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Several new robots, including some for special applications, were unveiled at Mechatronics Japan '84. John Hartley reports.

The Association of Swedish Foundries has recently made an investigation of the possibilities of using industrial robots in foundries. The result is published in a special report: ‘Industrirobotar i giuterier’ (Industrial robots in foundries). This article is based on this report.

Many academic papers were presented at the Symposium in Tokyo, but there was evidence of solid progress in welding and in one or two other areas. John Hartley reports.

Considers the use of robotics in the workplace as a means of protecting workers from exposure to hazardous substances, environments and physical agents. Gives examples of robots being used to handle radioactive material and working in the high dust exposure atmosphere of a plastics factory. Emphasizes the need to use a systematic approach to obtain the maximum health and safety benefit from automation of work, and outlines the areas to be considered. Describes the role of the British Robotics Association in realizing the potential benefits to occupational health from the application of robotic workstations and looks at areas of industry where this might be implemented. Concludes that using robotics to bring about health and safety benefits as well as production efficiency and quality improvement is a wide and new area for industry to develop.

Mutual Investigation. There seems to be a refreshing, open breeze blowing through the ranks of time and motion study technicians these days. Gone are the ponderous exponents of the mystic art and, instead, we find the experts vying with each other, almost, in telling their audiences how easy time and motion study really is if you only sit down and think about it.

Whilst vision tends to steal the limelight, touch sensors are likely to bring an earlier and better return on investment. At the Robot Vision and Sensory Controls Conference held in Stratford‐upon‐Avon, UK, in April, a great variety of both tactile and vision sensing topics were discussed.

The significance of energy within the manufacturing industry is identified and the relative energy costs are considered in terms of the process routes used. Energy requirements for the foundry industry are given as an example to highlight the consumption/cost relationship. The structure of energy management is presented with practical energy management experience discussed. Concepts of monitoring and targeting of energy are presented and the analysis of energy data is discussed, using SPC.

Outlines the trend in utilising the fixed tool/moving workpiece concept in automatic production processes, in which a standard robot can be employed for both positioning and orientation of the workpiece. This process is used widely in the automotive industry and its’ economic and technical advantages are illustrated by examining its use in several processes such as the glazing of automobiles, roller seam welding, deburring and griding of sand and die castings, power press feeding and spot welding. Concludes that many industrial processes in which the robot presently carries the process equipment through the manufacturing cycle can be technically and economically improved by allowing the robot to present the workpiece to fixed process equipment.

Lamberton Robotics has set its sights at the heavy end of the robot application spectrum. But, as Brian Rooks reports, robots are not its only product line.