June 2008 Edition

NexTECH

What's on the Cutting Edge of Technology


The Twendy-One model robot, designed at Waseda University, Tokyo, weighs in at 245 lb, stands almost 4’10”, and has forearms that can support up to 75 lb. A six-axis force sensor lets the robot grasp objects both delicately and robustly, and 12 ultrasonic sensors detect objects to keep people safe.

C-3PO’s Great Grandfather

Robots have been integrated into industry for decades, but haven’t been brought into homes as useful appliances yet. Work at the Shigeki Sugano Laboratory, at the Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering, in the School of Creative Science and Engineering, of the Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, may be bringing the day of the ’droids one step closer.

Twendy-One is a nearly-anthropomorphic human-symbiotic-robot designed to support human daily activities to fill the gap in labor in the care of members of aging societies in such chores as human safety assistance
and manipulation.

The Twendy-One model robot has high-output actuators with the passive impedance mechanisms that let it manipulate objects with various shapes. It can adapt to human motion and support a human. The robot has the demonstrated ability to pick up a paper cup as well as assist a person out of bed and into a chair.

The robot, weighing in at 245 lb, stands almost 4' 10" has forearms that can support up to 75 lb, with shoulders and elbows with four degrees of freedom. The hands have four fingers with almost the same range as a human’s. In the finger tip, a six-axis force sensor and distributed force sensors let the robot grasp objects both delicately
and robustly.

It has 12 ultrasonic sensors and a six-axis force sensor to detect nearby objects and humans to keep people, and its environment, safe.

A four-minute demo video can be viewed at
http://twendyone.com/demo_e.html

Ford is Exploring and Applying Nanotechnology

Ford scientists are embracing nanotechnology in developing paints, plastics, light metals, and catalysts that let Ford reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy without sacrificing quality.

Ford powertrains already are benefiting from the company’s grasp of nanotechnology and mircomechanical properties. A Ford study, "Atoms to Engines," looked at the structure of cast aluminum alloys at near atomic levels. From this work, a detailed analysis of the structure/property/process relationship of the aluminum alloy engine blocks led to reduced engine weight and, in turn, increased fuel efficiency.

The technology has let the automaker pull 10 percent in structural performance out of Ford engines, which translates into weight and fuel economy savings.

Ford’s European research lab in Aachen, Germany, is developing a thermally sprayed nano-coating that could replace the heavy cast iron liners that provide wear resistance in cylinder bores in aluminum block engines. This thin wear-resistant coating reduces weight and improves friction performance while delivering durability and reliability equal to traditional bore linings.

Nanotechnology also is being tapped by Ford scientists to help develop smarter solutions to energy storage issues for alternative power sources such as lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells.

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Industry News

Blue-collar Jobs Lead Employment Decline
According to information released by the National Council for Advanced Manufacturing – NACFAM – seasonally adjusted manufacturing employment was reported at 13.4 million by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in September.

NTMA and PMA Join to Strengthen Industry Advocacy
The Precision Metalforming Association, Independence, OH, and the National Tooling and Machining Association, Fort Washington, MD, are combining their federal government advocacy programs to promote the U.S. government to ensure a strong manufacturing sector.

Unemployment Trend by State
According to the Economic Policy Institute, since the economic downturn began in December 2007, the U.S. has lost more than 600,000 jobs, and the national unemployment rate has risen to a five-year high of 6.1 percent.

Manufacturing Technology Consumption Falls in July
July U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $303.44 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association and the Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Consumption – USMTC – program, was down 21.5 percent from June but up 5.7 percent from the total of $287 million reported for July 2007.

GE Fanuc Backs MTConnect
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, Japan, announced its support of MTConnect, a new communication protocol to link machine tools from varying suppliers around the world.

Flow Executes Definitive Agreement in Omax Merger
Flow International Corp., Kent, WA, a developer and manufacturer of industrial waterjet machines, executed a definitive agreement to merge with OMAX Corp., Kent, WA. OMAX was a privately-held provider of waterjet systems.

Dimension 3D Printing Provides $400,000 in Grants to Schools
The Dimension 3D Printing Group, Minneapolis, a business unit of Stratasys, Inc., gave more than $400,000 to schools across the nation to underwrite the purchase of 3D printing systems for the 2008-09 school year.

PennEngineering and Peninsula Components Announce Patent Fight Agreement
The patent infringement suit brought by PennEngineering & Manufacturing Corp., Danboro, PA, against Peninsula Components, Inc., San Carlos, CA, was settled.

Shuttle Follow-on Builder Chooses PLM Software
Siemens PLM Software, Plano, TX, announced Space Exploration Technologies – SpaceX – a privately-held leading space launch vehicle developer and services provider, standardized on Siemens’ NX and Teamcenter software for product design, simulation, and product data management.

Lincoln Electric Opens Automation Center
The Lincoln Electric Co., arc welding products manufacturer, opened its Automation Center of Excellence on October 23, adjacent to its Cleveland headquarters. The 100,000 ft2 facility showcases the company’s robotic welding solutions.

Association For Manufacturing Technology Elects New Board of Directors
The Association for Manufacturing Technology – AMT – elected its 2008-2009 officers and directors at its 2008 Annual Meeting in Austin, TX.

Some Good News in a Sour Economy
There may be at least three silver linings in the dark cloud of global economic crisis, according to a Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Rockford, IL, economic consultant.