Archive for Maret 2013

Lego NXT CNC Machine is Almost Complete!


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After a couple hours of hardcore lego-building, the CNC machine is almost done. A few more rails, guides, and frames need to be added to improve the machine's overall performance. The video above shows what it can do right now. Currently, it can draw an almost-perfect 90 degree angle!







Lego NXT CNC Machine to Help Build Circuits


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Tonight, I began my next Lego project. This one, I have to say, is probably the hardest. This is because it's a 3 axis CNC machine. The sole purpose of this project is to help me make more circuit boards for projects. I also think it's pretty neat to have a Lego CNC machine laying around. Anyways, after about two hours of hardcore tinkering and building, here's the progress. Feel free to comment or to give any recommendations!

Custom PCB's, Plastics, and More!


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Making robots at home is really enjoyable. What's even better is when you can custom make your own parts! So that's exactly what I've been working on. After a little research, I figured out how to make custom plastic parts and custom PCB's! For the plastic, I will use simple molds from nuts, bolts, and other items of that matter. I will then melt down some InstaMorph� plastic beads for the molds. For the PCB's, I will use the copper clad and ferric chloride method. Along with the drilling of course. For now, I have two PCB's made. These two, in fact, are for the official SimpleBot. Thanks for reading and I'll be updating you guys with photos of the progress.

Kaizen - Lean Manufacturing Training


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The concept of "Kaizen" in lean manufacturing is generally known as rapid improvement. The Japanese word actually means a business philosophy of continuous improvement, although it is sometimes debated that it just means improvement.

In most lean manufacturing implementations, a Kaizen is a project comprised of a few people that work together to make a rapid and substantial change. During a lean implementation, which is often conducted over a matter of a year or years, there would be many "kaizen events".

The kaizen event is a tool to solve a problem. For example, suppose a hospital wants to improve the average wait time for a routine scan. The leader of the kaizen would assemble a team to work toward a solution to the problem. The team is generally a cross functional team, such as various individuals that work in, near, and might be impacted by the department. You wouldn't want the only individuals working on the team to be from the department, as they may not have a wide enough view of the situation and would potentially have pre-conceived ideas. That old "we tried that before" mentality might exist with some in the department.

Even with a cross functional team, it is important for the leader to set the stage with a discussion about everyone keeping an open mind. The team often follows other lean principles, such as Plan-Do-Check-Adjust. In other words, they will develop an idea and give it a try, then adjust based on the outcome.

Kaizens events generally do not last long, sometimes just a few days. Often, the team will leave their normal jobs to join the team for the duration of the project. The time period depends on the project's needs and requirements, but it is not a long drawn out ordeal.

A kaizen is usually about gaining substantial improvement in a short time. In the example of, suppose the average wait time is 45 minutes. The kaizen might have a mission of cutting this in half. The mission might read; Reduce scan wait time from 45 minutes to 22 minutes in 8 days.

The team generally will use a conference or training room for the duration of the project. Individuals should be able to focus on the project and no have to do two jobs and be interrupted for decisions unrelated to the project.

The team should have access to the data they need to complete the project. However, individuals should either verify the data, or collect their own.

After the team completes the project, they generally make a presentation to the department and upper management. There is also usually a celebration for the accomplishment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7438807

SimpleBots, an Instructables eBook!


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What's better than creating a simple and hassle-free robot at home? Well, to be honest, the answer lurks right at the instructables store! It's called the SimpleBots eBook by Randy Sarafan (User: Randofo). The book features twenty four simple, yet amazing robotics projects. Each project can be built right inside your own home too! Don't believe me? See for yourself at the instructables store!

image source: instructables.com

Kaizen Blitz Event Steps


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The steps involved in a Kaizen Blitz event by Nemat, Inc. are:


1. Initial Analysis of Process

We will start the project with analysis of the process which includes:

    • Blitz area selection
    • Team selection
    • Development of a contract and a mandate
    • Video taping the entire process

We will work with key members of your staff to select up to 15 people from operations and support groups to participate full time in the Kaizen Blitz event. ?The contract is an empowerment statement from management to the Kaizen Blitz team. ?The mandate is an aggressive yet achievable goal for the team. The videotape will be used during the Kaizen Blitz event for process analysis and brainstorming.


2. Kaizen Blitz Event:
The Kaizen Blitz event itself will take 5 to 8 full days. All participants will be attending the event full time 8 hours per day Activities include:

    • Full day of training
    • Process analysis &, baseline measurement
    • Video brainstorming
    • Development & implementation of new processes
    • Formal presentation of the Blitz process and accomplishment

Disruption to production during the changes is minimal due to planning implementations either during production down time or by implementing a parallel line where possible.



3. Follow Up:
A member of our staff will remain behind for 5 to 10 days after the Blitz to work with the Blitz team and assure smooth transition from Blitz to routine operation. Our staff member will work with the Blitz team in the Blitz area full time to:

    • Debug the process
    • Assure timely completion of all remaining action items
    • Assure the new process is institutionalized


Kaizen Blitz - How to Improve Operation By 50% Immediately


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Are you looking for a way to increase your company's production by 50% within a very short while? The easiest way to do this is by conducting a Kaizen Blitz event in your organization. Kaizen, or the management concept of continuous improvement, is already very popular in the manufacturing sector but the quicker variant is now gaining a lot of popularity.

A Kaizen Blitz is an event that has a mandate to improve a particular manufacturing or business process by at least 50%. This is achieved by training and helping employees implement various Lean practices that are relevant to that particular business process. A Kaizen Blitz involves the analysis of the process followed by which the actual blitz takes place. Employees will have to work together in focused and rapid activity to identify areas of waste and eliminate them without delay. There is generally a lot of brainstorming during this event.

This fast-paced Kaizen activity generally takes place within a week. However, the event will only be concluded if the follow-up has taken place in order to ensure that the changes are truly beneficial to the organization.

Many management experts and also senior managers in organizations do not like the concept of this Kaizen activity because they feel that it disrupts the flow of work without providing any lasting benefits. In fact, it can be said that the changes that it brings about are not necessarily good ones because they are arrived at too fast. According to lean management concepts, sustainable and productive change will only occur if the various processes are studied with a great deal of care.

Even so, there are quite a few advantages of Kaizen Blitz:

1. It gives immediate results. Learning can be translated into action without any delay.

2. It results in high motivation. Employees are amazed to see that their suggestions are implemented almost as soon as they are made. This gives them the desire to keep searching for other ways of improving work processes.

3. Improves communication in the organization. These occasional bursts of activity help people stay alert about Lean systems and Kaizen.

Your operation will improve by 50% to 80% from Kaizen Blitz activities as long as you conduct them properly. Also, you'll need to focus on proper Kaizen and not just on frequent blitzes to get the actual benefit of this management style which looks for continuous improvement that is sustained over a period of time.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7406394

Nemat Inc.'s  execution of Kaizen Blitzes has resulted in process improvements of 50% to 80%. Our methodology is to work with different teams from our clients operations in to the implementation of projects. We also facilitate workshops and blitz events for the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME).
(510) 475-4244  or (559) 474-4315

GoBotics.com, Your Online Source For Robotics Parts


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Do you have any upcoming robot projects that require some extra parts? If so, visit GoBotics.com. GoBotics has over 50 products ranging from Arduino to bipedal platforms. I highly recommend that you visit their site when you're purchasing parts for your next big project!

Quality Assurance Policy


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Nemat Inc. Quality Assurance Policy is to meet customer’s specifications as noted on the products drawings and standards.  We will strive to exceed these specifications if it can be accomplished without sacrificing cost or lead time objectives.  All specifications MUST be communicated and updated in writing; hence verbal communications are not accepted.

This is accomplished by thoroughly understanding customers’ specification and developing a “Capable Process” to achieve them.  This process is documented and is used as “Standard Work”.  All employees MUST follow this process exactly to assure compliance with “Copy Exact” expectations.

Employees performing work are ultimately responsible to produce products to set specifications.  A “Check-Do-Check” in process procedure is established to increase the possibility of identifying and correcting errors as they occur in real time.  This process is implemented from Order Entry to Engineering/Programming to Production and through the Shipping processes.

 The Quality Assurance Department is established to monitor adherence to processes and specifications for internal and contracted work.  This is accomplished by developing quality standards and ensuring employees’ and suppliers’ adherence to such standards.  All employees and Quality Assurance personnel are authorized to stop any non-conformance and escalate the issue up to and including the customer.  Issues MUST be reviewed, root caused, and corrected expeditiously.

We guarantee conformance to specifications and stand behind the products and services we provide.  Our performance reviews, reward programs, and disciplinary action policy are developed based on employees following quality standards and producing quality products and services.

Real Steal in Real Life


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Tonight, the SyFy channel's Robot Combat League show will air. Unlike BattleBots, Robot Combat League features robots that can really relate to Real Steal. For example, the show consists of multiple teams, each team has a different humanoid robot, and they battle to the death. In addition, each robot that wins a battle against another robot advances in the overall tournament. If you're interested in viewing a previous episode, then watch the video above!

SimpleBotics forums!


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SimpleBotics

Made in USA Products


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Nemat, Inc. develops, designs, manufactures and markets high quality and competitively priced consumer products which are Made in the USA.  This is achieved through our expertise in "Design for Manufacturibility" and "Lean Manufacturing"; as well as having a state of the art manufacturing facility with many capabilities. Continue to Main Page

Lego robot is able to fold and throw paper airplanes!


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Folding airplanes can be pretty tricky. Well, that's not the case with this Lego robot! Constructed out of two NXT kits, this Lego robot is able to fold and throw paper airplanes. Don't believe me? Check out the video above, and have a great weekend!

Brain-Dead Robots Prove They Can Swarm Together


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What has no brain, no computer, but can swarm? The answer is simply a bristle bot. Just recently, roboticists at Harvard discovered that even brainless bristlebots are able to swarm and form groups. The experiment consisted of a small area and a bucket-load of bristle bots. Right away the robots started to swarm together in a corner of the area.

You may be wondering, how does this swarming even occur? Well, my guess is that each robot just keeps bouncing off each other. Take the small area these bots were placed in for example. Since the robots were packed together closely, then they just kept running into each other. This process of bumping and running into each other was just repeated over and over again. To sum this all up, nothing really scientific or extraordinary took place. Even so, the video of the swarming robots is still entertaining to watch!



Source: automaton blog and special thanks to evil mad scientist labs.

Contract Manufacturing Precision CNC & Assembly


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Nemat Inc. is a domestic supplier of high quality low cost CNC/Fabricated parts, castings, extrusions and assemblies to companies such as Parker Hannifin, Guardian Glass, Cardinal Glass, and Applied Materials Inc. We've been able to increase our business 30%-40% per year by implementing lean manufacturing, increasing quality and reducing cost. Continue to Main Page

Terminator Hand is Able to Tie Shoe Laces, Leaves Real Hands Behind


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For too long, amputees have had to use primitive hooks and limbs that attach to their arms or nubs. With new technology, however, that will all change. So far, these prosthetic and robotic arms have been able to perform simple, mundane tasks. As opposed to those tasks. Special robotic arms, as opposed to the other ones, can now tie shoe laces. This goes to show how dexterous these arms and hands really are. Even later on as new technology is introduced, these arms will just keep advancing until they match the human hand. Perhaps they'll surpass the human hand in the near future. Thanks for reading and check out the video above to see it in action.

Vote for SimpleBotics on instrutables.com!


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In the past, I have won one contest on instructables. With your help and click of a button, I may be able to win the cardboard and duct tape contest. My entry into the contest was the cardboard and duct tape laundry robot. The prizes for this contest include a shirt, duct tape, cutting board, jig saw, and utilities knives. What's in it for you? Well, I'll promise to publish a video tutorial on making robot duct tape art! Thank you and to vote, visit this link. http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-Robot-Laundry-Folder/

Engineering and Management Consulting


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Nemat Inc. is a leader in process redesign, process management, and performance improvement. Nemat, Inc. brings state of the art problem solving methods with extensive background in manufacturing and service industries. In most cases, our applications achieve a payback within four months or less.

For more information, please visit www.nemat.com

Japan to launch their own robot into space by this summer!


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Currently, Opportunity and Curiosity are roaming the surface of Mars, and they're the only robots in space. That all ends, however, this summer. According to Dentsu inc. a robot named Kirobo will be sent to the ISS (international space station) to communicate with humans. Dentsu has also stated on their site that the launch will occur this summer, and the robot will be onboard this fall. Now the robot itself has some pretty nifty features built in. For example, it can understand Japanese speech, withstand zero-g environments, and even recognize faces. Aside from all its special features, Kirobo is a robot based of a consumer kit called Ribo. It has also been designed from the same person who developed Evolta ( a robot that completed a triathlon). Kirobo, however, has just been upgraded to be capable of space travel. Thanks for reading and check out the video above!



source: the video listed above

RASSOR, NASA's Robotic Solution for Creating Rocket Fuel in Space


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On every space exploration, rocket fuel is vital. As a result, NASA is developing a new type of robot that will mine on the moon. RASSOR is what they call it, and they plan to use this robot to help create rocket fuel in space. Using special claws on each of its sides, RASSOR will dig and mine through the moons soil and gain necessary ingredients to make rocket fuel. Along with this lunar robot, NASA also plans to create miniaturized factories to create the rocket fuel right on the planet's surface. If the RASSOR robot is successful, then astronauts won't have to take any second trips back to earth to refuel. All this will then lead to longer ventures into space.

Say Hello to the Mint Commercial All Over Agian...


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Since Mint is aesthetic like apple products, their commercials should be too. Thats why I designed this new commercial featuring Mint. Just like Apple commercials, the ad is simple and to the point. Hope you like it!

Welcome to the official SimpleBotics web app


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I am aware that the past view days have not had any posts, however, I have been working on a web app for SimpleBotics. Today, I am pleased to say that the web app is now up. With the all new web app, an awesome post is just a tap away. Enjoy!

Lean Manufacturing Consulting


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Nemat Inc. is a leader in process redesign, process management, and performance improvement. Nemat, Inc. brings state of the art problem solving methods with extensive background in manufacturing and service industries. In most cases, our applications achieve a payback within four months or less. 

Our approach brings clients the structure, professional support, and specialized tools needed to achieve successful process outcomes.
 
Lean Manufacturing:

 • Kaizen Blitz Implementation (See Details, Click Here)
 • Quality Improvement/Scrap Reduction Projects
 • Cost Reduction Projects
 • Inventory Reduction Projects
 • Set up Reduction Projects \
 • Cellular Manufacturing Design and Implementation
 • Single Piece Flow Design and Implementation
 • Pull System Design and Implementation
 • Kan Ban System Design and Implementation
 • Visual Factory Design and Implementation
 • Industrial Housekeeping (5S Systems) Design and Implementation

Nemat, Inc. Consulting Services


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Productivity Improvement Projects

• Quality Improvement Projects
• Process Improvement Projects
• Cost Reduction Projects
• Inventory Reduction Projects
• Set up Reduction Projects
• Scrap Reduction Projects 

Team Development and Facilitation; Self Directed, Work Improvement, & Cross Functional 

Work Flow and Space Utilization Analysis
 

• Layout Design; Office and Plant layouts
• Workstation (Including Ergonomics) Design and Implementation
• Jigs and Fixture Design

Just in Time Manufacturing Design and Implementation


• Cellular Manufacturing Design and Implementation
• Single Piece Flow Design and Implementation
• Pull System Design and Implementation
• Mistake Proofing Systems Design and Implementation
• Kan Ban System Design and Implementation
• Visual Factory Design and Implementation
• Industrial Housekeeping (5S Systems) Design and Implementation
• Work Measurement Development and Implementation 
• Industrial Engineering Services
• Manufacturing Engineering Services 

Engineering and Design:

• Design for Manufacturability
• Product Design
• Reverse Engineering
• Engineering Drawing Development

Watch out! Boston Dynamics Big Dog Can Now Hurl Cinder Blocks!


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If you thought Big Dog's extreme stability was amazing, think again! Now equipped with a high-tech robotic arm, Big Dog is able to hurl heavy cinder blocks over a few yards away. However, its not the arm doing all the work. With the clever designs from Boston Dynamics, this robot uses its legs to maneuver in a special way to aid its throwing arm. If you pay attention to the movement of its legs as it vigorously throws the brick, you'll notice that they jerk in unison with the swaying arm. Both its legs and arm work together and achieve great strength. A strength that can even hurl a big brick several feet into the air. Thanks for reading and follow us to stay updated in the world of robotics!



Source: the video listed above

Truly ‘Control’ Your TV


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 By KSEE Sales

Updated Feb 20, 2013 at 2:06 PM PST

We all love our flat screens. But there's a company that's helping you view your favorite shows, at comfortable angles with its remote controlled TV mounts.

This technology is shipped around the world by Nemat Inc. in Madera and is the focus of today's Made With Pride in the Central Valley.

Watch the video HERE.