Siemens recently announced they’re moving towards field replaceable encoders, meant to reduce the amount of time it takes to change servomotors from one type of encoder to the next without the need for a technician. But is it a good idea? Incremental encoders and permanent encoders are very fragile things. They’re often made out of glass and… Read more »
There are many different types of failure for Rexroth servomotors and drives; the most common is usually because parts simply stop moving. However, Rexroth servos can have other issues than complete failure and they usually appear as quality control issues. Issues with quality might be rooted in issues with servos and might be grounds for… Read more »
Rexroth’s GoTo delivery program has received a recent update with the 3.0 version of the GoTo app for iPhone and iPad. We recommend you download the app and try it out. The app is a good tool to use if you order products regularly from Rexroth or want more information about different Rexroth products, especially… Read more »
Hydraulic oils and compressed air can be pretty dangerous, both to those on the plant floor who have to work near forges and to the environment. As a result, many areas have banned hydraulic oils and compressed air and there’s been a 20% decrease in the number of hydraulic presses being installed every year. They’re… Read more »
One of the most important things you should prepare for when making safety plans for your Rexroth servomotors and servo drives is how long it takes for a machine to stop after a safety stop switch has been activated. IndraDrive servo technology, which is the latest generation of Rexroth servos, uses a new technology to… Read more »
A recent New York Times article shines some interesting light on human relationships with robots. Since we love Rexroth servos, we can understand developing relationships with robots. But it happens more often than you might think — and not just to engineers. We’re inclined to assign motivations and thought processes to autonomous objects, even something… Read more »
Not long ago we were surprised to hear a group of emergency room nurses expressing fear that their jobs would be taken away by robots. “Surely not?” “Oh, yeah,” one responded. “Here’s most of what we do.” She held out her hands as though they carried a tray and lifted the tray into position for… Read more »
With the recent changes in the standards for robotic safety, United States manufacturing now has clear guidance towards collaborative robotics, like that being used in Volkswagen’s plant in Salzgitter, Germany. Earlier this week we shared a story from 60 Minutes that’s been much talked about on the internet — being both criticized and lauded. Regardless of whether… Read more »
One of the biggest problems for produce growers is that robots can’t yet identify the difference between a leaf and an apple. Unlike parts in a factory where they are all identical, fruits grow in different sizes, shapes, and colors and this inconsistency baffles robots. They simply can’t pick out which apple on a tree… Read more »
Two weeks ago, two MIT researchers spoke with 60 Minutes about where we’re going in terms of job growth and what that will change in the global economy. Since the Great Recession, these two researchers say, the economy has started to recover and corporations are making more money but there aren’t as many jobs as… Read more »
