Robert Little

Are You Missing These Four AI Machine Vision Tips? Grantek's David McKenna Shares His Insight in Control Engineering Magazine. Read the Article Here: https://buff.ly/497WtXE #Grantek

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Independent NC Code Checking Software Improves Machining Processes

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Read how a manufacturer of lithium-ion battery production equipment is using direct drive motion technology to gain a competitive advantage as the electric vehicle market takes off. #Kollmorgen #MotionControl #ElectricVehicleBattery https://ow.ly/qaCL30sEFlB

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You don’t always need original thinking. Sometimes you just need an original format. For example, we have a webinar coming up next week that explains how to test what light an application needs. Our engineers have used this process for years. Chances are if you've worked in our industry long enough and have a testing lab, you've also been doing more or less the same process - even if you never work for a machine vision lighting company. You just did it subconsciously. Because this process wasn't written down in a manual. It wasn't written down using a hypothetical case study to illustrate it. And it wasn't made into a presentation that trains engineers how to do it step-by-step. A lot of our content strategy involves just writing down things that we've "always done." And we put it out there in a way no one has seen before. You can catch this unoriginal content in an original format next Thursday 6/13 at 11 am ET. 🔗 to register: https://lnkd.in/eA24gNzi #industrialmarketing #manufacturingmarketing #machinevision #LEDlighting #industrialautomation

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Have you heard? Our very own Product Manager, Ashley David, was recently on The Automation Podcast discussing an important topic - 80 GHz radar level measurement devices. Check out this exciting discussion and see if these devices are right for your application - https://ow.ly/tQBT30sBsMj Want to know more about our radar devices? Click here: ow.ly/Sj6x30sArvJ #radar #level #podcast #processautomation

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Statistically, 3% of PCBAs contain poor-quality or failed components. The secret often lies in component quality. With Cybord's Quality Component Inspection (QCI), I've seen firsthand how AI can transform reliability and efficiency, turning potential failures into success stories. Ready to elevate your assembly line? Let's explore Cybord together >> https://bit.ly/3wL7zUL

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When calculating ROI for your next automation project, be sure to calculate increased capacity into the return calculation. You can use the gross profit generated from the new revenue in your ROI calculation, assuming you can sell the product on your increased capacity. This new profit will add up surprisingly quickly and prove how valuable new equipment is for your organization. Increased capacity can be generated from less downtime (less maintenance or running more frequently through automation), faster cycle time, improved yield. Also be sure to… - Identify all costs associated with the automation project - Get the exact benefit in cost from your integrator - Make a plan to track costs after installation

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Let‘s talk about your automation needs

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In the early 2000's, I worked in my family's manufacturing business . Too many times to count that I worked on new product design projects that came through our doors. I'd patiently work with our customers as they went through design revisions. Guide the customer's engineers are how to redesign their projects be more easily manufactured and more cost effective from a manufacturing standpoint. Initially we would get a nice initial order. Maybe two or three. Each time the volume would go up. And then..... the inevitable would happen, the job would go to China. My dad would always say the same thing, "don't worry, China's quality isn't very good. He'd tell me that the only reason we lost the work was a better price point. The job will come back." The jobs never came back. In the early 2000's, we did lose jobs to low cost labor. However, somewhere along the way, China's factories began to pass us up in terms of modernization and sophistication. Just pay attention to where Apple outsources their phone manufacturing. Hint, it's not in the U.S. As the economy begins to turn, don't just assume that tariffs slapped on other countries guarantee that more work will enter the U.S. and find its way to your factory. Instead of assuming, look in the mirror and ask yourself, "am I prepared to compete". Whether your shop is large or small, there are things that successful manufacturing shops have in common. ERP systems to help make data driven decisions. Multi Axis CNC to cut down on operations. Strategies to help cut down on change over time in between set ups. Fixturing that helps increase part density And YES, automation. While I saved automation for last, it really should be at the forefront of everyone's minds. China alone has outpaced us almost 5-1 in terms of robotic automation. It's one of the areas that we need to embrace as a manufacturing community if we truly want to COMPETE. As the economy turns, the one problem that is not going away is the lack of skilled labor. We are here to help. Happy 4th of July. Gosiger AutomationWithinReach FANUC America Corporation SCHUNK - Hand in hand for tomorrow

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On-the-fly mode switching is great for motion applications that need to perform different kinds of tasks. Learn more about what it is and how it works at https://zurl.co/jm51 . #AMCservo #ServoDrive #MotionControl #Automation #Robotics #Engineering

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The strength of US manufacturing is directly related to the adoption of technology that provides competitive levels of efficiency. US companies installed more robots in 2023 than ever before. We will likely see some variability in the future numbers due to economic headwinds. Confidence is the name of the game. Thanks International Federation of Robotics for these encouraging preliminary numbers. Let's go to #automate2024 and look for the technology that makes our companies stronger. #A3automation, #IFR, #manufacturing, #schunk, #handinhandfortomorrow https://lnkd.in/erYHFi8f

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I'm looking for a lift table solution that I'm not sure exists as a standard product. We can certainly design and build one, but surely someone already makes one. Here is what I'm looking for: A standard lift table that is programmable to raise in set increments or to go to set positions. The positional accuracy would need to be +/- .030" or better. Estimated load is 1,500#. Any of my connections aware of an existing product? #materialhandling, #lifttable,

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“The factory is the product. Designing the factory is 1,000% harder than designing the car." - Elon Musk What Elon is saying in this quote is that it’s very difficult (in the real world) to produce equipment that: - Does not break down - Is easy for an operator to run - Allows for real world part variation And these attributes are very often underestimated by product designers. This quote resonates with me because this kind of work (custom automation) is exactly what we do at Engineered Vision. Here’s 7 more insights from Elon Musk that I’ve found to be true:

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Great solution from CE

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At Beamex we like to get to the point 😄 We've dealt with a lot of "bosses" over the years and have heard all the arguments! Are you a calibration technician in need of a new calibrator but are struggling to justify the investment to your boss? Then this brilliant blog post by my colleague Heikki Laurila 🍀 is for you, learn how to think like your boss and focus on what is important to him or her to help you to justify your (and their) investment. Alternatively, if you are a decision maker within your own business and are seeking to identify what benefits can be gained by investing with Beamex, then this is also for you! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Is this relevant for your business? What else may you need to consider?

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The Silent Killer What are some of the symptoms to look for? "Quiet Quitting" - It is a relatively new trend making it's way across most industry sectors and manufacturing and engineering is one that is particularly vulnerable. Reasons for the vulnerability: Burnout: Manufacturing and engineering are no walk in the park. Tight deadlines, repetitive tasks, and the relentless pressure to meet production wears down even the toughest employees. Burnout leads to disengagement, and before you know it, your top talent is only doing the bare minimum. Work-life balance: Similar to burnout, long hours are the norm what happens when employees start craving a better balance between work and personal life? They adopt a “quiet quitting” mindset, doing just enough to get by while protecting their precious off-hours. Lack of growth: Nobody likes feeling stuck. If your team members see no clear path for advancement or skill development, their motivation plummets. They begin to disengage, losing that spark to go above and beyond. So, what’s the solution? Recognize these signs early and take action. Invest in your team's well-being, offer clear paths for growth, and create a culture where work-life balance is more than just a buzzword. A happy, motivated team is your greatest asset. Don’t let quiet quitting quietly undermine your success. As always, Happy Hunting!! #leadership #highperformingteams #robotics #roboticsengineering #iiot #teambuilding #engineeringmanager #hiringmanager #manufacturing #automation #controlsengineer #automationengineer #controlsengineering #automationengineering #jamesmichaelgroup #rollingstones #getwhatyouneed #controlsengineer #automationengineer #controlsengineering #automationengineering #jamesmichaelgroup #diversity #hiring #toptalent #jobpostings #iiot #supplychain #coaching #q4hiring #2024hiring #skillsgap #softskills #secretsauce #timeisgold #hiringstruggles #culture #strategy

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#SafetySaturday : Taking Control: Understanding Pendant Safety in Robotics Industrial robots are powerful tools, and safe operation is paramount. #Pendants, those handheld devices with buttons and joysticks, play a critical role in how operators interact with robots. But how do pendants keep things safe? Clear Design: Imagine accidentally hitting the wrong button! Easy-to-understand layouts and clear button functions minimize the risk of mistakes. Big Red Button: Just like in movies, a prominent emergency stop button is essential. One press, and the robot immediately halts, preventing accidents. Mode Matters: Pendants might have different controls depending on the robot's mode. Think "slow and steady" buttons for teaching the robot its tasks, and separate controls for direct robot movement. Keeping a Grip: Some pendants have enabling switches.These require constant pressure to keep the robot moving, preventing accidental movement if the operator lets go. See and Hear Safety: The pendant's display shows the robot's status, mode, and any warnings. Beeps and alerts might also warn operators of potential hazards. By following these principles, we can ensure that pendants are not just functional, but contribute to a safe and efficient robotic work environment. What questions do you have about pendant safety? Share your thoughts in the comments! #IndustrialRobotics #RIASafety #SafetyFirst #RoboticsSafety #EliteAutomation

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Manufacturing Automation – Micromanaged Focus on specifying the WHAT, not the HOW! Frustrated with a client, some years ago, who’s bi-weekly check-ins had turned into mini-design reviews, I said to him, (paraphrased): “John, if I give you a system which uses a paper lunch bag, into which we drop the three parts and after shaking it two times, a completed assembly comes out, will you accept the system?” Puzzled, he looked back and answered NO! An exaggerated statement for a point, we finally had a conversation where he understood that the constant second guessing was not only delaying the project and chewing up resources, but it was also COUNTER PRODUCTIVE as we had already agreed to a SPECIFICATION for the system. Part his nature, part his company culture, the constant interfacing was well meaning and he believed it would yield the best outcome. That’s not the case! Here’s Why: Presuming we have done a good upfront job of DUE-DILIGENCE to specify the requirement, the WHAT?, and we have selected our systems integrator based on criteria FOUNDED on competence, reputation, price, etc., we maximize value by allowing the integrator do the HOW? Otherwise, we increase the risks of: -         Turning a competitive advantage into a Bill of Materials. -         Gaps in responsibility, leading to finger pointing later. -         Minimized innovation. -         Preferences turning into requirements. -         Seeing too much of the “sausage being made”. -         Having mediocre outcomes vs. exceptional outcomes. Assuring general architectural compliance is not difficult and done in the specification: -         Footprint -         Facilities -         Operational environment -         Machine rate -         Operator interface -         Inputs and Outputs form factor -         FAT requirements -         Other, system attributes of WHAT, without specifying HOW. Not to preclude OPEN and HONEST communication along the way, unless it’s a BUILD TO PRINT project, total value is MAXIMIZED when we let our carefully selected Systems Integrator do his stuff AND we’ll probably be surprised by the SIMPLICITY and RELIABILITY of the final outcome. Focus on specifying the WHAT, not the HOW! -- “An alternative, tried and proven approach is to start with the footprint constraints and then test-layout the product path, informed by the form factor of the inputs and outputs, moving through the sequential assembly and testing steps with the required cycle time.” -- Do you have a micro-management example in an automation project? Your thoughts are appreciated and please SHARE this post if you think your connections will find it of interest. 👉 Comment, follow or connect to discuss how to collaborate and plan your automation for increased productivity. https://lnkd.in/ePqU3ZtQ #industry40 #automation #productivity #robotics    

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