Product category:
CNC and Motion Controllers
News Release from: Rockwell Automation
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 12 November 2001
Automation and mechanical motion control
team up
Rockwell Automation and Thomson Industries are pleased to announce a collaboration in the UK to provide comprehensive motion control solutions and services.
Rockwell Automation and Thomson Industries are pleased to announce a collaboration in the UK to provide comprehensive motion control solutions and services This new venture provides many benefits for design engineers having to consider multiple functions within the process of designing a machine
Typically these include mechanical, actuation, control and software engineering, and the integration of these technologies.
Rockwell Automation has one of the most extensive ranges of manufacturing solutions available, but even though it offers comprehensive actuation, control and software solutions, the mechanical aspects are outside its scope of supply.
On the other hand, Thomson Industries as a market leading supplier of linear technology, has a comprehensive range of mechanically actuated linear systems, precision gearing and associated accessories.
It is not directly able to provide the control and software systems.
Design engineers are increasingly looking for complete solutions.
This may be because engineering departments are run leaner and need to concentrate on core activities.
It may be because complete solutions are recognised as being economically attractive or perhaps most importantly, because with a complete solution somebody takes overall responsibility.
In the event of a problem there is a central point of contact and nobody can say "it's not our fault, talk to somebody else".
The engineers at Rockwell Automation and Thomson work together to offer the design engineer a coherent and co-ordinated solution offering the best from both companies.
The new system is already proven and several projects have been successfully implemented.
One major UK packaging machinery manufacturer has developed a sophisticated system for a major Scandinavian mobile phone manufacturer, which automatically inserts phones into packaging.
This requires precise positioning and control of the insertion forces to eliminate damage and wastage.
The Thomson/Rockwell Automation partnership ensured that the production targets were consistently met.
Another machine developed by a UK special purpose machine builder puts knurled mounting posts into Printed Circuit Boards used in air bags for cars.
Again, this is a high volume, high precision application that had to be developed to a tight time schedule.
The system had to work first time with no excuses, Thomson and Rockwell Automation worked together to ensure that it did.
Another automotive application involves inserting colletts to hold valves and springs in the cylinder head of an engine used in a 4 x 4 vehicle.
A frame indexes the block to the precise position, a procedure that used to be done manually.
The control architecture to link into the existing system is relatively complex and the mechanical and control systems need to work well in harmony.
As with all automotive production line applications, down time is extremely expensive and everyone is delighted with the Rockwell Automation/Thomson solution.
No doubt many customers will be happy to continue buying linear motion guides, ball screws, linear systems, actuators and accessories from Thomson Industries.
Others will continue to buy motors, drives, control systems and software from Rockwell Automation.
Those that want a complete solution that works first time or want to ensure compatibility of the mechanical and motion control elements can be confident that Rockwell and Thomson will co-operate to provide a system to meet their application needs. Request free introductory details about products from Rockwell Automation ...
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