July 31, 2015
After years of research and development, several intense days of preparation at the competition site, a day of rehearsal and two full days of head-to-head competition in front of thousands of spectators, robots from South Korea and the US took home prizes totalling US$3.5m. Taking first place and the US$2m in prize money that goes with it, was Team Kaist of Daejeon, South Korea, and its robot DRC-Hubo. Coming in second and taking home US$1m was Team IHMC Robotics of Pensacola, Florida, and its robot Running Man. The third place finisher, earning the US$500,000 prize, was Tartan Rescue of Pittsburgh, and its robot CHIMP. DARPA Program Manager and DRC organiser Gill Pratt congratulated all 23 participating teams and thanked them for helping to open a new era of partnership between robots and humans. “These robots are big and made of lots of metal and you might assume people seeing them would be filled with fear and anxiety,” Pratt said. “But we heard groans of sympathy when those robots fell. And what…
July 31, 2015
With Austech 2015 over and done with, we’ve been hard at work on the program for the coming year. Along with regular features such as the Annual General Meeting (AGM), our ever-popular Golf Day, and our usual Christmas get-togethers, we are planning a rich and diverse array of additional activities. Branded under the name AMTIL Connections™, these events and activities will be aimed at helping AMTIL members to learn ways to improve their business, gain access to valuable industry information, have their say on the issues affecting them, and simply to network and socialise with their peers in the sector. Our 2015-16 Events program will include: Plant tours – There are few better ways to improve your business than through learning first-hand from your peers. AMTIL is planning visits to the facilities of several major manufacturing companies and research organisations, where members can learn about new technologies and processes. Networking functions – Members will have the chance to share ideas, develop essential business relationships, and simply relax and socialise…
July 31, 2015
The key to maintaining an organised facility is to invest in the right storage and software that can handle all your inventory needs. Whether you require just one storage facility or multiple facilities in multiple locations that have the ability to be monitored and controlled through the internet, all this is possible with the Hanel Storage Lift and mpx for NetSuite. It is essential to incorporate machinery and software that work hand in hand with each other. This is why the Hanel Vertical Storage Lift and mpx for NetSuite will ensure effective parts management for any business. Hanel Vertical Storage Lifts help to alleviate congestion and create much needed space in your warehouse. The storage carousels increase space by up to 80% and are exceptionally cost-efficient. They also offer significant time savings, as every product is automatically retrieved and presented to the picker when required, meaning there is no need to walk around looking for inventory items. The Hanel Vertical Storage Lifts work seamlessly with mpx for NetSuite, an inventory management…
July 31, 2015
One of the main computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) applications in metalworking is nesting; the process of arranging cut profiles within a given area (typically on a flat metal sheet) to maximise material utilisation. Nesting software analyses the parts to be produced and, with the use of proprietary algorithms, determines the best way of laying out these parts with minimum raw material waste. Nesting is often used in industrial manufacturing processes, such as the manufacture of metal parts for machinery. In the past, the concept of nesting merely involved filling a metal sheet with cut profiles, but along with technological advancements and increasing demands for productivity, this concept has evolved. The complexities of modern manufacturing meant that the nesting process is now more than just a simple geometric problem of arranging parts on a sheet. Moreover, nesting in sheet metal often poses far greater challenges compared with other…
July 31, 2015
Established in 1988, Betacom designs, manufactures and assembles a range of road, area and tunnel lighting products, which are sold throughout New Zealand and Australia. Betacom has a rich history in lighting dating back to the 1940s as EC Gough Ltd and then Gough Technology. The company consists of three key business areas: functional and decorative road, area and tunnel lighting; safety systems incorporating portable earthing devices and HV operating poles; and custom sheet metal fabrication. It also provides in-house engineering support across electrical, mechanical and optical disciplines. Betacom is 100% New Zealand-owned with all its manufacturing, product design and engineering support operations situated in Christchurch. The company’s 3500sqm manufacturing and product design facility applies many technologies to ensure the highest-quality product is delivered to its customers. However, Betacom wanted to increase its automation capabilities so it sought advice from New Zealand-based project engineering group - Design Energy. Founded in 2007, Design Energy specialises in the development and commissioning of equipment solutions which solve problems, deliver productivity gains and enhance its customers’ business. Design…
July 24, 2015
The Entrepreneurs’ Programme, developed from the Enterprise Connect initiative of the previous Government, is a flagship initiative focused on raising the competiveness and productivity of eligible companies at an individual level. The Programme will deploy more than 100 experienced Advisers and Facilitators, offering support to businesses through three elements: Business Management, Research Connections, and Accelerating Commercialisation. AMTIL is a partner organisation in the Programme. Under Enterprise Connect and throughout the transition to the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, AMTIL employed a team of six people across Australia. Of that group, Bruno Bello, Neil Clarke, Michael Fetherstonhaugh and George Pofandt have remained on board to implement the new Programme on behalf of AMTIL. In addition, five new faces have been added to the team, with the appointment of Vineet Ahuja, Mal Clark, John Lochery, Rob Murphy and Richard Penman. Vineet Ahuja Business Adviser, Victoria Tel: 0418 566 381 Email: vahuja@amtil.com.au Vineet has a passion for supply chain continuous improvement, with over 39…
July 24, 2015
For our many and varied manufacturing clients, this article summarises some areas where laws have recently changed, or are likely to change in the near future. It also looks at some trends impacting manufacturers where existing laws can help provide business protection. Australian Consumer Law These new laws, and the consumer guarantees arising under them, have been in force since 2011. While largely used by end-consumers (who can be businesses) against their immediate supplier, the laws also provide consumers with rights directly against manufacturers. The supplier can also have a right of action against the manufacturer in certain circumstances (for example, if the defect was caused by the manufacturer). We are seeing this more frequently, especially when the supplier is not forthcoming with a remedy or has disappeared, or where the manufacturer is an easier “brand name” target. If such a claim does come direct to the manufacturer, it must be dealt with properly. If…
July 24, 2015
They are the teenagers from high schools across the nation who compete in the F1 In Schools Technology Challenge. They are using additive manufacturing to create aerodynamic aids with complex surfacing and angles such as nose cones, spoilers and winglets. These form part of miniature Formula One race cars that are capable of accelerating from 0-80km/hour in less than two seconds. The students use 3D virtual wind tunnels and 3D CAD/CAM software to style and prove their designs before sending them to the 3D printers. The weight of the parts is also of great importance as all cars must weigh the same. F1 In Schools is the world’s largest STEM (science, technology, engineering & manufacturing) competition, involving 17,000 schools and over 9,000,000 students. It tasks students with designing, making, testing and racing advanced race-cars, the “F1 cars of the future”. The program has been operated in Australia since 1999 by the not-for-profit social enterprise,…
July 24, 2015
Sawyer joins Rethink’s family of smart, collaborative robots, which also includes the groundbreaking Baxter robot that defined the category of safe, interactive, affordable automation. Sawyer offers the same safety, compliance and usability advantages of Baxter – including the iconic “face” screen, embedded sensors and train-by-demonstration user interface – while providing the smaller footprint and high-precision performance needed for tasks that require significant agility and flexibility. In addition, Sawyer runs on the Intera software system, the same extensible platform that powers Baxter, so it works like humans do by dynamically adapting to real-world conditions on the plant floor and integrating seamlessly into existing work cells. Together, Baxter and Sawyer can address many of the estimated 90% of manufacturing tasks that cannot be feasibly automated with traditional solutions today. Weighing only 19kg, Sawyer features a 4kg payload, with seven degrees of freedom and a one-metre reach that can manoeuvre into the tight spaces and varied alignments of work cells designed for humans. Its high-resolution…
July 17, 2015
The patent in question covered a production line for producing modified cables known as ‘multi-strand rock bolts’. Such bolts are: Formed by axially compressing sections of cable to form bulbs. Used in the roofs and walls of mines and rock tunnels. Mounted by insertion into a bore hole, and then pumping grout into the bore hole. An example of the production line covered by the patent is illustrated in the plan and elevation above. The key components are the jaws 30 and 32, driven by rams 34, 36 and 38 to grip and axially compress the cable. The coverage of the patent was defined in following claim: ‘An apparatus for manufacturing multi-strand rock bolts having spaced apart bulbs formed therein, characterised by a feed means for supplying a multi-strand cable from a rotatable supply reel, a means for forming the cable with bulbs at spaced intervals and a means for determining the position…
July 17, 2015
A renowned success story in the aerospace sector, advanced carbon-fibre composites manufacturer Quickstep, which first began operating out of Perth in 2001, is now gaining traction in automotive markets. In mid-February, the company appointed former Futuris Automotive Chief Operating Officer Dave Marino as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Marino takes the helm at Quickstep after more than 10 years in senior management and executive roles with the group that designs and manufactures automotive interior solutions for Ford, General Motors and Tesla. Quickstep then upped the ante to cement its senior management team’s vehicle manufacturing foundations, with the appointment of former GM Holden Managing Engineer Tim Olding as Vice-President of Systems. For Marino, who has 25 years’ experience in the automotive industry – beginning his career as an engineer with Ford Motor Company before progressing onto Lear Corporation and to Air International – taking the driver’s seat at Quickstep makes perfect sense. Marino has a significant network…
July 17, 2015
Companies today face much greater demands from their customers, whether it’s speed of quotes or lower prices. Furthermore, with email and websites, customers can quickly send information to a much larger audience of potentially, increasing the competition for every job. So, what’s the best way to combat this? Generally the fastest quote wins the job. In the past, there always seemed to be an inherent knowledge needed to create quotes. The sales department generally: Grabbed a part, taking some quick measurements. Looked at material rates. Guessed the time to cut and clean-up the parts. Instinctively knew what the market would bear, determining accordingly what could be charged to cut the parts. It was uncertain if the job was going to be profitable in this slow and inaccurate process. Today, known variables are replacing guestimates. With the use of software technology, machine data and actual cost inputs can be used to produce correct pricing in seconds. Employing interactive tech tables to achieve…
July 17, 2015
In mechanical engineering, when you need to know if a part meets its specification, there are ways to determine that. You might need to conform to criteria – shape, strength, stiffness and so on – and there are various tools and techniques to provide the information you need. Electronics engineering has similar advantages. You can measure the frequency response of a circuit, confirm its voltage handling, input and output impedance, or power delivery. And there are ways to determine a circuit is working correctly. But what about software? It’s basically invisible by comparison. And what is it anyway? Depending on your perspective, software may be an application such as Microsoft Word or SolidWorks, an operating system such as Windows or Linux, the programmable logic inside a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a mobile app, a website, or the embedded program inside a special purpose electronics product. All of these are valid ideas about what software is. If you run a machining centre…
