A powerful CAD solid modelling system for simulating robotic and other flexible automation systems, and for automatic off‐line generation of programs has been introduced to the British market. Jack Hollingum reports.

French robot company Staubli has developed a new turret‐type robot gripper, the first examples of which are being used in a FFr1 million cell for the assembly of couplings. Anna Kochan reports.

One of the UK heaviest concentrations of advanced manufacturing technology is to be found at Rockwell Maudsley producing front spindles for Ford USA. Whilst in the minority, robots play a key role, as Brian Rooks discovered.

Industries like electronics are a natural for the Dutch‐developed Free Ranging on Grid (FROG) AGV, it is simply a matter of choosing the floor tile colour. But even heavy applications like handling steel coils or ship containers can benefit from FROG.

The sanitaryware industry is a small user of robots, but the arrival of the electric drive spray glazing robot has hightened activity. DeVilbiss' UK Engineering Systems has recently installed them in the UK and the USSR.

TIG welding of titanium Airbus components by robot is five times faster and gives more consistent quality, according to British Aerospace.

A technique has been developed at IPA Stuttgart which allows automated assembly of elastomer and thermoplastic hoses. The development work includes both experimental and theoretical investigations.

A Canadian company, FH Welding Machines, is a signficant supplier to the major US and US‐based Japanese automobile builders. Many of their systems incorporate robots.

There is a baffling number of sensors suitable for the automatic control of welding. Research at The Welding Institute (TWI) should help industry to make the right choice of sensor for a given requirement and application.

We reported 18 months ago on Darchem Engineering's purchase of a KUKA six‐axis robot to carry out laser cutting with a 250 watt Nd‐YAG laser using fibre optic delivery. Since then the set‐up has gone from strength to strength, according to production engineer Bob Glover, Jack Hollingum...