August 6 , 2008
Welcome to the August 2008 issue of Motoman Direct, containing news, product information and updates from Motoman Inc.
Featured Products
NEW! SDA10 Robot » – With “human-like flexibility and 15 axes of motion, Motoman’s new dual-arm SDA10 robot is slimmer, stronger and has significantly faster acceleration than the previous (DIA10) model...
NEW! EPX2900 Robot – Providing versatility and superior performance for standard industrial, automotive and aerospace coating and painting applications, the EPX2900 “Expert Paint” robot features a long reach (2,900 mm/114.2”) and a hollow wrist. It is ideal for painting automotive bodies and plastic component parts, agricultural equipment and other machinery and large parts...
NEW! EasyLoad™ machine tending software. This pendant application uses a touch screen interface on the NX100 programming pendant to provide conversational, graphics-based robot programming. A software wizard guides even non-programmers through simple step-by-step procedures to create complete, custom robot programs for the desired machine tending process. Job setup is fast and easy...
FabWorld® II – Ideal for manufacturing large parts that require longer cycle times, the FabWorld II family of modular, flexible robotic solutions features single or dual “Expert Arc” welding robot(s), integrated welding packages, two headstock/tailstock positioners with 1,075 or 3,000 kg payloads that allow part positioning during welding, a common base for fast installation, and a total safety environment...
Corporate News
Steve Barhorst Appointed President and COO of Motoman Inc. - Effective July 8, 2008, Steve Barhorst was named the new President and Chief Operating Officer of Motoman Inc., one of the largest robotic solution providers in North and South America...
Motoman’s Detroit Regional Center Moves to Rochester Hills - The move from Wixom to the new Rochester Hills facility is complete. Our new address is 2050 Austin Avenue, Rochester Hills, MI 48309-3665. Contact numbers remain the same: Phone 248.668.8800, Fax 248.668.8811.
Managing Automation Progressive Automation 50! – Motoman was recognized for being a tech partner for Grote Industries (Madison, IN) who won a spot on Managing Automation’s Progressive Manufacturing 50!
Motoman has several new brochures relating to key focus areas for our Advanced Systems Group (ASG):
Auto Components - Motoman offers lean robotic welding solutions for manufacturers of automotive components, such as exhaust pipes, suspensions, truck parts and after-market components. With our wide variety of robot arm configurations, multiple robot control and servo-positioners, we can provide a customized low-risk solution that promotes Six-Sigma principles and reduces labor, capital and future retooling cost...
Machine Tending – Motoman offers a wide array of machine tending solutions for automotive, agriculture, transportation, medical, injection molding and other industries. Our expertise enables us to deliver an efficient and cost-effective solution with a focus on providing the customer with the highest quality, throughput and ROI...
Specimen Processing – Motoman specializes in providing fully integrated, high-throughput clinical laboratory processing solutions that include pre- and post analytic sorting, as well as capping/de-capping and other functions...
Click here to access other new brochures on ASG’s focus areas:
Bottle Pack Solutions
Heavy Weldment Solutions
Click on links below to see Motoman’s latest ads:
“Machine Tending Made Easy”
“Pick It, Pack It, Stack It”
“Finish First”
Editorials, Case Studies & Articles
“Cutting Tools for Robots,” Industry Week – August 2008 – Article by John Teresko talks about how robots can be cost-effective alternatives to CNC machines in many cutting applications, thanks in part to advances in controller software and G-code conversion software...
Advances in Robotic Finishing – Finishing Today – July 2008 –
(Featured cover article). Advances in robot finishing are helping manufacturers improve painting operations for parts of all sizes and shapes...
This article was also featured in Robotics Online - mid-July 2008 (July 23) newsletter
Robotic Transporters for Large Weldments – Penton’s Welding – July 2008 – (Featured cover article). Factors to consider when choosing a robot transporter to provide the best access to large weldments...
“Robots Sort Blood Specimens” – Packaging Digest – July 2008 – This case study tells how the American Red Cross is using three Motoman AutoSorter II laboratory automation work cells to sort up to 10,000 samples a day to multiple targets...
Robot Team Shares Load: Brings 21st Century Savings to 100-year-old Auto Partsmaker - Tooling & Production – June 2008. Grote Industries uses two modular, highly flexible robot work cells that feature robot teams working in close proximity with human operators...
Mechatronics in Action: A Tale of Two Robots. “Motoman Robots: They’re Team Players” – Design News – July 2008 – Mechatronics Supplement – Cover and pages S5, S8-S12 in special Mechatronics supplement – In addition to discussing trends in robotic automation , article includes a case study on how New Holland is using Motoman robots to automate welding and material handling of hay balers...
Customer Satisfaction & Training
Doug Burnside Promoted to Director, Customer Care - In addition to managing Motorman’s Customer Care Center (24-hour technical support call center and web site) and Robot Repair Center, Burnside now has responsibility for all U.S. Aftermarket Sales...
NEW CLASS. Motoman's Technical Education Center now offers a class on using File Management System (FMS), a comprehensive, automated robot file backup solution that helps customers protect their investment in robot programming. Course will cover how to initiate backups on demand, schedule regular automatic backups, designate master files, version control, file comparison and e-mail notifications, structure archived data, file recovery, etc. Register online or call 937-847-3307.
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 web site.
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!
Helpful Hints
SETTING UP ROTARY BASE CONFIGURATION OF CEILING-MOUNT MOTOSWEEP
Problem: I have a MotoSweep welding solution with a ceiling-mount configuration and want to weld using coordinated motion while moving the sweep and using Com-Arc seam-tracking.
Solution: If you have NX100 controller software version 4.0 or higher, it is possible to set up the MotoSweep as a rotary base so that it runs as a seventh axis of the robot instead of as an external axis. Benefits include the ability to move the sweep arm (robot transporter) while welding using Com-Arc seam-tracking and performing true coordinated motion with another external axis/positioner. Programming is also much easier, because the base frame coordinates (jogging coordinates) of the robot are always relative to the world rather than to the orientation of the MotoSweep. Motoman technical support is required to enable this feature. Contact Motoman’s Customer Care Center at 937.847.3200 for assistance.
UNDO/REDO COMMAND
The NX100 offers an Undo/Redo feature that can be useful when programming/editing jobs. It is possible to undo/redo up to the last five command edits or insertions. On a new robot, this feature is typically not enabled. From the job screen, press [EDIT], then [ENABLE UNDO] to activate it. If an [*] is shown on the button, this indicates the Undo feature is enabled.
The [Assist] button on the pendant can be pressed to undo the last entry or modification. Note that “UNDO” will be shown next to the command line where the undo will take place. To complete the undo operation, the [Select] button must be pressed. If the [Assist] button is pressed again, “UNDO” and “REDO” will appear next to the line. Choosing redo, and pressing the [Select] button will reverse the last undo operation.
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:
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 #1594.
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 August 12, 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 a Motoman EA-Series “Expert Arc” welding robot, ES-series “Expert Spot” welding robot or an embroidered Motoman baseball cap.
The winner of the June MotoQuote drawing was Andy J. Toth in Special Processes at Rolls-Royce in Indiana. He received a scale-model of a seven-axis Motoman ES165 robot.
Clues: Our company’s name and the word for our primary product appear somewhere in the encrypted puzzle phrase. If you need more help, C=W.
PHRASE:
GATOVBAG RHU YTA OB ANLIHTOHB-SKQKUG ABJOUHBDABET,
DHEHDKB’T BAC ALN-TAUOAT “ANLAUE LKOBE” UHPHET
COII SAIL FHY “ROBOTS ROUTE” CSOIA UAGYMOBV
HLAUKEOBV MHTET KBG ODLUHJOBV ZYKIOEF.