April 4 , 2008

Welcome to the April 2008 issue of Motoman Direct, containing news, product information, and updates from Motoman Inc. 

Featured Products

NEW! EPX2050 "Expert Paint" Robot
The versatile EPX2050 features a hollow wrist and provides superior performance in high-speed coating applications...

Corporate News

Motoman and University of Dayton Establish Lab for Advanced Robotics Research, Learning
Motoman has partnered with the University of Dayton’s  School of Engineering to help establish the new Motoman Robotics Laboratory...

Results for Motoman’s Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey for 2007 are currently being tabulated.  Motoman is committed to Total Customer Satisfaction and each employee’s goal is to exceed our customers’ expectations. We were thrilled to receive a record high 4.55 rating out of a 5.0 possible scale for 2006 and hope to continue to improve.  Watch for results in the next issue of Motoman Direct, scheduled for early June.

Innovations Timeline
Click here to download an updated version of Motoman’s innovation timeline.  See why “World-Leading Robotic Technology” is more than a slogan at Motoman...

Click on the following links to see Motoman's latest ads:
NEW!!! You CAN Compete
SSA2000 - 15% Faster Welding. No Additional Cost.
ArcWorld V
Customer Satisfaction
EPL-Series Palletizing Robots
Motoman Points the Way
Push Your Presses

Editorials, Case Studies, & Articles

Motoman Expands into Humanoid Robotics: A Conversation with Craig Jennings
www.roboticstrends.com - March 2008
Motoman’s President and COO talks about how new dual-arm robots are helping to expand the market for robots, as well as keeping jobs in the U.S. that would otherwise be outsourced to countries with low labor costs...

“Robots: the Next Generation,” - Automotive Design & Production - April 2008 - By Gary Vasilash, AD&P’s Editor-in-Chief - This article delves into Motoman’s advanced technology, such as actuator-based robots and multiple robot control, that have enabled development of compact, highly flexible “humanoid” robots such as the DA20 and slim new SDA10...
http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/040807.html

“Castings Crunch: Heavy Brake Drum Castings Create Opportunity for Unique Material Handling System” by Russ Olexa – FF Journal - March 2008 – Two Motoman HP200 robots on an overhead MotoRail handle 220-lb brake drum castings for Class-8 trucks and buses from pallets into machining centers for Webb Wheel Products (Cullman, Alabama)...

"Robotic Workhorse Rides the Rail at Applied Engineering" by Mary Kay Morel – Robotics Online – mid-March 2008.  A Motoman HP20 robot on a 20-m MotoRail loads and unloads a wide variety of aluminum parts from eight turntable positioners and four CNC machines...

More articles...

Helpful Hints

Each issue of Motoman Direct includes "helpful hints" designed to provide bits of practical advice and programming tips that will help our customers maximize the productivity of their Motoman robots. 

PROBLEM:  My robot system has an external rotational axis.  When a part is loaded, how can I prevent my operator from inadvertently crashing it into the floor or other equipment.

SOLUTION: Cubic Interference.  Cubes are not just for robots, and don’t have to be a cubic area in space at all.  Cubes can be taught to look at individual robot axes or even the station.  When the axis is in the cube a given range of pulse counts, an output is activated in the CIO ladder.  This output can be used to create a user alarm, activate sequence wait or for whatever logic you want to create.  Motoman uses this on the RM2-M3X positioners to keep from hitting the floor by accident.  If an operator jogs the table instead of using the sweep program, and comes close to the floor, a User Alarm is triggered to avoid the collision.  For more information on how this could work for you, please contact Motoman Technical Support Hotline at (937) 847-3200.

PROBLEM:  My robot program points are off, following a crash.  How do I determine what is wrong?

SOLUTION:  When a robot collides with fixtures or other equipment, many times you will find the program points are a little off.  The best approach to this is to be proactive.  Obviously, it is best to avoid crashing the robot altogether.  However, you should know your system, be prepared and have some tools available just in case.  Motoman offers a tool called ToolSight.  This is a ring with sensors inside to check the alignment of the TCP.  This is very useful in telling if the torch has been bent, assuming all else is well.  If the torch is bent, straighten it.  Every facility with robotic welders should have a straightening jig.  These units are made by the torch vendor, and even though it may seem pricey, it pays for itself the first time you use it.  If the torch turns out OK, check the calibration point of the arm.  Move all of the axis to zero pulse counts and check the alignment marks.  If one is out, it might be possible to modify the Home Calibration data to recover.  A maintenance job, with various points taught around the system can be used to  help determine if the problem lies with the torch, the robot, the tooling, or even the mounting.  More than once, Motoman techs have seen cases where the robot riser had moved.  Without this maintenance routine, a  significant amount of time could have been spent trying to find this problem.  If you do not have these tools, recovery could last from minutes to weeks.  Motoman offers many ways to protect your investment.  For help with these or questions about others, please contact Motoman Technical Support at (937) 847-3200.

For more helpful hints, click here.

Customer Satisfaction & Training

Motoman’s new Courier Repair Service makes the repair process easy with free pick up of any Motoman parts that need repair or replacement.  An itemized email report the next business day lets customers choose whether to repair, exchange, purchase new, hold or scrap each part.  For more information, contact Greg Hoelscher at 937.847.3367 or greg.hoelscher@motoman.com

Register Online for Motoman Training Classes
You can register for all Motoman training classes in the U.S. and Canada on-line through Motoman's website.

Motoman's on-line Customer Care Center offers enhanced E-commerce functions and much more.  Available 24/7, the site enables you to order spare/replacement parts, software, and manuals; check order status; and register for training at the Motoman Technical Education Center or for our growing offering of web-based training.  It also features product information, technical resources and tools to help you manage your Motoman products.  Please follow the link below to complete your registration and begin using the site!
https://ecommerce.motoman.com/opencms/customercare/motoman/index.html

Trade Shows

Motoman products and services will be exhibited at the following trade shows and expositions in 2008.  If you plan to attend these shows, please visit our booth:

AACC – July 29-31 – Washington D.C. – Booth #TBD.

IMTS – September 8-13, 2008 – Chicago, IL – Booth #6400.

FABTECH – October 6-8, 2008 – Las Vegas, NV – Booth #13049.

PackExpo – November 9-13, 2008 – Chicago, IL – Booth #1495.

G2E – November 18-20 – Las Vegas, NV -- Booth #TBD.

If you’d like to see Motoman exhibit highlights for trade shows you might have missed this year, click here. 

MOTOQUOTE PUZZLE

Decipher the following encrypted "MotoQuote" phrase (a puzzle in which one letter has been substituted for another) and e-mail the answer, along with your name, company name, company address, and work phone number to marykay.morel@motoman.com.  On April 11, we will draw a winner from eligible respondents who correctly solve the MotoQuote puzzle.  The lucky winner will be sent his or her choice of a scale model of Motoman’s unique seven-axis IA20 robot, EA-Series “Expert Arc” welding robot or
ES-series “Expert Spot” welding robot.

Clues: Our company’s name appears somewhere in the puzzle phrase.  If you need more help, Q=P.

DKI VDSU CE YDYSU MKEYDFPI ESYCENSMYCDG, SGT PSMZ FDYDFSG PFQUDAPP

EYICXPE YD PHMPPT DKI MKEYDFPIE’ PHQPMYSYCDGE.

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