Piab has continued to evolve its piCOBOT program by adding a larger version. Developed with the needs of customers in mind who work with small industrial robots and cobots, its high payload combined with a low building height enables maximum capacity usage. With its lifting capability of up to 35 lb, the piCOBOT L is […]
Featured
Get a grip with modular vacuum kits
Vacuum gripper technologies provide many advantages for machine and OEM payload handling. Designers find that modular gripper system kits are a versatile and rapid way to create handling solutions, with other benefits such as internal vacuum routing. By Pat Phillips, AutomationDirect Manufacturing equipment, pick-and-place systems, robotics, and other machinery typically need to reliably grip products, […]
Festo Didactic’s digital portal allows individualized learning experiences
Digitalization is changing the way people learn, and not just because in-person learning became so difficult with pandemic lockdowns. Trends such as mobile, micro, adaptive, and virtual reality learning were already beginning to exert an influence in technical education and training. To further these and other trends, Festo Didactic developed a digital learning portal – […]
How do you repair pneumatic cylinders?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor I’ve seen many pneumatic cylinders in my fifteen years in fluid power. From pancake to ISO and from NFPA to compact round line, there are as many types of air cylinders as there are applications for them. With so many cylinders and ways to use them, there are many ways […]
Why do pneumatic cylinders fail?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor It would be easy to assume all cylinders fail in the same fashion — that hydraulic cylinders bypass and air cylinders experience bent rods. However, it’s a false assumption because the nature of their operation and intended application differ. Sure, a hydraulic cylinder can bypass but not as easily as […]
Compressed air fail: Frozen lines
A wood products company had some troubles operating its compressed air system in the coldest winter months. Maintenance workers found that the pressure at various points in their plant would fall to very low levels, especially after weekend plant shutdowns. The plant had a system of lubricated screw compressors with refrigerated air dryers to condition […]
Six simple ways to improve your compressed air system
By Ron Marshall Compressed air is one of the most expensive ways to supply energy to facility tools and equipment. This is due to the inherent inefficiencies in the process of compressing air — the biggest product is heat and the secondary output is compressed air. While this is disappointing, there are still things that […]
Festo introduces online 3D CAD Configurator for actuators and accessories
Festo continues to enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to lower engineering and purchasing overhead and bring machines to market faster with the company’s new online 3D CAD Configurator for pneumatic actuators and associated accessories such as fittings, lengths of tubing, and sensors. The tool is intuitive and easy to use. Once the actuator is selected […]
Some Joulin grippers now being sold under Piab’s Kenos brand
In May, Piab acquired Joulin, a global leader of vacuum gripping solutions. Now, the company has integrated three of Joulin’s gripper ranges into its existing Kenos portfolio. However, solutions for heavy-duty industries will continue to be marketed under the Joulin brand. As the market for material handling solutions is growing rapidly, Joulin has been a […]
Analytics power: optimizing operations through digital transformation
Contributed by Amit Patel • Senior Marketing Manager, Digital Transformation at Emerson Digital technologies along with pneumatics automation can transform a facility’s efficiency, productivity, and versatility. The digital transformation of processing and packaging operations is well underway. Manufacturers are integrating connected technologies into their operations and seeing significant results. Digital technologies have the power to […]
