February 2, 2010

Welcome to the February 2010 issue of Motoman Direct, containing news, product information and updates from Motoman Inc.

Featured Products

NEW! SDA20D "Slim Dual-Arm" Robot>>
With “human-like” flexibility of movement, the SDA20D robot features 15 axes of motion and has a 20 kg (44.1 lb) payload per arm. Its superior dexterity makes this robot ideally suited for tasks that formerly could only be done by people.

NEW! SIA50D "Slim In-Line" Robot
The compact and powerful SIA50D can straighten vertically to take up only one square foot of floorspace and has a 50 kg (110.3 lb) payload. Its versatility makes it ideal for use in assembly, injection molding, inspection, machine tending and many other operations.

NEW! MA1900 "Master Arc" Welding Robot>>
The extended-reach MA1900 “Master Arc” welding robot provides the longest reach in its class. The MA1900 reduces welding cycle time due to cutting-edge Sigma V AC servo motor control technology and new ARM (Advanced Robot Motion) control. Its streamlined design makes it ideally suited for applications that require access to parts in tight spots.

NEW! HP500D/HP600D Handling Robot
The high-performance HP500D and HP600D robots are powerful, flexible models for heavy-payload applications, including material handling, machine tending and die cast/investment casting. They are also ideal for “jigless” applications where one robot positions the part for processing by other robots or two robots handle a single large part.

If you would like to request more information about one of our featured products, please click here.

Corporate News

Dean Elkins of Motoman Leads RIA as Chairman - Motoman’s Senior General Manager, Dean Elkins, has been elected as the new Chairman of Robotic Industries Association (RIA) for 2010.

Click here to hear Dean’s message from the recent RIA forum.

Robot Lightsaber Dance - Watch three of Motoman’s SDA10D robots (aka “Dexter Bot” on Facebook and LinkedIn) perform coordinated moves with lightsabers at Tokyo’s International Robot Exhibition.

Advanced Systems Group
Click on the links below to access information relating to key focus areas for Motoman’s Advanced Systems Group (ASG):

Editorials and Articles

“Teaching Robots New Tricks” – Plant – December 9, 2009 – Motoman Inc. and Universal Robotics are combining break-through software and industrial robots to make material handling applications more accurate, cost-effective and “human.”

Customer Satisfaction & Training

Redeployed Robot Registration - Have you purchased a new or used Motoman robot from a third party? If so, did you know that our Customer Care Center is offering free redeployed robot registration? We want to ensure that your investment is protected by providing the support you need. Read more about our redeployment services.

To register your robot(s), click here.

Motoman’s Customer Care Center is a web-based information and service center providing customers useful information, chat room functionality with technical support and web-based tutorials that provide step-by-step instructions. Need a tour? Call Dave at 937.847.3361 or click here to complete your registration and begin using the site.

New Classes! Following are two new training classes that MTEC (Motoman Technical Education Center) will be offering:

- DX100 Advanced Arc Welding
- DX100 Accelerated Programming
- DX100 Accelerated Programming w/ Arc Welding

Discounted Hotel Reservations - For students attending training at our West Carrollton, Ohio facility, Motoman has negotiated discounts at several nearby hotels. Once you receive confirmation that your class is available, contact one of these hotels and ask for the “Motoman Training rate.”

If you have questions concerning training or need help with any of the above items, please contact the Training Coordinator at 937.847.3307 or send a request to training@motoman.com.

Helpful Hints

Problem:
How can I determine what is wrong after my robot crashes and my points are off?

Solution:
Many times when a robot collides with fixtures or other equipment, you will find the program points are off by a little. The best approach to this is to be proactive. To be proactive, know your system and have some tools ready ahead of time so that you can be prepared when it occurs.

Motoman offers a tool called ToolSight®; this is a ring with sensors inside to check the alignment of the TCP. This is very useful in telling if the torch has been bent, assuming all else is well. If the torch is bent, straighten it. Every facility with robotic welders should have a straightening jig. These units are made by the torch vendor, and even though it may seem pricey, it will pay for itself the first time you use it.

If the torch is ok, check the calibration point of the arm. Move all of the axes to zero pulse counts and check the alignment marks. If one is out, we may be able to modify the Home Calibration data to recover.

Another technique is a maintenance job with points taught around the system. The various points can help determine if the problem lies with the torch, the robot, the tooling or even the mounting.

Without these tools and a maintenance routine, it can take a significant amount of time to find the problem. Recovery could take from minutes to weeks. There are many ways to protect your investment. For help with these or any other questions, please contact Motoman Technical Support at (937) 847-3200.

Trade Shows

Motoman products and services will be exhibited at the following trade shows and expositions in 2010. If you plan to attend these shows, please visit our booth:

WeldMex – May 11-13 – Mexico City – Booth# 423
AACC – July 27-29 – Anaheim, CA – Booth# TBA
IMTS – September 13-18 – Chicago, IL – Booth# B-6600
Supply Chain of the Future – September 26-29 – San Diego, CA
Pack Expo – Oct 31-Nov 3 – Chicago, IL – Booth# S-421
Fabtech – Nov 2-4 – Atlanta, GA – Booth# TBA

To see exhibit highlights and videos from shows you might have missed, click here.

MOTOQUOTE CRYPTOGRAM

Decipher the following "MotoQuote" cryptogram (a puzzle in which one letter has been substituted for another) and e-mail the answer, along with your name, title, company name, company address and work phone number to jennifer.kann@motoman.com. On February 5 we will draw a winner from eligible respondents who correctly solve the MotoQuote cryptogram. The lucky winner will be sent his or her choice of a scale model of an EA1400N “Expert Arc” welding robot or ES165N “Expert Spot” welding robot OR an embroidered Motoman baseball cap. *Motoman employees and their families are not eligible.

The winner of the December 2009 MotoQuote drawing was John Carroll, Manufacturing Engineer at Sanoh America, Mount Vernon, OH. Congratulations John!

Clues: Our company’s name and some form of the word for one of our featured products appear somewhere in the encrypted puzzle phrase. If you need more help,
W in the encrypted phrase = D.

Encrypted MotoQuote Phrase:

SOWAUO JRAS UJUCO DQYO LJ YENDOSQGM JRAS ESU POCWQGM

EIICQUEDQRG PQDX YRDRYEG’N GOP YE-NOSQON SRLRDN.