TM Robotics' fifth axis slide function new
technology makes extending robot reach easier

TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd, the European robot partner of Toshiba Machine, has announced new controller technology which makes the addition of a sliding fifth axis to its SCARA robots easier than ever before. As a result, end users will be able to extend the range of a SCARA robot or use the modified machine to transfer product from one workstation to another without human intervention or the addition of any non robot automation technologies.

At the heart of the new functionality is Toshiba Machine's new TS3000 controller, which features a built-in Ethernet port, making robot, conveyor and vision synchronisation simple. This added connectivity allows the addition of a fifth axis to a SCARA robot, in the form of a Cartesian linear slide, creating an additional axis of movement or an additional, fully synchronised, axis which can be precisely tracked by the SCARA's (tool holding) z-axis.

There are two scenarios in which this provides substantial end user benefits. The first is positioning the SCARA at a t-junction to the Cartesian slide. The perfectly synchronised tracking of the two machines would then allow the Cartesian axis to transfer items from the SCARA workstation to another workstation. As a result, there is reduced potential for damage to the items being produced as well as a reduced need for non robot automation or human intervention on the line. The latter benefit means that the system could massively decrease the chances of contamination in clean room or IP65 environments.

The second scenario is mounting the SCARA on the Cartesian axis, allowing it to extend its range and working envelope on the production line. This would allow the user to have the same robot working at two, closely related, points on the line or within the workstation.

In addition, thanks to the Ethernet connectivity of the controller, the additional fifth axis, as well as other robots in the same cell, can share vision via the TS3000 itself. This means that fewer cameras are necessary on the line, reducing the cost of implementing vision technology.

The TS300 controller also includes a built-in TCmini PLC, which allows management of I/O equipment, regardless of operation and program. The net effect of this combined with added Ethernet connectivity is greater efficiency and productivity, combined with savings in vision technology in an easy to implement package.

For further information, view website: www.tmrobotics.co.uk and www.abot.eu.com or e-mail: sales@tmrobotics.co.uk  Refer to page 149

Heavy duty, industrial soldering Irons

The Solder Connection of Chepstow is launching a wide range of constant heat, heavy duty soldering irons, designed and manufactured in the USA by renown producer of soldering solutions, American Beauty.

American Beauty heavy-duty irons are ideal for heavy soldering jobs and production-line environments and are used in a wide variety of industries from engineering, electrical and power generation to bar fitting and roofing. Said to be safer to use than naked flame, all American Beauty heavy duty, soldering irons now come complete with CE marking, certifying that the irons meet EU consumer safety, health and environmental requirements.

Compression winding a special, high resistance Nickel-Chrome wire onto a steel spool creates a heating element with unsurpassed heat capacity and outstanding durability. The protective casing is cut from a single block of steel, strengthened with multiple heat treatments and precision brazed for optimal strength and efficiency.

Soldering iron output ranges from 60 to 500 watts but specific wattage is not a major factor when determining the maximum operating temperature so much as it tells how well an iron will be able to maintain its operating temperature during the actual soldering application. Soldering irons that have a higher wattage will generally have a faster thermal recovery and the ability to more efficiently support soldering applications that require a heavier thermal load.

Each soldering iron in the range accommodates a variety of tip configurations in order to more accurately meet the specific requirements of many different soldering applications.

For further information, e-mail: saIes@solderconnection.co.uk  Refer to page 47

Mitsubishi does it again: New RVR Compact Crossover is second model
with front fenders made from SABIC Innovative Plastics' Noryl GTX* Resin

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's new RVR compact crossover has blasted past the competition with front fenders made from SABIC Innovative Plastics' Noryl GTX* resin. The RVR is the second fender success for the Mitsubishi/SABIC Innovative Plastics relationship, which first gave consumers the Delica D:5 minivan in 2007, also sporting front fenders molded from Noryl GTX resin. By replacing steel with this high-performance resin, Mitsubishi slashed weight by almost 50 percent and achieved a unique and highly complex geometry to differentiate the new vehicle's styling and improve pedestrian safety compliance. Noryl GTX resin continues to capture increased attention in automotive body panels, underscoring SABIC Innovative Plastics' drive to create new cutting-edge automotive solutions.

"The new RVR's front fenders mark another major milestone for SABIC Innovative Plastics' award-winning Noryl GTX resin, which is rapidly becoming the material of choice not only in fenders, but in an ever-broadening range of auto body components, as well," said Gregory A. Adams, vice president, SABIC Innovative Plastics.

"This win with Mitsubishi is very significant in that it is the first time an Asian automaker has reprised its use of Noryl GTX resin. Clearly, our work with Mitsubishi reflects the development expertise of both companies and is a tremendous benefit to consumers around the world."

In developing the RVR as the company's newest compact crossover, Mitsubishi engineers made every effort to reduce part weight in order to achieve best-in-class fuel efficiency. Noryl GTX resin has made a major contribution by reducing vehicle body weight by 3 kg (6.6lbs). Mitsubishi has already announced that it will introduce this new environmentally responsible vehicle, branded as the Mitsubishi ASX, into the European market later this year, and will follow with expansion into many other regions of the world.

Multiple Benefits from a Single Resin Technology
Noryl GTX resin provides a solution to top challenges facing today's automakers. It significantly reduces part weight to help cut fuel consumption and emissions, and has been audited by GreenOrder, an environmental strategy firm. According to GreenOrder, because the resin is 50 percent lighter than steel, equipping all cars on the road today in Europe with fenders made from Noryl GTX resin would save 530 million liters (140 million gallons) of fuel and avoid 1.3 million metric tons (1.43 million tons U.S.) of carbon dioxide emissions.

The material also provides greater design freedom than metal. By injection molding Noryl GTX resin, Mitsubishi designers were able to create a complex fender geometry featuring a sharp front edge and a side slot for an indicator lamp. Such a design would have been difficult to fabricate in steel as it would require multiple steps, tools and operations.

The SABIC Innovative Plastics' resin also enabled Mitsubishi designers and engineers to significantly increase the fender's flexibility vs. that of steel. This enhanced flexibility is expected to provide excellent head impact absorption in pedestrian incidents, as well as recovery of the fender from minor collisions.

During vehicle production, Noryl GTX resin helps reduce complexity and shorten cycle times. Its high-temperature resistance and intrinsic conductivity allow the fenders to be on-line painted without the need for a conductive primer, and deliver painted aesthetics equivalent to steel. To optimize on-line painting of the plastic fenders along with the steel body, careful part design and processing were essential. SABIC Innovative Plastics assisted Mitsubishi by sharing its expertise in CAE-based parts performance prediction and molding support, as well as supplying the high-performance Noryl GTX resin.

RVR Fenders are Latest Milestone for Noryl GTX Resin
Noryl GTX resin has been used in auto fenders for more than 20 years. Since 1988, more than 20 million vehicles have been manufactured with fenders made from Noryl GTX resin in Europe, the United States, Japan, South America and China. Automakers that have chosen these fenders over the years include GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroen, BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, and Nissan.

The material was honored in 2009 for its key role in helping General Motors (GM) 1987 MY Buick® LeSabre® T-Type fenders win the coveted Hall of Fame Award and the Ford Kuga fenders win the Safety category award for enabling pedestrian safety compliance from the Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®).

For further information on SABIC Innovative Plastics' Noryl GTX products, view website: www.sabic-ip.com  Refer to page 142

Phase Vision puts breakthrough white light scanners on show at TCT Live

Leicestershire-based three-dimensional white light measurement specialist Phase Vision will exhibit its new range of Quartz scanners on stand N18 at TCT Live 2010, to be held at Coventry's Ricoh Arena on 19-20 October 2010.

The Quartz range was successfully launched at MACH 2010, and will now be showcased to designers and engineers at TCT Live seeking the latest technologies to help them reduce time to market.

Originally  pioneered for  the  most  demanding  conditions  in  the  aerospace  sector,   white-light 3D scanners have now been developed by Phase Vision which are suitable for the shop floor, aircraft hangar, or dockyard.  The launch of the Quartz range followed months of testing in these uniquely demanding environments.

The products use a non-contact structured lighting technique which allows the measurement of very large objects and also 360° measurement of complex objects at production line speeds

Quartz scanners have vast light output and sophisticated algorithms to power larger measurement volumes, bringing breakthroughs in performance and accuracy.

Ralph Weir, CEO of Phase Vision, commented: "For many years the three-dimensional measurement sector has focused on systems for scanning smaller products or for measuring only a few points at a time. Now, speed and accuracy in the scanning of larger products have for the first time been successfully combined in the Quartz range."

To see the future of measurement at TCT Live - or book a demonstration, view website: www.phasevision.com  Refer to page 77