For nearly 40 years, “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood” took young viewers on factory tours, showing them the origins of objects they used every day like crayons and plastic balls. Those videos are the centerpiece of the traveling exhibit How People Make Things, which was developed in the show's hometown by the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and is now open at the DuPage Children's Museum.
“Children today can feel removed from common items in their lives,” said DuPage Children's Museum marketing manager Bri Bromberek. “It's kind of easy to wonder 'Where does that originate from?' We'd like children to understand that even though there are machines that make these materials, there are real people on the floor. It gets them to appreciate how the objects were made through human ingenuity.”
The exhibit puts kids in the shoes of factory workers. It starts by having children don white jackets, boots and hard hats in a locker room style area. The Mr. Rogers videos play throughout the space along with displays of the products being made, whether it's a carousel horse or a red wagon.
Kids can also press buttons to hear people talk about how they make products, guessing what the result will be — whether it's a guitar or a chocolate bar. The exhibit was partially sponsored by Navistar, and displays show how the company builds school buses and trucks.
“These are all items that children come into contact with every day,” Bromberek said. “It's not really specific and technical where they wouldn't understand.”
The educational experience takes visitors through the major steps in the creation of many products: cutting, molding, deforming and assembling. Kids can make a 3-D paper horse by using a die-cutting machine to create different pieces and then matching them together.
Children can use cranks to deform wire into a spring shape and manipulate wax with both hand tools and machines along with pouring warm liquid wax into molds to make spoons.
Toy trolleys can be assembled and kids can then test their work on a ramp.
“With this exhibit the children will not only see the process of manufacturing, they are making things with their own hands,” Bromberek said. “The exhibit tells the story of how everyday items are manufactured and brings to life all the things that are involved in that process.”
Kids can safely interact with plenty of machinery, seeing how a vacuum deformer will shape a plastic sheet around a stencil and how by using one's own strength and a roller a penny can be stretched and stamped.
By pulling levers, liquid plastic fills a mold and becomes a comb or a hanger. Various signs show how things would be done at a real factory, like using a variety of fasteners or an assembly line.
“This exhibit really encourages kids to make things and know that they can do this as a career as an adult,” Bromberek said. “They can learn to be inventors.”
Bromberek said that while the museum typically caters to younger visitors, How People Make Things has expanded its appeal to 5- to 12-year-olds plus parents who grew up watching “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.”
“There are definitely kids that are growing out of some of the exhibits and they want something new and different,” she said. “It's still good for the younger kids because there are so many hands-on experiences.”
2012年11月1日 星期四
IPG set to ship 100 kW laser
Shares in IPG Photonics lost more than 10% of their value after the company issued its third-quarter financial results for 2012 – despite the market-leading fiber laser company beating its sales guidance for the period.
IPG posted sales of $156.4 million for the third quarter, above the guidance range of between $145 million and $155 million. That represented a 21% year-on-year increase as the company saw growth in new aerospace applications and sustained demand for high-power sources from automotive manufacturers and heavy industry.
High-power lasers accounted for $67.1 million of the quarterly revenues, while sales of pulsed lasers – up more than 50% from the same period last year – were responsible for $50.4 million, thanks in part to marking applications in consumer electronics production, where IPG believes it has won market share.
IPG’s CEO Valentin Gapontsev added that the company had gained market share with a key automotive customer in France that had previously been using a rival’s technology for welding applications.
While the wider European economy remains weak, the location of much of the continent’s automotive manufacturing base in Germany remains a strong sector for now, and IPG appears to be benefiting. For example, optics.org understands that BMW is investing heavily in fiber lasers to be used at its Mini production facility in the UK.
Japan could provide the next wave of demand. In an investor conference call, Gapontsev said that while all the major Japanese auto makers were already using IPG’s lasers to some degree, it was typically in limited quantities. With one of Japan’s leading car producers set to decide on a major new investment soon, IPG could be set for strong future business here.
It isn’t just the traditional automotive production centers that IPG is penetrating. CFO Tim Mammen added that there was “a great degree of optimism” surrounding the opportunity to sell more lasers to Chinese auto makers in 2013, while the company has also received orders for some large systems to update a large automotive facility in Russia.
The company also has an agreement with the giant Russian energy producer Gazprom, and Gapontsev described another novel application in which a customer is using an IPG laser to drill “several kilometres into the earth” to access oil and gas wells more efficiently.
While IPG remains on a strong growth track, investors appeared disappointed with news that the company’s book-to-bill ratio in the third quarter slipped below unity, prompting guidance for the final quarter of the year that suggests a slight drop-off in revenues from the record-breaking Q3.
“We will face challenges in the fourth quarter, including historical seasonality in some markets and macro-economic pressures in a few key geographies,” said Gapontsev, with seasonal weakness in China becoming an increasing influence on IPG’s business as sales to the country ($34 million in the latest quarter) grow quickly.
At the lower-power end, analyst Mark Douglass from Longbow Research believes that Nufern has expanded laser production in response to some success in marking and engraving applications, particularly in China, and that SPI is benefiting as a second-source supplier in some instances.
For high-power fiber lasers, where IPG rules the roost, JDSU is believed to be gaining some traction via its partnership with the Japanese tool company Amada. But Douglass sees little threat to IPG, and speculates that Mitsubishi may release IPG-equipped systems shortly.
Earlier this month, Mitsubishi issued a release saying that it would unveil a fiber laser system at the Fabtech trade show being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 12-14 November. The release quoted Bill Isaac, the VP of Mitsubishi Laser, saying: “This isn’t the first fiber laser, but we took the time in research and development to make sure that when we entered the market, we had it right.”
IPG posted sales of $156.4 million for the third quarter, above the guidance range of between $145 million and $155 million. That represented a 21% year-on-year increase as the company saw growth in new aerospace applications and sustained demand for high-power sources from automotive manufacturers and heavy industry.
High-power lasers accounted for $67.1 million of the quarterly revenues, while sales of pulsed lasers – up more than 50% from the same period last year – were responsible for $50.4 million, thanks in part to marking applications in consumer electronics production, where IPG believes it has won market share.
IPG’s CEO Valentin Gapontsev added that the company had gained market share with a key automotive customer in France that had previously been using a rival’s technology for welding applications.
While the wider European economy remains weak, the location of much of the continent’s automotive manufacturing base in Germany remains a strong sector for now, and IPG appears to be benefiting. For example, optics.org understands that BMW is investing heavily in fiber lasers to be used at its Mini production facility in the UK.
Japan could provide the next wave of demand. In an investor conference call, Gapontsev said that while all the major Japanese auto makers were already using IPG’s lasers to some degree, it was typically in limited quantities. With one of Japan’s leading car producers set to decide on a major new investment soon, IPG could be set for strong future business here.
It isn’t just the traditional automotive production centers that IPG is penetrating. CFO Tim Mammen added that there was “a great degree of optimism” surrounding the opportunity to sell more lasers to Chinese auto makers in 2013, while the company has also received orders for some large systems to update a large automotive facility in Russia.
The company also has an agreement with the giant Russian energy producer Gazprom, and Gapontsev described another novel application in which a customer is using an IPG laser to drill “several kilometres into the earth” to access oil and gas wells more efficiently.
While IPG remains on a strong growth track, investors appeared disappointed with news that the company’s book-to-bill ratio in the third quarter slipped below unity, prompting guidance for the final quarter of the year that suggests a slight drop-off in revenues from the record-breaking Q3.
“We will face challenges in the fourth quarter, including historical seasonality in some markets and macro-economic pressures in a few key geographies,” said Gapontsev, with seasonal weakness in China becoming an increasing influence on IPG’s business as sales to the country ($34 million in the latest quarter) grow quickly.
At the lower-power end, analyst Mark Douglass from Longbow Research believes that Nufern has expanded laser production in response to some success in marking and engraving applications, particularly in China, and that SPI is benefiting as a second-source supplier in some instances.
For high-power fiber lasers, where IPG rules the roost, JDSU is believed to be gaining some traction via its partnership with the Japanese tool company Amada. But Douglass sees little threat to IPG, and speculates that Mitsubishi may release IPG-equipped systems shortly.
Earlier this month, Mitsubishi issued a release saying that it would unveil a fiber laser system at the Fabtech trade show being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 12-14 November. The release quoted Bill Isaac, the VP of Mitsubishi Laser, saying: “This isn’t the first fiber laser, but we took the time in research and development to make sure that when we entered the market, we had it right.”
2012年10月31日 星期三
Greens deal opens way for delayed national poker machine reform
CONTROVERSIAL watered down national poker machine reforms are set to go ahead after the Greens finally agreed to back the Gillard government's scheme, which will also give the green light for a trial of mandatory precommitment in the ACT.
After months of negotiation, and several offers from the Greens to support the bill if $1 bets were accommodated, the reforms will eventually lead to every poker machine in Australia offer punters the option to preset how much they are willing to lose.
This morning Families Minister Jenny Macklin introduced the bill, which was referred to a special standing parliamentary committee on gambling for inquiry.
The committee will report back within weeks so the bill can be voted on in the final sitting week of the year later this month.
From the end of next year the bill will require precommitment on all new poker machines, with all machines to be part of a state-linked precommitment system by the end of 2016.
If the trial is conclusive — to be assessed by the Productivity Commission — mandatory precommitment can be activated on all machines with a "the flick of a switch."
The bill also sets a $250 daily withdrawal limit from ATMs in gaming venues (excluding casinos) from next May.
Long time anti-pokies campaign Nick Xenophon told ABC radio that the bill was "piss weak".
Greens gambling spokesman, and public health doctor, Richard Di Natale said the party agreed to back the bill in exchange for government funding of a national gambling research centre.
The centre will cost $1.5 million a year and Ms Macklin said it would begin work in July under the auspices of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
"These pokies reforms are a long way short of what is needed to curb problem gambling but at least we've made some progress," Senator Di Natale said.
"For the first time we've got national legislation to tackle the scourge of problem gambling."
Senator Di Natale attacked the government for buckling under pressure as well as independent Andrew Wilkie who, he said, "blew" the opportunity for "real reform".
"He should have pushed for $1 bet limits from the start but he let the government steer him towards a policy that was a much harder sell and played right into the hands of the pokies industry," he said.
"For all his bluster about bringing down the government he went to water and we've been left to negotiate a better outcome."
Senator Di Natale said he would continue to support a $1 bet maximum limit on pokies.In January, Prime Minister Julia Gillard reneged on her deal with Mr Wilkie for a national scheme that would force all punters to preset how much they are willing to lose on the pokies.
Facing a multi-million dollar public campaign from the clubs and pokies industry, particularly in marginal NSW and Queensland seats, the government said it did not have support of the parliament to pass the reforms.
Despite Mr Wilkie being duped by the government he has "reluctantly" backed the reforms. Last night he said "sometimes compromise is necessary, and I have no doubt that history will record the limited reforms of this parliament as being the start of the clean-up of an industry that has grown fat on the misery of Australia's most vulnerable people".
After months of negotiation, and several offers from the Greens to support the bill if $1 bets were accommodated, the reforms will eventually lead to every poker machine in Australia offer punters the option to preset how much they are willing to lose.
This morning Families Minister Jenny Macklin introduced the bill, which was referred to a special standing parliamentary committee on gambling for inquiry.
The committee will report back within weeks so the bill can be voted on in the final sitting week of the year later this month.
From the end of next year the bill will require precommitment on all new poker machines, with all machines to be part of a state-linked precommitment system by the end of 2016.
If the trial is conclusive — to be assessed by the Productivity Commission — mandatory precommitment can be activated on all machines with a "the flick of a switch."
The bill also sets a $250 daily withdrawal limit from ATMs in gaming venues (excluding casinos) from next May.
Long time anti-pokies campaign Nick Xenophon told ABC radio that the bill was "piss weak".
Greens gambling spokesman, and public health doctor, Richard Di Natale said the party agreed to back the bill in exchange for government funding of a national gambling research centre.
The centre will cost $1.5 million a year and Ms Macklin said it would begin work in July under the auspices of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
"These pokies reforms are a long way short of what is needed to curb problem gambling but at least we've made some progress," Senator Di Natale said.
"For the first time we've got national legislation to tackle the scourge of problem gambling."
Senator Di Natale attacked the government for buckling under pressure as well as independent Andrew Wilkie who, he said, "blew" the opportunity for "real reform".
"He should have pushed for $1 bet limits from the start but he let the government steer him towards a policy that was a much harder sell and played right into the hands of the pokies industry," he said.
"For all his bluster about bringing down the government he went to water and we've been left to negotiate a better outcome."
Senator Di Natale said he would continue to support a $1 bet maximum limit on pokies.In January, Prime Minister Julia Gillard reneged on her deal with Mr Wilkie for a national scheme that would force all punters to preset how much they are willing to lose on the pokies.
Facing a multi-million dollar public campaign from the clubs and pokies industry, particularly in marginal NSW and Queensland seats, the government said it did not have support of the parliament to pass the reforms.
Despite Mr Wilkie being duped by the government he has "reluctantly" backed the reforms. Last night he said "sometimes compromise is necessary, and I have no doubt that history will record the limited reforms of this parliament as being the start of the clean-up of an industry that has grown fat on the misery of Australia's most vulnerable people".
2012年10月30日 星期二
Acoustic Duck Calls made in Monette
Acoustic Duck Calls are made on Buffalo Island in Monette by Chris Hill. The Hills, Chris and his wife, Amy, have had Acoustic Ducks Calls for two years.
Duck call-making went from a hobby to a passion for Chris in just four years.
Chris, a longtime avid duck hunter, has always appreciated duck calls. It was about four years ago when Amy found some wood from a hackberry tree and brought it home. With a set of files and a mini lathe, Chris made his first duck call.
"I just wanted to call the ducks on something I made myself," Chris said. "Some of the guys I hunted with liked the way it sounded and so I started making a few for friends. I would have never thought I would be making duck calls for the public."
The motto for Acoustic Duck Calls is "Music to their Ears." The business soon grew out of the back porch area and into a small shop where the Acoustic Ducks Calls are custom made by Chris. Amy is also part of the operation and enjoys taking the calls, helping with the shipping, and polishing. She said she leaves the tools to Chris.
"We were fortunate enough to purchase Acoustic Duck Calls about two years ago," Chris said. "The original creator of Acoustic Duck Calls was Randal Floyd, who passed away in 2006. He started his business in 1979. Randal made an awesome call and I admired his passion for duck calls and hunting. He was a good mentor."
In addition to spending hours in his shop and a full time job, Chris takes time to teach kids how to blow a duck call. He doesn't care if it is one he made or not if a young person is interested in learning, Chris will work with him.
Chris and Amy are excited to have a young man from Paragould, Brayden Buck, competing in the World Duck Call competition with an Acoustic Duck Call.
"When I made that first one four years ago, I could not even imagine one I made on a world stage," Chris said. "Brayden is awesome."
Acoustic Duck Calls made in Monette have been sold and shipped to Atlanta, Ga., Tennessee, Illinois, California, Louisiana, Texas, and other places far and near.
Chris has a passion for making duck calls. It is an art form and it takes an eye and an ear.
"I want every duck call right when it goes out of here," Chris said. "If someone doesn't like one of my calls, I want them to bring it back and tell me what it is they don't like about it. I want my customers satisfied."
Chris makes acrylic calls and various wood calls. There are advantages to each. The acrylic will hold its shape. He makes two types of calls, a timber call and an open water call. The calls are laser-engraved and can display company logos, names, etc. He can customize the call for any occasion. He made 10 for the BIC FFA auction which featured a Mustang, the school's mascot.
Through the years he has been able to update the equipment and uses a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine.
"It is a challenge to get the tones correct," Chris said. "It has to make the same sounds as a duck makes."
Chris and Amy recently held a duck-calling contest at the Big Lake Chili Cooking Contest in Manila.
Duck call-making went from a hobby to a passion for Chris in just four years.
Chris, a longtime avid duck hunter, has always appreciated duck calls. It was about four years ago when Amy found some wood from a hackberry tree and brought it home. With a set of files and a mini lathe, Chris made his first duck call.
"I just wanted to call the ducks on something I made myself," Chris said. "Some of the guys I hunted with liked the way it sounded and so I started making a few for friends. I would have never thought I would be making duck calls for the public."
The motto for Acoustic Duck Calls is "Music to their Ears." The business soon grew out of the back porch area and into a small shop where the Acoustic Ducks Calls are custom made by Chris. Amy is also part of the operation and enjoys taking the calls, helping with the shipping, and polishing. She said she leaves the tools to Chris.
"We were fortunate enough to purchase Acoustic Duck Calls about two years ago," Chris said. "The original creator of Acoustic Duck Calls was Randal Floyd, who passed away in 2006. He started his business in 1979. Randal made an awesome call and I admired his passion for duck calls and hunting. He was a good mentor."
In addition to spending hours in his shop and a full time job, Chris takes time to teach kids how to blow a duck call. He doesn't care if it is one he made or not if a young person is interested in learning, Chris will work with him.
Chris and Amy are excited to have a young man from Paragould, Brayden Buck, competing in the World Duck Call competition with an Acoustic Duck Call.
"When I made that first one four years ago, I could not even imagine one I made on a world stage," Chris said. "Brayden is awesome."
Acoustic Duck Calls made in Monette have been sold and shipped to Atlanta, Ga., Tennessee, Illinois, California, Louisiana, Texas, and other places far and near.
Chris has a passion for making duck calls. It is an art form and it takes an eye and an ear.
"I want every duck call right when it goes out of here," Chris said. "If someone doesn't like one of my calls, I want them to bring it back and tell me what it is they don't like about it. I want my customers satisfied."
Chris makes acrylic calls and various wood calls. There are advantages to each. The acrylic will hold its shape. He makes two types of calls, a timber call and an open water call. The calls are laser-engraved and can display company logos, names, etc. He can customize the call for any occasion. He made 10 for the BIC FFA auction which featured a Mustang, the school's mascot.
Through the years he has been able to update the equipment and uses a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine.
"It is a challenge to get the tones correct," Chris said. "It has to make the same sounds as a duck makes."
Chris and Amy recently held a duck-calling contest at the Big Lake Chili Cooking Contest in Manila.
2012年10月29日 星期一
ZOL Startup Challenge 2011 winners
Last month, as we prepared to hold the ZOL Jumpstart Challenge 2012, we contacted the winners and finalists of the challenge in 2011 to check on the progress of their products and companies. The 2011 winner was Mukela Travel, a startup building an online reservation and hospitality management platform. The runner-ups were Softwarehouse with a product called Hardware Inventory, and Sadomba Mahari who were working on 3D animation software.
From interaction with the Zimbabwe based leader of the Mukela Travel team, Takudzwa Mhlanga, the startup has not made much progress commercially since 2011. According to them, they have had difficulties raising money to proceed at the pace they should have.
We didn’t get a response from the Sadomba-Mahari team on the state of their project. We did manage to get in touch Matthew Hood, founder of Softwarehouse, and below are the responses he provided on the state of the product and the difficulties they have faced so far.
Softwarehouse is doing well, unfortunately we have not had the time or man power to dedicate to making Hardware Inventory (rebranded NetSnitch) the success we feel it can still be. Softwarehouse is currently involved in a number of very exciting projects for clients in the horticultural and financial services sectors, unfortunately NDAs mean I cannot go into details on any of the financial products at this time. We have also released a Premium and Micro Finance application and a Procurement and Stock Handling system, both of which have started being adopted by clients here and replacing their existing systems.
With so much on we have unfortunately not been able to push NetSnitch hard to the market. We have however made a few sales and it is currently running on a couple of hundred machines at various organisations. We found the most interest from an IT support individual who maintains a number of Private School’s IT infrastructure, their main need was to monitor hardware changes and easily create asset registers for their regular audits and budgeting sessions.
Based on his requirements we are working on a number of improvements to the system and added further functionality, when time permits, for example monitoring all printer usage by user on the network. We are hoping to have all the changes completed by the end of the year and still want to push sales of NetSnitch in the new year.
Up until now our main business has been focused on bespoke, one off development and while there is a great need for this service in Zimbabwe we, as a company, are starting to move towards Software As A Service as a more profitable long term model, we have a number of applications which would be suitable for resale in Zimbabwe and externally, NetSnitch included, and are now in a position to take this plunge, probably in a partnership with another Zimbabwean company better suited to the sales and support side of a Software As A Service business, the exact arrangements are not finalised but we are very excited about the possibilities.
Probably the biggest problem we faced was trying to devise a pricing structure. We wanted to bill NetSnitch on an on-going license basis and keep the per machine cost very low so it was available to any company. However such a model is only profitable when you have a large install base.
From interaction with the Zimbabwe based leader of the Mukela Travel team, Takudzwa Mhlanga, the startup has not made much progress commercially since 2011. According to them, they have had difficulties raising money to proceed at the pace they should have.
We didn’t get a response from the Sadomba-Mahari team on the state of their project. We did manage to get in touch Matthew Hood, founder of Softwarehouse, and below are the responses he provided on the state of the product and the difficulties they have faced so far.
Softwarehouse is doing well, unfortunately we have not had the time or man power to dedicate to making Hardware Inventory (rebranded NetSnitch) the success we feel it can still be. Softwarehouse is currently involved in a number of very exciting projects for clients in the horticultural and financial services sectors, unfortunately NDAs mean I cannot go into details on any of the financial products at this time. We have also released a Premium and Micro Finance application and a Procurement and Stock Handling system, both of which have started being adopted by clients here and replacing their existing systems.
With so much on we have unfortunately not been able to push NetSnitch hard to the market. We have however made a few sales and it is currently running on a couple of hundred machines at various organisations. We found the most interest from an IT support individual who maintains a number of Private School’s IT infrastructure, their main need was to monitor hardware changes and easily create asset registers for their regular audits and budgeting sessions.
Based on his requirements we are working on a number of improvements to the system and added further functionality, when time permits, for example monitoring all printer usage by user on the network. We are hoping to have all the changes completed by the end of the year and still want to push sales of NetSnitch in the new year.
Up until now our main business has been focused on bespoke, one off development and while there is a great need for this service in Zimbabwe we, as a company, are starting to move towards Software As A Service as a more profitable long term model, we have a number of applications which would be suitable for resale in Zimbabwe and externally, NetSnitch included, and are now in a position to take this plunge, probably in a partnership with another Zimbabwean company better suited to the sales and support side of a Software As A Service business, the exact arrangements are not finalised but we are very excited about the possibilities.
Probably the biggest problem we faced was trying to devise a pricing structure. We wanted to bill NetSnitch on an on-going license basis and keep the per machine cost very low so it was available to any company. However such a model is only profitable when you have a large install base.
2012年10月28日 星期日
Calculate the returns on automation
Automation is a word that immediately comes to mind when we think about improving productivity and profitability in the manufacturing sector.
When considering whether the purchase of a piece of automation equipment such as a CNC router makes sense, price alone does not tell the whole story.
Profile cutter automation earns returns in various ways, some of which will be more or less valuable to different businesses, and all of the returns on automation deserve to be figured into the analysis.
Of course, the absolute pinnacle of automation is the chance to keep producing while the machine is unattended.
But even if this is not the immediate goal, there can be wide ranging benefits for extending your CNC cutting machine with an automated sheet loading system.
Although this might make the CNC router seem more expensive, it can quickly bring returns on investment through improved productivity in a number of areas.
A plant that depends on operators to load its machines has to add both machines and people in order to increase its volume.
Moreover, for large, heavy part applications two or more operators may be required in order to load and unload the part to and from the machine. However, a business that uses at least some automation can add machines without necessarily adding people, making it that much easier to quickly respond to increasing demand.
In general and in particular for parts with short cycle times, the principle reason to automate is productivity. If the sheet is relatively lightweight, an automated system is likely to load and unload the blanks and sheets faster than a human being can, and this loading time advantage will accumulate over time.
The ART automatic sheet loader allows automation of the production process straight from the pallet, which means there is no operator intervention when lifting from the material stack to the machine.
Most materials and thickness can be handled by the automatic loader. The sheet loading system includes an automated scissor lift which automatically elevates a whole pallet of material to table height.
This is integrated with the CNC router gantry which includes a powerful lifting arm fitted with automated vacuum cups. While the machine is doing its work, the sheet lifter positions the next sheet on the loading station behind the machine’s table.
In conjunction with the CNC controller, the arm automatically picks up the material from a designated area and transports it safely onto the machine table.
The unit positions the sheet against the side and back stops and then automatically starts the CNC cutting process. With the sheets lifted off the pack using vacuum, there is no damage to sheets or the machine, which can happen with manual handling.
After cutting, the optional pusher bar can also unload the cut panels onto an unloading table or conveyor system. The pusher can also be fitted with a vacuum cleaning head to extract any loose particle from the base board to retain optimum vacuum hold-down on subsequent jobs.
When considering whether the purchase of a piece of automation equipment such as a CNC router makes sense, price alone does not tell the whole story.
Profile cutter automation earns returns in various ways, some of which will be more or less valuable to different businesses, and all of the returns on automation deserve to be figured into the analysis.
Of course, the absolute pinnacle of automation is the chance to keep producing while the machine is unattended.
But even if this is not the immediate goal, there can be wide ranging benefits for extending your CNC cutting machine with an automated sheet loading system.
Although this might make the CNC router seem more expensive, it can quickly bring returns on investment through improved productivity in a number of areas.
A plant that depends on operators to load its machines has to add both machines and people in order to increase its volume.
Moreover, for large, heavy part applications two or more operators may be required in order to load and unload the part to and from the machine. However, a business that uses at least some automation can add machines without necessarily adding people, making it that much easier to quickly respond to increasing demand.
In general and in particular for parts with short cycle times, the principle reason to automate is productivity. If the sheet is relatively lightweight, an automated system is likely to load and unload the blanks and sheets faster than a human being can, and this loading time advantage will accumulate over time.
The ART automatic sheet loader allows automation of the production process straight from the pallet, which means there is no operator intervention when lifting from the material stack to the machine.
Most materials and thickness can be handled by the automatic loader. The sheet loading system includes an automated scissor lift which automatically elevates a whole pallet of material to table height.
This is integrated with the CNC router gantry which includes a powerful lifting arm fitted with automated vacuum cups. While the machine is doing its work, the sheet lifter positions the next sheet on the loading station behind the machine’s table.
In conjunction with the CNC controller, the arm automatically picks up the material from a designated area and transports it safely onto the machine table.
The unit positions the sheet against the side and back stops and then automatically starts the CNC cutting process. With the sheets lifted off the pack using vacuum, there is no damage to sheets or the machine, which can happen with manual handling.
After cutting, the optional pusher bar can also unload the cut panels onto an unloading table or conveyor system. The pusher can also be fitted with a vacuum cleaning head to extract any loose particle from the base board to retain optimum vacuum hold-down on subsequent jobs.
2012年10月25日 星期四
Boat show a safe harbor
The winds and rain associated with Hurricane Sandy as it spun north into the Bahamas barely affected the boat show, which is being held outdoors at five marinas and inside the Broward County Convention Center through Monday.
There was some standing water at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and some wet carpets inside the tents there, but that was great for business at the Capt. Harry's Fishing Supply booth, where Kim Vernon and her crew were selling flip-flops to showgoers wearing their best leather pumps and loafers.
"We were debating even having flip-flops this year," she said. "We finally decided at the last minute, 'Let's bring some.' We are selling them like crazy. Hats, too."
Although the weather was tolerable at the show, imagine being stuck offshore in those winds and rainstorms. That's when you hope you have reliable safety gear — and there is plenty of it at the show.
Lifeline had the new two-, four- and six-person Revere Coastal Compact life rafts at its booth in the entrance tent at Bahia Mar. The rafts come in a case about the size of a briefcase, which makes them ideal for center consoles where storage space is at a premium.
Finding someone who falls overboard can be difficult, especially in bad weather, which is why Lifeline has the new Smartfind S10 AIS beacon from McMurdo (about $300). The manually activated beacon can be attached to a life jacket. A boater who falls overboard activates the Smartfind, which sends out Automatic Identification System and GPS information that can be picked up by boats with AIS equipment within a 4-mile radius. Using a chart plotter, those boats can lock in on the person's location.
One of the most important pieces of safety gear is a personal flotation device, according to Steve Baum of Boat Owners Warehouse.
"You get caught out in a storm like the one we have today, it's you and the elements," said Baum, who explained that a life jacket will keep you afloat if a storm sinks your boat. "Even if it's beautiful out, things can happen."
Another essential, Baum said, is a GPS-enabled Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or Personal Locator Beacon. Both types are on display at the BOW booth at Bahia Mar.
BOW stores sell U.S. Coast Guard Type II-rated life jackets that sell for $6 to $8 and Type I PFDs that have more flotation and keep your head out of the water even if you're unconscious.
BOW has inflatable PFDs at the show. One you manually inflate by pulling a plastic tab, the other inflates automatically when it hits the water. The benefit of inflatable PFDs is they are so light and comfortable, boaters have a greater tendency to wear them. There's nothing worse than having your boat sink and you can't get to where the life jackets are stored.
Once you're floating in the water wearing your life jacket, you can activate your EPIRB or PLB, which sends a distress signal to satellites that are monitored by rescue agencies. Beacons with GPS allow rescuers to pinpoint your position rather than having to triangulate your position.
"They know it's you and they go right to you," Baum said, adding that ACR's ResQLink+ PLB ($300) is small enough to fit in your pocket. ACR's EPIRB is bigger and has a battery that lasts longer.
If your boat is at the dock behind your house or in a marina, the wind and waves of a storm can damage the vessel. So can a drastic increase in water level, like after a storm surge.
TideSlide eliminates the threat of boat damage due to changing water levels from storms, tides and boat wakes. It consists of stainless steel poles that are secured to a dock's pilings. A polyurethane cleat slides up and down the poles.
There was some standing water at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and some wet carpets inside the tents there, but that was great for business at the Capt. Harry's Fishing Supply booth, where Kim Vernon and her crew were selling flip-flops to showgoers wearing their best leather pumps and loafers.
"We were debating even having flip-flops this year," she said. "We finally decided at the last minute, 'Let's bring some.' We are selling them like crazy. Hats, too."
Although the weather was tolerable at the show, imagine being stuck offshore in those winds and rainstorms. That's when you hope you have reliable safety gear — and there is plenty of it at the show.
Lifeline had the new two-, four- and six-person Revere Coastal Compact life rafts at its booth in the entrance tent at Bahia Mar. The rafts come in a case about the size of a briefcase, which makes them ideal for center consoles where storage space is at a premium.
Finding someone who falls overboard can be difficult, especially in bad weather, which is why Lifeline has the new Smartfind S10 AIS beacon from McMurdo (about $300). The manually activated beacon can be attached to a life jacket. A boater who falls overboard activates the Smartfind, which sends out Automatic Identification System and GPS information that can be picked up by boats with AIS equipment within a 4-mile radius. Using a chart plotter, those boats can lock in on the person's location.
One of the most important pieces of safety gear is a personal flotation device, according to Steve Baum of Boat Owners Warehouse.
"You get caught out in a storm like the one we have today, it's you and the elements," said Baum, who explained that a life jacket will keep you afloat if a storm sinks your boat. "Even if it's beautiful out, things can happen."
Another essential, Baum said, is a GPS-enabled Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or Personal Locator Beacon. Both types are on display at the BOW booth at Bahia Mar.
BOW stores sell U.S. Coast Guard Type II-rated life jackets that sell for $6 to $8 and Type I PFDs that have more flotation and keep your head out of the water even if you're unconscious.
BOW has inflatable PFDs at the show. One you manually inflate by pulling a plastic tab, the other inflates automatically when it hits the water. The benefit of inflatable PFDs is they are so light and comfortable, boaters have a greater tendency to wear them. There's nothing worse than having your boat sink and you can't get to where the life jackets are stored.
Once you're floating in the water wearing your life jacket, you can activate your EPIRB or PLB, which sends a distress signal to satellites that are monitored by rescue agencies. Beacons with GPS allow rescuers to pinpoint your position rather than having to triangulate your position.
"They know it's you and they go right to you," Baum said, adding that ACR's ResQLink+ PLB ($300) is small enough to fit in your pocket. ACR's EPIRB is bigger and has a battery that lasts longer.
If your boat is at the dock behind your house or in a marina, the wind and waves of a storm can damage the vessel. So can a drastic increase in water level, like after a storm surge.
TideSlide eliminates the threat of boat damage due to changing water levels from storms, tides and boat wakes. It consists of stainless steel poles that are secured to a dock's pilings. A polyurethane cleat slides up and down the poles.
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