Dream Board

Our cobot enquiries by nature tend to be focused on difficult to handle parts of processes which are wearing for the operator. Our specification on this particular application is how best to assist the operator with stud insertion, as opposed to increasing the production rate or indeed replacing the operator.

Up until now the force required to insert the studs snugly was too high for a viable cobot solution.  Keeping an open mind and not assuming anything, I visited Scattergood & Johnson to see how their little companion would fare.

We played around with how to make the task repeatable with the resources we had at hand. After a successful manual drive, and without any bespoke picking tool or feeder or indeed any external vision system, the nifty TM5 really did leave a lasting impression.

It was time to share ideas, roll up sleeves, and have a play around with the TM5.

Objective: to set parameters and see how the TM5 feels about handling some pretty small parts for a client development.

Materials: Omron’s TM5 Cobot, a few mugs, some polystyrene, a foam sheet, a makeshift jig, and a lot of hope!

Outcome: Surpassing of expectations. I must admit, I hadn’t anticipated that the pressure required to insert these studs could be delivered by a cobot of this size. Huge thanks to Paul, Andrew, and Bob at Scattergood & Johnson for a wonderful day of exploring and learning.

Welcome to virtual commissioning with Siemens Digital Twin ~ here’s a live example of

• mechanical
• physical
• kinematic

properties being embedded in a simulated state.

I really enjoyed seeing this demo at Smart Factory Expo.  Another example of a simple idea holding much potential, this may be the future of site support.  The reality is that sending and receiving files can be very problematic ~ files are too large, take too long to come through, cannot be opened by their receiver etc.  Oftentimes, downtime is exacerbated by the need to download bespoke software or to update existing software before work can even begin.  Add to this the potential for words and directions lost in translation, and you’ve compromised a lot more time.  This rather playful method of working remotely with clients and colleagues is very interesting.

What do you see here?  A tetris block?  A very cheap portrait of a person with a pronounced nose?

It is indeed a matrix bar code, working as a cue card in this instance.

So imagine supporting clients, or attending site, with a few less laptops and folders, and instead with a nifty lightweight case of cards ~ each holding an archive of written notes, video clips, or live data analysis?

How else can you imagine this method of sharing information being used?

Here’s a 5-axis touch-trigger system from Renishaw, where the gentle “head touches” move delicately and quickly with much less fuss.

The simplest ideas are certainly the best at times ~ this development may have lots of potential for many applications involving tight and intricate twists, turns, and curves.

We’ve spent a lot of time considering how best to accurately measure and record pipe, bore, and valve dimensions for tractability after cladding treatments ~ so developments like this are in keeping with more versatile and intricate ways of collecting data.