Machine Building & MTEC preview
January 1st 2008

IP&E takes a look at what is on offer at the Machine Building, Drives & Automation show and the colocated MTEC – Sensors, Measurement & Instrumentation show

Continual demonstrations of industrial robots undertaking typical pick-and-place tasks using vision systems will be a crowd-pulling centrepiece at this year's Machine Building Drives & Automation show at the Birmingham NEC on 13-14 February.

Supported by the British Automation & Robotics Association, the demonstrations will centre on three robots – one of which will be making its UK public debut – being displayed by Kawasaki Robotics and Motoman at the exhibition that focuses on systems and automation technologies used by machine builders and integrators.

Motoman will be showing two robots: the six-axis HP3 model that has a standard payload of 3kgs (optional 5 kgs); and its latest Scara-type YS450, a 5 kgs capacity model that has a 450 mm stroke, a z axis of 170 mm and a t axis repeatability of +/- 0.015 mm. The Motoman duo will be shown using vision systems in a typical pick-and-place scenario using sample parts.

Kawasaki will be demonstrating the capabilities of its FS20N machine operating with a 3-D vision camera first identifying product, then performing pickand- place tasks. The FS20N is a 20 kgs payload six-axis industrial robot that has a vertical reach of 2193 mm, a horizontal reach of 1773 mm and a repeatability of ±0.1 mm.

Featuring dozens of industry-leading suppliers all displaying the latest in industrial automation aids, the Machine Building Drives & Automation show will also offer a special programme of Industrial Networks for Automation programme discussing the choice, design and use of AS-Interface products and networks – including functional safety systems -as well as an overview and practical demonstration of Profibus and Profinet systems, from configuration to data exchange.

Visit www.machinebuilding.co.uk for details, including up-to-date exhibitor lists and Conference/education programmes, and to register for your free entry ticket as well gain as online links to all exhibition websites.

Sensors and sensibility – MTEC 2008 There's something for everyone involved in all aspects of sensors, measurement and instrumentation at the MTEC exhibition co-locaterd with the Machine Building show.

In addition to over 100 exhibitors displaying the latest money-saving technologies and tools for more effective and efficient manufacturing processes and strategies – plus more than 350 displays in the co-located and complementary manufacturing-focused shows – the MTEC 2008 showfloor also promises a schedule of free educational events from industry-leading bodies The British Society of Strain Measurement, the AS-Interface Expert Alliance and the Profibus Group.

The British Society of Strain Measurement will be staging a series of workshops discussing: Strain gauges in biotechnology, including wireless systems – presented by Ian Ramage of Techni Measure; Optical full field deformation measurement – by Ralf Lichtenberger of LIMESS Messtechnik & Software; Field-proven high integrity data collection – problems and solutions – by Anton Chittey of Vishay Measurements Group UK; Optical bragg grating strain gauge – a replacement for metal strain gauges? – by Sebastian Klein of HBM UK; and Large scale structure and fatigue testing using transducer electronic data sheets – by Peter Allum of VXI Technology.

Under the title of Industrial Networks for Automation, the subject of choosing, designing and using AS-Interface products and networks – including functional safety systems - will be discussed, while an overview of Profibus and Profinet systems will be presented by Andy Verwer from the Profibus International Competence Centre.

This will be followed by a practical demonstration of a Profibus and Profinet system – from configuration to data exchange.

Visit www.mtecukshow.com for further details of MTEC and to register for your free entry ticket, as well as online links to all exhibition websites.

The Machine Building Drives & Automation and MTEC Sensors, Measurement & Instrumentation exhibitions are co-located with four other manufacturing-focused events and education programmes: MEDTEC UK (formerly Medical Device Technology) – raw materials, manufacturing technology and outsourcing for the UK's medical device manufacturing industry; the 3C Contamination Control & Cleanroom Products; IPOT – image processing and optical technology; and Practical Vacuum & Semiconductor processing.