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Are Internships available for graduate students of Mechanical engineering?
Many opportunities are available for students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
We are considering changing over our paint system from a manual system to a robotic system. We are looking for a company that is presently using robotics for painting and also would welcome us to come into their facility to benchmark for our application. We paint heavy duty truck transmissions with a waterbased undercoat.
Although I believe it will be difficult to find a company who will invite you in for a tour of their paint operation, making the transition from a manual paint system to a robotic driven system can be virtually problem free. Applied Manufacturing Technologies brings the engineering expertise of numerous applications in a variety of industries. We can help optimize paint stations and reduce cycle times while maintaining a high quality standard to eliminate paint defects.
We need a robot to move 3 bottles weighing 120 grams total, having an open top, containing a food ingredient that can't be spilled. The distance to move is 2-12 inch segment. Place empty on filling station, move to conveyor. All this happens at standard conveyor height. What kind of robot would we need for this? Basic please, newbie.
For the payload & reach requirements listed I would reccommend a Scara type robot if the bottles are not changing orientation. The Scara type robots have a lower cost and are typically used for small payloads and reach and are capable of high path reapeatability. Most robot manufacturers offer Scara type robots as a part of their product line. The following are some links to various robot manufacturers that offer these.
Denso Robots: - www.densorobotics.com/products_4axis.php
Epson Robots: - www.robots.epson.com/
Fanuc Robots: - http://www.fanucrobotics.com
Kuka Robots: - www.kuka.com/usa/en/products/industrial_robots/small_robots/
Motoman Robots: - www.motoman.com
Staubli Robots: - www.staubli.com/en/robotics/ ABB Robots: - www.abb.com/product/us/9AAC100735.aspx
Are there any automotive manufacturers that are fully automated, do not use people in the assembly process?
There are some automotive component suppliers that operate a fully functioning "lights-out" manufacturing operation 24/7.
We need an alternative way of viewing the path of the paint robot in our paint booth. We view now through the window of the paint booth, which is not good enough. We have interlocks on the paint booth, but we need to get the into paint booth to view the spray path of the robot. There is room behind the robots to view. We are reviewing numerous guarding methods. We do have hard pins on the robots. What method do you suggest?
Some plants are using video cameras mounted in the upper corner of the booth, near the ceiling to monitor their robot paths. These cameras are even controlled by a joystick in the “control room” to monitor different robots.
Hi, I am 2nd year engineering student from India. I am very much interested in the field of robotics and IIOT. But, I haven't done anything towards it until now. How can I start and which are the skills I have to master in and what is the future of these fields? Thank you.
If your college offers courses in mechatronics or electrical engineering those would be a good start. You can also tap into the resources available in the Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC) at mooc.org. There are plenty of courses available in the subjects you are interested in.
The future is very bright for automation. Best of luck to you!
Diane Haig - CKO
dianeh@appliedmfg.com
(248) 396-9361
Do you have any good resources for intro / primers on industrial automation and system integration?
If you can make the trip to Automate in Chicago next month you'll have access to a wealth of the information you are looking for. There is a track on "How to Automate" that covers the basics and more.
If you attend make sure to sit in on the "Automation 101" presentation by Jason Markesino at 10 am on Monday, April 8th.
Diane Haig - CKO
dianeh@appliedmfg.com
(248) 396-9361
I'm currently 2 semesters away from getting my certificate in Robotics and Automation, and am curious as to what are the best first steps to take in starting my career? The interview and hiring process, and any advice that you can give to someone looking for entry level at my current experience level, which is still actively studying, but no experience in the industry.
You've made a great career choice! There are many opportunities available in robotics and automation. Most employers recognize that no matter what degree or certification you've achieved in school you'll need additional training on the job so be ready and willing to continue learning. For the job search take advantage of the career services at your school if available. They can help with job fairs, resume reviews, interview practice, etc. Do your homework and research the companies you are interviewing with prior to the interview. Good luck!
Diane Haig - CKO
dianeh@appliedmfg.com
(248) 396-9361
When considering the robot as the hazard in a work cell, do you use the operating space or the restricted space to calculate safe distances to light curtains, fence, etc? 15.06 does not seem to differentiate.
Calculating safe distances for a light curtain should be calculated from the point of the hazard and the task considered, regardless of whether or not the hazard is within the operating or restricted space. The 15.06 requires the assessment of the risk to be “task based”. The evaluation of the hazard and its appropriate level of safe mitigation or counter measurer (light curtain) should be evaluated based on the task (hazard: severity/avoidance/exposure). The risk assessment evaluation will establish the safe distance from the hazard for appropriate risk reduction level for the operator.
Jason Fortune - Engineering Manager, Advanced Engineering Solution
jfortune@appliedmfg.com
(248) 409-2000
We have two robots that do pick and place points. We are looking at minimizing the 8' cage that surrounds the line, how can this be done safely?
Good question, how can this be done safely! There are ways to accomplish your tasks, but first, the cell needs to be evaluated to ensure the current state of the equipment is able to accommodate your desired goals. To start, you need to conduct a task-based risk assessment to understand the systems capabilities as well as the operational requirements of its intended use. During this risk assessment, you will be able to access the tasks, associated hazards of the tasks (safety risks) as well as evaluate the necessary safeguarding requirements of the system as designed and built. From there, the risk assessment should define potential mitigation activities (such as where and what type of guarding is required) to ensure you meet your acceptable level of safety for your system and its operation.
Jason Fortune - Advanced Engineering Solutions Manager
jfortune@appliedmfg.com
(810) 397-8889