It’s Now Easier than Ever to Bring Servo Motor Repair In-house
Technology in the form of robots, cobots, CNC cutting machines, autonomous vehicles and other forms of automation have increasingly found their way onto the manufacturing floor. These machines have a measurable impact on production, allowing manufacturers to meet rising production targets along with the growing expectations of customers and shareholders alike.
As the use of these machines increases, so does the reliance on servo motors. Providing power and precision, servo motors are the controlling force behind much of this equipment. Because of this reliance, the maintenance, preventive maintenance and repair of these motors is critical. When servos are taken offline for unscheduled repairs, the results are unnecessary factory downtime. And that translates into lost revenue, dissatisfied customers and frustrated stakeholders.
Read more of this story in Machine Design here.
PTC Creo, the Digital Thread and Composites-Based Products
Fueled by emerging markets and a growing demand for lightweight-yet-durable materials, the composites industry is a rising economic force. Global demand for composite-based products is growing at an annual clip of nearly 8%. And as this trend continues, the industry is expected to reach $160 billion by 2027.
While this creates a wealth of opportunities for manufacturers across the board, it also exposes product development gaps, compartmentalization and inefficiencies. Composites are a different animal, and traditional tools and processes often leave manufacturers wanting more. Consequently, companies both serving and entering the space are aggressively seeking robust composite-friendly product development technologies to become more streamlined, efficient and integrated across the extended enterprise.
Read more here.
Generations of Trust
Located in Glasgow, Scotland, Gilmours is a family-owned manufacturer entering its 5th generation. Tracing its roots back to 1895, the company served the shipbuilding industry for decades. In the 1950s, under the direction of John’s father, George Gilmour, the manufacturer shifted its focus to support the growing construction industry with finished metal products.
Since that time Gilmours has grown to more than 60 employees and multiple shops. As a full-service manufacturer the company serves the industry with arsenal of fabrication equipment and services including metal cutting, punching, bending, and shearing capabilities along with welding, powder coating, finishing, assembly, and other secondary operations.
Read more here.
Creating a Culture of Change: Strategies for Making Change Stick
Successful companies have a constant eye on improvement. This might include programs to reduce production time or costs, or to enhance areas such as sustainability, safety, productivity, profitability, or market share.
These organizations recognize the rewards and risks associated with adopting new approaches or technologies. They also understand that change is a process that must be carefully planned and managed.
Improvement initiatives must be guided by a comprehensive change management plan. This helps to ensure that the right people are involved, goals are documented and communicated, and the change management model is rooted in the company’s culture.
This blog breaks change management down to its basic form. Read it here.
Production Pillars
A growing number of manufacturers and fabricators are turning to lasers to boost production and enhance metal processing services. These cutting machines are ideal for meeting shortand long-run production requirements while providing the flexibility to adapt to any economic changes on the horizon. Reliable, fast and versatile, lasers use less energy, process thick material and cut complex shapes with precision.
Regardless of type, size or brand, lasers represent a serious investment, so it’s important to fully maximize their features and capacity. To get the most out of your equipment, it is critical to understand the three key pillars of laser cutting production: process operation, program operation and machine operation.
It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommended startup steps. Make sure to consider the material type, thickness and assist gas being used. Also, check that you are using the correct nozzle as directed from the material library.
Read the entire article here.
How to Test and Repair Servo Motors
Servo motors can be used in a range of applications, and like any component, will wear over time. Understanding how to test and repair them can ensure longevity of the servo motors themselves as well as reduce downtime for the machines into which they are integrated.
I spoke with Stuart Mitchell, Vice President of Mitchell Electronics Inc., about testing and repair of servo motors. Mitchell Electronics develops test products for encoders and servo motors, serving industries in which brushless servo motors often fail or require more regular maintenance and troubleshooting due to heavy use or extreme environmental conditions. This includes manufacturing industries such as automotive, aerospace, food services, consumer packaged goods, and robotics.
Mitchell offers his insight into common causes of servo motor malfunctions as well as how best to test and repair motors to help maintain productivity.
Physical Testing is Alive and Well Throughout the Engineering World
In this digital world, it may be hard for some to believe that there’s still a place for anything manual or physical – especially in the engineering realm. And, while it’s true that today’s technologies have cut into the dependence on physical testing, real-world data remains the lifeblood of the product lifecycle.
From product design to troubleshooting in-service equipment, next generation product planning, and all phases in between, testing remains critical to the design, manufacture, quality, performance, and evolution of virtually all products.
New Product Development
For centuries the process to create or enhance a product consisted of building and testing a long series of prototypes. This build it/test it/break it approach was generally repeated until a satisfactory design was identified. While effective, the process was both costly and time consuming — with these factors often limiting innovation.
Since the late 1960s technologies such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), and simulation, have continually evolved to lessen the dependence on physical prototype testing and thus shorten development cycles. These tools allow 3D representative digital models to be created and analyzed for manufacturability, performance, durability, and reliability at component, sub-assembly, assembly, and product levels.
Read the article here in Power & Motion Magazine.
The 8 Most Common Efficiency GAPS in Plastics Operations
Plastics processors are living in a digital world; and technology is profoundly changing the way everyone lives, interacts, communicates, works and does business. While all industries have benefitted, perhaps none are impacted quite like manufacturing. Findings here show that integrating processes, advancing efficiency and accelerating workflow generate as much as 25% to 40% return on technology investment. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As technology continues its rapid development, optimizing internal processes will impact efficiency, quality, throughput and profitability exponentially.
Optimization is all about getting the most reliable, accurate and timely information needed to provide the insight to achieve the desired results faster and in the least expensive and most efficient way. These days that means the integration of robust business and manufacturing applications. Conversely paying little or no attention to the widening gap between processes and optimization technologies can quietly erode the fair market value of a manufacturing company. Although the advantages are well documented, a surprising number of manufacturers, especially those in the plastics industry, are slow to embrace these new technologies.
It’s time for an analysis.
Most plastics processors probably assume that they are on solid ground. After all, the machines are running, the bills are being paid and the lights are burning. But could they be doing even better? Do they really know where their company ranks in terms of operational optimization?
This Plastics Processor Gap Analysis will help processors learn how their company stacks up against the eight most common efficiency gaps.
Read the Plastics Business Magazine article here.
Subjective Quality Testing is Becoming a Thing of the Past
What comes to mind when you look at your automobile, washing machine, lawn mower, or any other product? For many, it’s the manufacturer’s name attached to that product. And to protect their brand, reputation, and market share, those manufacturers are increasingly diligent about quality. And for an OEM, that includes all Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers.
Christopher Kus, Project Engineer and NVH Expert for the Automotive Seating Business Group-NAO of Faurecia explains that consumers rarely differentiate between the system and its components.
“Sub-system and component flaws generally create overall negative feelings toward the system as a whole,” said Kus. “For example, a rattling window, unreliable ventilation fan, or noisy seat motor will result in a reputation for poor quality for the entire vehicle. Consequently, OEMs are increasingly vigilant with supplier quality.”
Faurecia Seating seat systems optimize the comfort and safety of occupants while offering premium quality to its customers. By objectively quantifying quality, Faurecia is meeting and exceeding customer (and end-user) expectations.
Read more here.
Cracking the NDT Code
I recently sat down with Mark Koehler, Professional NDE (PNDE) Services Group’s business development manager, and Neil Coleman, Signalysis Inc.’s founder and president, discussed non-destructive testing (NDT) methods and how it applies to weld inspection.
During the conversation, Neil and Mark offered a host of information regarding the various types of NDT as well as the information about the products and services their companies provide in that regard. Neil also explained how some of the roots behind NDT can be traced to the rocket era.
Read it here.