Jake Hall

Giving #frontlineworkers in #manufacturing clear directions & the ability to interact with machines is what will 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 on the production floor. What technology makes this possible? While attending the Automate Show along 40,000+ of other professionals, I checked out the CAPTRON North America booth and talked with Sean Walters to learn about their solutions. Featured in the video is some of the technology from LED Signalling, Level Sensors, Capacitive Switches and Calibration used by companies from Amazon to BMW to TESLA. I was even able to get my own custom The Manufacturing Millennial capacitive button made which is now installed in my office. If you want to learn more about the technology and products that were talked about in this video make sure to check out CAPTRON North America online or the link in the comments below! #TheManufacturingMillennial #CaptronPartner #Automation #Robotics #Automate2024 #Technology #Engineering #Sensors #LED

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Here's your reminder to go check your delta robot's ball bearing cups! If you're running Codian Robotics remember to use an M5 bolt to get it out.

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The #collaborativerobot market is expected to 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟗 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 $𝟔 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 in market value. While many manufacturers are focusing on improving productivity, they turned to automation and robotics to help safeguard their processes. But in many cases, the introduction of collaborative robots has allowed a lot of first-time small to medium-size manufacturers to get a taste of automation in their #manufacturing processes. In fact, in many cases, the “#𝐜𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭” 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲, but in the ease of installation into processes, companies wanted to automate. This video features multiple Universal Robots installed at the Stellantis automotive facility. If you want to learn more about Cobots be sure to check out Universal Robots online or visit their solutions at MODEX next month in Atlanta! #themanufacturingmillennial #robotics #automation #engineering 

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I have my own stalker. Kidding. It's a Thouzer #robotic cart. Our friend Jamie Callihan with JLC Robotics LLC brought it up for our upcoming automation fair. The Thouzer utilizes autonomous memory trace to memorize its route by simply maneuvering it where you want it to go, then all you do is press a button to start autonomous route playback. It's super easy. The Thouzer also has follow-me mode, which feels borderline creepy, but is actually super handy. All you do is stand in front of it and press a button and it sticks to you like glue. It can pull a cart, racks, or all sorts of cool stuff to make your job easier. Of course, I unlocked the super secret interpretive dance mode. It is fine for slow dances like a waltz, and actually does a decent two-step, but it lacks the maneuverability for a good polka. Maybe I'm just not that great of a dance partner. Want to know more about how it works in general, how it could work for you, or want a free demo...including 1 free dance lesson with me? You know who to call. Flex-Line Automation, Inc. should be saved in your favorites! #conveyorcougar #dancingwiththestar #agv #soeasythecompanyprescandoit

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Big announcement 🎉🎉 NX CAM has been voted as the #1 #CAMsoftware by the part #manufacturing community on G2, the leading software peer-review site. What makes #NXCAM stand out? Here are just a few reasons: 1. Automated CNC feature recognition 2. Intuitive & user-friendly interface 3. Faster job set-ups See first-hand insights and read reviews from our users -> https://sie.ag/azErY

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I've spent over 15 years in industrial manufacturing. There is a lot of hype about humanoid robot tech right now. I think it is very exciting but it will take a while until that tech is ready for broad factory floor adoption. It’s a lot of promise for the future, but here’s the problem with humanoid robots in the manufacturing sector: Most manufacturing tasks don't need human-like robots. A simple SCARA or 6-axis robot programmed for a specific job works better, costs much less, and will be easier to maintain. It’s true that the tech behind humanoids (actuators, sensors, AI) will keep improving. And costs will drop. But specialized automation tools remain the better choice for factory now.  I think it will be hard to replace a reliable SCARA robot from a maintenance and efficiency standpoint. At the end of the day, pick the simplest tool that solves your unique problem. Skip the hype, focus on results.

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Forming can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. In a super competitive and often under-skilled labor market, fabricators are under more pressure than ever to produce quality product at a reasonable rate. What is the solution? Is now the time to automate? Is automation right for me? Are my products suitable for automation? All are reasonable questions that can be answered. Come see MC Machinery Systems Inc. at FABTECH Expo booth S17034 and discover how the next generation of forming automation can help you solve many of your forming woes. You won’t regret it.

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✨ Huge thanks to Dan Szymanski and the Autodesk Inventor team for taking user feedback seriously and implementing an update to the API documentation for balloon creation in Inventor 2025.2! ✨ This update is a game-changer for those of us working with drawing automation in Inventor, especially when it comes to ballooning automation. Accurate documentation streamlines our workflows and empowers us to build more precise and efficient tools for design automation. The time and effort saved through improved guidance and clarity will be invaluable to developers and designers alike. 💡 Check out the original idea here: https://lnkd.in/ehdMiXEq 📄 See the updated documentation here: https://lnkd.in/emSBRUvg Thanks again to Autodesk for listening to the community and making it easier to innovate within Inventor! 🛠️ #Automation #InventorAPI #AutodeskInventor #Ballooning #DrawingAutomation #CADdevelopment #AutodeskCommunity  

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Independent NC Code Checking Software Improves Machining Processes

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Automate Show Day 2! So many people, so many solutions! If you’re in the Chicago area, you have two more days to experience all of the automation excitement! #automate2024 #robotics #automation #machinevision #amr #ai #motioncontrol

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The more I looked at the GreaseBot Mini design concept, the more I didn't like the layout. Built a prototype based on a purchased dolly, and I was not happy with it at all. Moving to a fabricated cart that functions as both a dolly and a cart, will be much more stable, consolette for the HMI keeps it better protected. These can be easily loaded into a truck or van, around 110# it's not too much of an ask for 2 guys to lift and load. These portable units will be in prototype phase a few months, and released for production. Trying to keep pricing as low as possible, these will be available in one or two axis. I may add a 4-axis option, will see. Prices from $6k, most anyone with a robot will be able to take advantage of our patented technology.

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Last week was a real throwback moment for me—I spent some time working with an old RMC100, and it definitely made me appreciate how far we've come in motion control technology. We were interfacing with a 25-bit multi-turn SSI encoder after a hydraulic leak damaged the original one. The replacement was an eBay find, and, of course, it was configured slightly differently. Honestly, I struggled more than I’d like to admit, trying to get the scale and offset right. At one point, we had the motor jogging for over 10 minutes just to get the encoder to wrap and finally start showing readable numbers. But once we got there, things started to click. We reconnected everything, scaled and offset the axis, and got the injection molding machine’s screw back up and running. It was a frustrating process, but sometimes those are the ones that teach you the most. Working with a 30-year-old product was humbling—it really makes you appreciate how far we’ve come. Now, it’s back to working with the RMC200s! #LessonsLearned #AutomationJourney #Hydraulics #MotionControl #DeltaMotion

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3Dsof Automation Dull, Dangerous, Dirty. working in a project to automate that does all 3 and one vendor may be helping my grandma move her own trash bins to street and back. #3Ds #dull #dangerous #dirty #automation

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Xemelgo is your easy on-ramp to Smart Manufacturing 🚀 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 Perceptions of high costs and overwhelming technology options leave small machine operators with decision paralysis. Here’s how to get smart without the high cost of technology and training. https://lnkd.in/guEJJKdV American Machinist | #Manufacturing | #SmartManufacturing

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Today marks Day 1 @ Path Robotics here in Columbus, Ohio! Excited to be directly selling into the robot world once again! Path is changing the game for robotic welding and I can't wait to learn everything I can from this group. Thanks to Mike Renn for giving me the chance to join the team! Special shoutout to John Paradise for reaching back out after we spoke last year and reigniting the conversation! If you'd like to learn more about how Path can automate your welding processes, ask me in a week or so.... lol #robotics #welding #AI #automation #manufacturing

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𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 "𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞"...𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐀 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬. 🤖🦾 👉 It's been almost three weeks since the Automate Show 2024 and one question I keep hearing is "what did you think of the NEURA Robotics booth?" I'm not just hearing this from end users- I'm getting this question from other cobot manufacturers as well! In short, the booth was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! It completely stole the show, and the fact that people are still talking about it just confirms that. It feels like we're finally seeing something new in the cobot world, and I'm excited! So, I figured it was time for a bit of a deep dive into the company that is making such a splash. First off, NEURA is aiming for the ultimate smart cobot, so they are calling them "cognitive robots" instead of collaborative robots. I like it...but I'm still calling them cobots. 😁 A little history: ✅ NEURA Robotics stems from Han's Robot, a Shenzhen, China based collaborative robot company. ✅ Han's Robot Germany was officially started in early 2019 and NEURA Robotics sprang to life in late 2019. Look at the arms side by side and you'll see some obvious similarities between NEURA's LARA cobot and Han's Elfin line (but the similarities stop here). ✅ They've raised around $140M in funding over the last few years. ✅ They are in the process of moving production from China to Germany. ✅ NEURA had a oversized presence at Automatica 2022 where they had 60 arms in their booth! The first time I saw them in person was Fabtech 2023. ✅ Multiple companies are private labeling these arms already, including Kawasaki Robotics for their new cobot line, and ABICOR BINZEL for their welding cell. I haven't done an exhaustive search but I suspect there are a few others. ✅ Omron Automation is leveraging NEURA's AI and sensor technologies for their new iCR line of cobots (is TECHMAN ROBOT still in the picture?). NEURA has two collaborative robot product lines, MAiRA and LARA, with MAiRA being the company's flagship line. Other leading cobot manufacturers will definitely be looking here for inspiration for their own product development roadmaps. For MAiRA: ✅ The arm "can see, hear, and feel its environment." They have a built in 3D vision sensor, microphones for voice recognition, speakers to communicate to operators, and are highly sensitive to touch. ✅ They can detect human presence before contact is made. ✅ AI figures prominently into programming and will be leveraged to develop new capabilities in the future. ✅ They have through arm pneumatics (finally - a cobot that runs air lines through the arm!). ✅ Payload capacity up to 35kg and reach up to 1.8M. ✅ They are IP65 rated. Are you considering implementing a NEURA arm? What are your top questions? #collaborativerobots #robots #automation #robotics If you found this interesting, give it a comment and follow me, Matt Malloy, for more posts about cobots and other advanced manufacturing technologies. Thanks! 👍  

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What could you accomplish in your engineering role if you could program sophisticated automation (and only had to spend 20 minutes to learn)? Check out our drag and drop visual programming in EZ Motion - this video shows how to program pneumatics. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g64yz-ye

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Discover the Secret to Mastering New Skills Faster! Prepare to be blown away by this captivating snippet from The Manufacturing Come Up podcast featuring the brilliant minds of Malachi Greb and Matt McCarty! 🎙️ In this video, Malachi and Matt delve deep into the expectations of faster results & learning curves in the corporate world. Don’t miss our content! Binge watch your way to success! #ManufacturingComeUp #learningcurve #growthmindset #podcast #Elite #EliteAutomation

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