Most things that turn, do so on bearings. Over the years, much attention has been paid to the bearing. The basic ball bearing has been mastered to reduce friction to incredibly low levels. The automotive drivetrain would not be possible without the friction reducing ability of the ball bearing. Accuracy in machining of the bearing […]
Dassault’s CATIA Announces “Creativity in 3D” Contest
Dassault Systèmes CATIA announces a creativity contest for confirmed and amateur designers, Creativty in 3D. Like clay modelers or sculptors, designers can use 3D software for live, intuitive design. The contest opened Monday March 22. To qualify to win, candidates must submit entries on the 3D Perspectives blog no later than Friday May 7. The […]
Six degrees of freedom and high precision
Parallel kinematics (PKM) precision positioning systems have many advantages over serial kinematics stages, such as lower inertia, improved dynamics, smaller package size and higher stiffness. Hexapods, a type of parallel kinematics positioning system, can move masses of 50, 200 or even 1000 kg with micron accuracy such as that required in medical applications. This particular […]
The Future of R&D
The US Government has been tracking R&D spending since 1950. It’s one of many metrics for measuring US economic health. R&D is forward looking. Generally, investing in research and development shows benefits some years in the future. Certainly, things like advanced lithium batteries and cellphones that act as Internet terminals would not be possible without […]
Unmanned 29′ Mini Space Shuttle?
US Air Force is quietly launching Boeing’s X-40A (merged with X-37) unmanned spaceplane April 19th. It will autonomously reenter the atmosphere and land at Vandenberg AFB sometime later.
Why plain bearings were the right choice for de-burring machine
The product: A de-burring system that removes burrs from hobbed gears. The system consists of drives, robot with grinding tool attachment and brushing stations. The need: a linear motion system that can handle harsh environment, high load requirements. The design choice: plain bearings Why: –Even disbursement of forces for high load handling, versus that of […]
CUI Launches Updated Website for AMT Encoder Series
TUALATIN, OR – CUI Inc announced that it has launched a new version of amtencoder.com, a website dedicated to their proprietary AMT modular encoder series. The site now features detailed product pages, a resource area with technical documents, videos, frequently asked questions, a news section, and an inventor’s bio. CUI’s VP of Marketing Jeff Schnabel […]
Personal CNC?
There has been a thread going through my mind involving the general field of machinery. The design of specialty machinery requires a great many disciplines, truly a mechatronic endeavor. Over the years, machine tool makers constantly worked on making the machines more complex in order to serve the market with greater functionality. In fact […]
EPSON Robots introduces New EPSON G1 Mini SCARA Robots
Carson, CA – EPSON Robots introduces the new EPSON G1 Mini SCARA Robots. Leading the industry with best in class cycle rates, precision assembly and motion range, EPSON G1 robots provide an ultra compact yet powerful solution for even the most demanding applications. G1 Mini SCARA robots are available in arm reaches of 175 or […]
New System Simultaneously Corrects Tool Position for 5-axis Machine Tools
Traditional piecemeal compensation of one axis at a time does not consider axis kinematic relationships and their effect on volumetric accuracy, an ability needed to meet today’s higher cutting accuracy requirements. The multi-axis methodology of volumetric error compensation (VEC) originated in Boeing R&D, St. Louis MO, and uses laser technology from Automated Precision, Inc. (API), […]
Further indications of a boom in service robotics
Ex-NASA astronaut Dan Barry, lecturing at Singularity University, offers a vision of robotic progress in 3-5 years and also 5-10 years. Read a review and watch an interview. NSF grants three-year funding to expand CMU’s Quality of Life Technology Foundry technology transfer to the commercial sector. CyPhy Works receives $1.75M first round of venture capital…
20% Wind Power?
The DOE has published a 248 page document “20% by 2030” providing a technical background of wind power and a roadmap for creating 20% wind energy supply in the US electrical energy mix. At last week’s Renewable Energy conference there was an update from three of the consulting firms that have been providing input for […]
Telepresence robots are gaining favor
UPDATE: Click to read latest info and Willow Garage’s plans for their newly built 25 Texas telepresence robots. Willow Garage, a privately-funded research enterprise known for their PR2 and COS hardware and software open-source platforms, is InTouch Health recently announced that it had surpassed 100,000 clinical sessions performed through its remote telepresence robots. MIT is…
Killer drones are coming back to bite us in the ass
P.W. Singer, author of last year’s robotic hit “Wired for War,” writing in Newsweek, describes a fearful turn of events if inexpensive drones are turned against us. “Two thirds of worldwide investment in unmanned planes in 2010 will be spent by countries OTHER than the United States.” Singer’s fears are already happening in Taiwan where…
MIT Commissions Special Touchy-Feely Robot Skin To Be Made
Peratech Limited has been commissioned by the MIT Media Lab to develop a new type of electronic ‘skin’ that enables robotic devices to detect not only that they have been touched but also where and how hard the touch was. The key to the sensing technology is Peratech’s patented ‘QTC’ materials. QTC’s, or Quantum Tunnelling […]