Flexxbotics announces that it is now a Certified System Integrator (CSI) for Universal Robots (UR), recognizing its leadership and cutting-edge solutions for robot-driven machine tending.

This new certification enables Flexxbotics to provide a full integration service for machining centers adopting UR cobots or expanding their fleet with Flexxbotics for machine tending.

Flexxbotics solutions featuring its breakthrough FlexxCORE technology, seamlessly connects and coordinates UR cobots with existing automation equipment, IT systems and people for Robot-Driven Manufacturing to achieve Autonomous Process Control.

About Flexxbotics

Flexxbotics workcell digitalization is the backbone of the Smart Factory delivering autonomous process control for next generation machining environments. Flexxbotics SaaS/hybrid solutions enable robot-driven manufacturing at scale. Flexxbotics breakthrough, the FlexxCORE technology, seamlessly connects and coordinates robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems and people.

Visit www.flexxbotics.com to learn more.

About Universal Robots

Universal Robots is a provider of collaborative robots (cobots) used across a wide range of industries and in education. Founded in 2005 with global headquarters in Odense, Denmark, the company has over 20 offices worldwide, including North America headquarters in Novi, MI.

Since introducing the world’s first commercially viable cobot in 2008, Universal Robots has developed a product portfolio reflecting a range of reaches and payloads and has sold over 75,000 cobots worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.universal-robots.com.

Kollmorgen introduced the P80360 stepper drive, the newest addition to the company’s P8000 stepper platform.

Like other drives in the series, the P80360 incorporates innovative stepless control technology to deliver smooth, quiet motion and optimal performance across the full speed range. Additionally, the P80360 stepper drive offers closed-loop position control and is fully programmable, enabling servo-like versatility, precision and repeatability in a stepper drive.

In addition to open-loop stall detection, the P80360 drive offers the ability to track load position via encoder feedback and automatically correct for any overshoot or undershoot errors. Closed-loop position control is useful, for example, in systems where gearing, couplings or heavy loads result in compliance that can cause motor missteps. By correcting for these position errors, the P80360 actively minimizes the risk of scrap or equipment damage. This feature has the added benefit of improving efficiency, so the motor doesn’t consume as much electricity and runs cooler.

The P80360 drive is fully programmable via an intuitive graphical user interface and programming language, available within the Kollmorgen Space software package offered as a free download on the Kollmorgen website. Using these tools, engineers can create simple point-to-point movements as well as linked motion sequences with ease. The versatility and functionality of the P80360 programming software eliminates the need for an external PLC or indexer to perform single-axis motion control, reducing overall system cost.

Kollmorgen Space software also includes a Motor Wizard that enables users with Kollmorgen motors to get their machines up and running faster, requiring only input of the initial profile velocities and acceleration times.

All P8000 series drives are backed by Kollmorgen’s world-class support and expertise, from motor and drive selection and sizing to assistance with setup and troubleshooting. All drives feature CE, RoHS and REACH certifications.

The P80360 stepper drive can be used with all stepper motors with phase current up to 3.0 Arms. It is ideal for labelers, indexing tables, CNC machines, XYZ gantry systems such as 3D printers, packaging, medical lab equipment, pumps and many other applications requiring simple point-to-point movements as well as linked motion sequences.

For more information, visit www.kollmorgen.com/en-us/products/drives/stepper/p8000.

About Kollmorgen

Kollmorgen, a Regal Rexnord brand, has more than 100 years of motion experience, proven in the industry’s highest-performing, most reliable motors, drives, linear actuators, AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) control solutions, and automation control platforms.

For more information, visit Kollmorgen website.

Cetim, the Technical Centre for Mechanical Industries, has integrated ModuleWorks Self-Driving CAM into its TechniQuote cost estimation software. The self-driving technology with built-in toolpath generation simplifies and speeds up cost estimations for milling.

Machine shops and sub-contractors use TechniQuote cost estimation software to generate detailed cost breakdowns and make informed decisions about pricing, process optimization and resource allocation for mechanical manufacturing. To generate an estimate, users load a CAD model and set up the machining scenarios. For milling jobs, the integrated Self-Driving CAM enhances TechniQuote with pre-defined machining templates to simplify and accelerate the cost estimation process.

TechniQuote uses automatic feature recognition in addition to the machining templates to help engineers quickly set up and run comparative cost analyses. The integrated Self-Driving CAM is built upon the ModuleWorks toolpath algorithms which deliver precise information on the length and complexity of the toolpath, enabling TechniQuote to accurately estimate the total machining time as well as other cost factors such as tool wear, waste material and overall energy consumption.

About ModuleWorks

ModuleWorks is the software component provider for the digital manufacturing industry. With over 200 employees and 1500 person-years of software development, ModuleWorks’ expertise in toolpath creation and simulation is recognized throughout the industry and its software components are already optimizing the performance and quality of over 500,000 installed seats of CAD/CAM and CNC software around the world. From standard products to exclusive development projects, ModuleWorks helps companies to bring their vision of Industry 4.0 to life. With its comprehensive portfolio of cutting-edge software components, ModuleWorks enables its customers to optimize their CAD/CAM solutions and connect to CNC/MTB systems to increase their competitiveness and help them Get There Faster.

For more information, visit www.moduleworks.com.

About Cetim

Cetim, Technical Center of Mechanical Industries, has been supporting innovation & competitiveness of companies thanks to its multidisciplinary skills, digital expertise and unique R&D capacity. With its International subsidiaries and 8000 customers in more than 30 countries, Cetim has become a world leading player to overcome environmental and Industry 4.0 main challenges with innovative solutions and services in the field of testing/control & measurement, product/process engineering, consulting & training and outsourced R&D.

For more information about the Cetim Global Solution and Services, please visit https://www.cetim-engineering.com/.

UltraSense Systems introduced UltraSense TouchPoint Q, the world’s first piezoelectric strain sensor designed to bring a better touch experience to automotive interfaces. Automotive tier-suppliers are integrating TouchPoint Q to augment their solid-state capacitive touch systems for center and overhead consoles, steering wheels, and door panels for an enhanced user experience.

How TouchPoint Q Improves Capacitive Touch Systems

Traditional capacitive touch systems have suffered from oversensitivity, causing frustrating false triggers, or from lack of sensitivity, creating a poor user experience. When earlier force-sensing technologies were added to capacitive touch systems (i.e. optical, parallel plate capacitance, or piezoresistive), results were sub-par: a non-premium feel, required visual movement of the surface, and/or expensive calibration steps across the manufacturing process. As a result, some auto makers released first-generation solid-surface capacitive touch systems to less-enthusiastic reviews.

TouchPoint Q now solves the challenges of previous capacitive touch systems, offering auto makers the ability to improve next-generation designs. According to Data Intelo, the global automotive touch sensor market is expected to grow at a 6.5% CAGR from 2022 to 2030. Forward-thinking automotive makers are now rapidly transforming car interfaces from mechanical to digital – just as phone makers did 15 years ago, migrating from mechanical buttons to flat screens.

Unique MEMS architecture

The patented UltraSense QuadForce architecture of TouchPoint Q uses a MEMS process to etch four microscopic strain sensors per chip into a piezoelectric film material applied to the surface of an ASIC processor wafer. The strain sensors, using the Piezoelectric Effect and as an inherent AC sensor (vs DC), detect surface deflection down to the 100-nanometer level – movement not detectable with the human eye.

TouchPoint Q Advantages

TouchPoint Q’s integrated MEMS strain sensors and mixed-signal ASIC processes a surface touch into a force. Placing one TouchPoint Q under a touch surface of one or more buttons has several advantages over previous strain-sensing technologies, including:

1. Truly solid-state interface with no visual movement of the surface
2. No residual stress from manufacturing assembly or aging over time
3. Immunity to temperature sensitivities that can cause signal saturation
4. Wider adhesive selection due to limited material thermal coefficient mismatch
5. One-time system calibration in the manufacturing process
6. Accurate touch and gesture detection using pattern recognition with machine learning

TouchPoint Q Availability

TouchPoint Q samples are available today to select customers and shipping in mass production this month to global automotive tier-suppliers. TouchPoint Q is available in a 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.6mm 24-pin QFN package.

About UltraSense Systems Inc.

Founded in 2018, UltraSense Systems elevates the automotive touch experience with its HMI Controllers and InPlane Sensing solutions, enabling multi-mode touch sensing, backlighting, haptics feedback, and processing of machine learning algorithms to turn almost any surface into a touch surface. UltraSense offers a more intuitive and modern experience for drivers; a more integrated, easier to manufacture, and thinner solution for tier-suppliers; and greater design options plus recyclability and sustainability benefits for automakers.

For more information, visit ultrasensesys.com.