage of years of applications experience across many different industries and combine it with original, inventive thinking in order to deliver solutions that are cost-effective and surpass our partners’ expectations.
The Many Meanings of Precision Motion Control
When it comes to motion control, the term “precision” has many different interpretations for our customers. In some applications and industries, precision means being able to repeatably perform a sub-micron step-and-settle positioning move in a fraction of a second. In other situations, precision is defined by closely regulating the velocity of an axis as it performs a critical scanning process. Other times, precision can entail quickly tracking and intercepting another moving axis within a defined position and time window in order to perform some insertion process. Whether your definition of precision is one of these or a combination of them all, our engineers have decades of know-how and experience with single- and multi-axis precision motion systems that’s required to help bring success to your specific application. Connect with Intellimech today to discuss your project’s requirements and how we can deliver the right solution for your needs.
Pushing the Limits of Automation… In a Warehouse
When it comes to the successful deployment of a robotic system for your application, less variation in the process usually translates to a substantially higher probability for success. This especially holds true when machine vision systems are employed. Vision systems often require controlled lighting and lensing with repeatable target presentation to effectively perform the task they’ve been selected for, such as measuring, counting, or inspecting. End effectors, or end-of-arm robotic tooling, may often rely on a repeatable presentation of their subject in order to correctly manipulate it. In this article from MIT Technology Review, a contest sponsored by Amazon is profiled that seeks to push the boundaries of machine vision and robotic manipulators in order to better function in their fulfillment centers. The engineers at Intellimech are highly skilled at engineering and integrating the latest vision systems and customized end-of-arm tooling for your specific application to help you capture success.
New Solutions for Old Equipment
Are you facing a decision about what to do with your older automated equipment? In both laboratory and manufacturing environments, the frustration and uncertainty associated with making a determination about how to proceed with older equipment is a common, frequent challenge. Some elements to consider when contemplating the decision are availability of support, the equipment’s current and anticipated reliability, required productivity and performance, and operator safety. Intellimech’s engineers intimately understand the complexities of automation and work closely with our customers to gain an appreciation for their unique circumstances. We can help you in making a well-informed, cost-effective choice whether a retrofit or update to your existing equipment would best meet your objectives. In situations where the advantages of a retrofit or update outweigh those of new equipment, we strive to minimize our customers’ downtime while providing a comprehensive solution that will deliver performance and value for years to come. If a decision about your machine is on the horizon, contact Intellimech today and let us help you avoid frustration and solve your challenges.
Advanced Manufacturing Investment Yields Rewards
The push in manufacturing to reduce costs, improve productivity, and foster innovation is a continuous process. Advanced technologies, when correctly applied, can help a manufacturer reach these goals. The engineers at Intellimech work closely with our customers to gain a deeper understanding of their processes and unique challenges in order to provide a comprehensive solution that can leverage these new technologies to meet and exceed your expectations. In this release from Purdue University, a collaborative effort between the university and General Electric (GE) is announced. GE will plan to invest $10 million in a five-year partnership to develop new materials and manufacturing practices. For operations like GE’s, realizing a mere 1% improvement in manufacturing productivity equates to a savings of $500 million.
Creating Opportunities with Additive Manufacturing
New technologies can offer new opportunities and additive manufacturing is no exception to that principle. At Intellimech, our engineers have a proven track record of successfully delivering solutions for various additive manufacturing processes, including fiber placement and tape laying for composites (carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer) and stereolithography. One group that is taking advantage of what additive manufacturing can bring to the table is the Aerospace & Defense industry. In this article from MIT Technology Review, the unique benefits offered by incorporating this technology are analyzed.
A Toolbox Full of Software
At Intellimech, our engineers apply sophisticated software tools during the design process to help ensure our partners’ projects are successful, even before the first component is fabricated. We take advantage of model-based simulation tools such as those available in MATLAB, Simulink, and SolidWorks to ensure design feasibility and approach our customers’ unique challenges in the most effective manner possible. Using simulation for complex mechanical and electrical systems allows us to identify areas of focus early in the design process instead of during assembly or start-up, which helps our customers realize their visions on-time and on-budget. In this article from MathWorks, the creators of MATLAB and Simulink, a sample workflow for laying out a simulation is examined.