Enabling robot compatibility with Foba

Flexxbotics, which delivers work-cell digitalisation for robot-driven manufacturing, can now
offer robot connectivity compatibility for machine tending with all of the Foba laser marking
and engraving products. Flexxbotics includes communication with Foba’s integrated camera
system for vision-based inspection, providing closed-loop feedback to the robot for
autonomous process control. With Flexxbotics robot-driven operation of Foba equipment
customers achieve greater throughput and higher yields.
 
Foba provides precision laser marking systems and laser engraving machines that include
fibre laser markers and UV laser markers, as well as ultra-short pulse laser markers, CO2
laser markers and green laser markers for a diverse range of applications and industries. The
patent-pending FlexxCORE technology in the Flexxbotics solution enables robots to connect
and communicate with the Foba laser marking and engraving equipment including the
integrated camera systems for robotic orchestration of part processing with in-line
inspection. Flexxbotics compatibility includes the Foba MarkUS control, as well as Foba’s
digital I/Os, PROFINET, Profibus/TCP/IP and EtherCAT.

 
The solution co-ordinates robot actions with Foba’s three-stage marking process, which
includes part inspection prior to marking, automatic mark alignment and subsequent
validation of the marking. Flexxbotics utilises either the intelligent mark positioning (IMP) or
point and shoot (P&S) capabilities in the Foba equipment for precise alignment of the laser
marker on the customer’s product, along with vision-assisted workflows for accuracy if
touch-up is needed.
 
Combining Foba with Flexxbotics is particularly valuable in industries with strict regulatory
compliance requirements that dictate the highest levels of repeatable precision, such as
medical devices and surgical products along with aerospace, defence and space,” explains
Tyler Bouchard, co-founder and CEO of Flexxbotics. “With Flexxbotics and Foba together,
customers can optimise cycle time, expand capacity and increase profit per part.”
For further information www.flexxbotics.com

Get inspired at MACH 2024

MACH 2024 (NEC, Birmingham, 15-19 April) is the perfect platform to discover cutting-edge
manufacturing technologies and solutions, providing visitors with an opportunity to
experience the latest industry advancements. This five-day event features the largest
display of working machinery in a single venue, allowing visitors to make informed
investment decisions by seeing before they buy.

Alongside a comprehensive display of live working machines and innovative manufacturing
solutions, visitors to the exhibition can discover how their businesses can sustainably adopt
new technology and techniques to improve productivity, efficiency and reduce waste. They
will also learn how to adopt new processes and techniques at MACH Knowledge Hubs –
from automation to additive, through AI and data, to sustainable manufacturing. Readers
will find a round-up of some key exhibitors further on in this issue.
For further information www.machexhibition.com

PM visits Xtrac

Automotive and motorsport transmission and mechatronics specialist Xtrac welcomed UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to its Thatcham headquarters in Berkshire last month. Laura Farris, MP for Newbury, arranged the visit and accompanied the PM. “It was great to meet the team at Xtrac today and talk about their world-class apprenticeship schemes,” the PM said on social media. “Xtrac is a business that’s now at the heart of Formula 1, Indycar and NASCAR successes all over the world. It’s also a shining example of apprenticeship success in manufacture and advanced engineering.”

For further information www.xtrac.com

£3m upgrade at college

Leicester College is set to formally open its advanced manufacturing and engineering facilities at the Abbey Park campus following amulti-million-pound investment in resources, equipment and teaching space. The move will enable the college to provide industry-standard technical training to students and employers across the region. Included in the project is the installation of engineering laboratories and workshops to develop skills in robotics, PLCs, mechanical systems, and hydraulic and pneumatic systems, together with a range of mills, lathes, grinders, rigs, testing equipment and simulators.

For further information www.bit.ly/4arcnNm

Swiss Steel Group drives green steel

Swiss Steel Group has placed an order with SMS group for the delivery of Viridis Carbon software for the company’s Steeltecproduction plantin Emmenbrucke, Switzerland. This milestone marks a major step forward in enhancing Swiss Steel Group’s sustainability initiatives. In a first phase, the melt shop, rolling mill and bright bar plant will use the software.Viridis Carbon softwareenables near real-time tracking of a plant’s emissions. It uses a methodology based on robust computational models, which can compute and report the amount of CO2 equivalent.

For further information www.sms-group.com