Now that we know that a handful of people are interested in the kits, we would like to know what kind. The first idea we had for a kit was a simple vibrobot. The robot would resemble a turtle with a circular battery pack, an LED, and a pager motor. It would use its paper clip legs to move around. On the other hand, we had an idea for an Arduino walker. The walker would resemble a four-legged insect with two servos and an Arduino as part of its back. In addition, an infrared sensor would allow the robot to become "aware" of its environment! So the question is, which one would you rather construct? Please vote below!
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Vibrobot or Arduino Walker?
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Robots Protesting Against Killer Robots?
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This is not the usual robotics post. It turns out that in Britain, some robots are campaigning against the killer, fully-automated robots used for warfare. Their argument is that, some day, these robots could confuse an innocent human with a hostile target. Another point that they have is that taking the "human" out of these fully-automated robots will cause major conflict. Conflict such as killing innocent people due to confusion of who's the bad guy and who's not. The question is, will this deadly conflict arise in the not-so-distant future?
Lean Manufacturing
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Lean manufacturing is a business performance improvement tool that focuses on enhancing quality, cost, delivery, and people. It helps expose waste and makes continuous improvement possible by identifying and eliminating non-value-adding activities in design, production, supply chain and management.
Striving to improve competitiveness by providing customers faster and better products or services, which will accomplish more than worrying about the next global crisis, is the basic aim behind lean manufacturing. The only game we need to be adept at today is the one that removes waste so the customer sees more value.
In the world of lean manufacturing, companies try to produce only what has been demanded by the customer, and only when the product is required. To optimize benefits of lean throughout the supply chain, it is essential to build a partnership with your suppliers. This partnership must work on the basic principle that you pull only what you consume, and nothing more. Your suppliers restore what you have consumed. In this way, inventories are maintained at their smallest for both dealer and customer.
Achieving this level of trust with your supplier will require frequent communication and extensive sharing of information. Successful partnerships result from inviting each other to strategic planning sessions, attending each other's events and participating in other joint activities.
Unlike many manufacturing trends, lean manufacturing appears to be here to stay. However, many firms are still struggling to figure out how to make lean manufacturing work for them. The title itself implies that companies will emerge from the program leaner than when they began. The term manufacturing suggests that the program targets the manufacturing process, thereby making the products more consumer-friendly.
One good approach is to weave principles, objectives, tools, and methodology behind lean manufacturing into the strategic and business plans of your organization, in order to make lean manufacturing more suitable for your company.
Striving to improve competitiveness by providing customers faster and better products or services, which will accomplish more than worrying about the next global crisis, is the basic aim behind lean manufacturing. The only game we need to be adept at today is the one that removes waste so the customer sees more value.
In the world of lean manufacturing, companies try to produce only what has been demanded by the customer, and only when the product is required. To optimize benefits of lean throughout the supply chain, it is essential to build a partnership with your suppliers. This partnership must work on the basic principle that you pull only what you consume, and nothing more. Your suppliers restore what you have consumed. In this way, inventories are maintained at their smallest for both dealer and customer.
Achieving this level of trust with your supplier will require frequent communication and extensive sharing of information. Successful partnerships result from inviting each other to strategic planning sessions, attending each other's events and participating in other joint activities.
Unlike many manufacturing trends, lean manufacturing appears to be here to stay. However, many firms are still struggling to figure out how to make lean manufacturing work for them. The title itself implies that companies will emerge from the program leaner than when they began. The term manufacturing suggests that the program targets the manufacturing process, thereby making the products more consumer-friendly.
One good approach is to weave principles, objectives, tools, and methodology behind lean manufacturing into the strategic and business plans of your organization, in order to make lean manufacturing more suitable for your company.
Wan't to sell your electronics projects as kits? If so, join Club Jameco
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Do you have an upcoming electronics project that you would like to share or even sell? If so, I highly recommend Club Jameco. Club Jameco is an online club where you can design, share, and sell your electronics projects. Users can join the club, and submit their projects to Jameco. If it gets approved, Jameco will produce it, sell it, and give you a commission for every sale! If you're interested in participating in this electronics club, then visit clubjameco.com!
Kaizen Benefits
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The Japanese have a philosophy which is based on the thought that continuous improvement improves worker productivity. This system is called Kaizen. It is a concept that states change is the absolutely foremost indicator of progress. The system reduces and eliminates unwanted and unproductive waste while consistently improving upon productivity. Human resources are a major factor in this system, with the belief that it is very crucial to encourage and support workers with praising their participation within the system's schedule of activities. Achieving success in this system requires everyone to be involved and participating, from upper management to the lowest paid employee. Concrete benefits are witnessed in companies that uphold the system's strength and follow the implementation of the system down precisely and exactly. Benefits of the Kaizen system are as follows:
Improved Quality: Resources are pooled together and working teams are made stronger, established or reestablished as problems are resolved. The result is seen when production quality improves. New procedures are implemented and work tasks are streamlined therefore making time management more streamlined. Listening to all employee ideas is crucial.
Teamwork Will Improve: The spirit and the confidence of the team will improve as issues are resolved. Employees begin to see their work in a new light and proceed to do their work with new perspectives. Employees will no longer think badly about one another or hold prejudices. When teamwork is improved, the production of work is higher and work flow is smoother.
Maximum Utilization: Salvaging resources means that the resources can be used for their purpose. The benefits will automatically improve worker production as resources are being used in a more resourceful manner. The prioritizing of requirements satisfies the problems of working with limited resources coupled with unlimited demands. Limiting resources and being creative on how resources are used will be helpful to production.
Immediate Results from Troubleshooting: Solving problems happens quickly when issues are immediately confronted. The Kaizen system holds the belief that alternatives available on the spot solve problems faster than traditional ways of lengthy meetings in isolation. Immediate troubleshooting solves production problems by reducing lead time. At times, there are temporary solutions which may be improvised resulting in a permanent change to the process. Basically making sure you solve problems quickly and with innovative ideas is key here.
The Kaizen system provides multiple benefits. Principles of the system are cemented in common sense. The most important ingredients are composed of communication, the participation of all employees, and a desire to change. Changes don't require extreme measures, mathematic calculations, or scientific research. Employees are required to remain keenly observant which largely contributes to the benefits of the system. The Kaizen benefits are grounded in the efforts of employees, by and large by their own attitudes towards the place they work and the company where they work.
Improved Quality: Resources are pooled together and working teams are made stronger, established or reestablished as problems are resolved. The result is seen when production quality improves. New procedures are implemented and work tasks are streamlined therefore making time management more streamlined. Listening to all employee ideas is crucial.
Teamwork Will Improve: The spirit and the confidence of the team will improve as issues are resolved. Employees begin to see their work in a new light and proceed to do their work with new perspectives. Employees will no longer think badly about one another or hold prejudices. When teamwork is improved, the production of work is higher and work flow is smoother.
Maximum Utilization: Salvaging resources means that the resources can be used for their purpose. The benefits will automatically improve worker production as resources are being used in a more resourceful manner. The prioritizing of requirements satisfies the problems of working with limited resources coupled with unlimited demands. Limiting resources and being creative on how resources are used will be helpful to production.
Immediate Results from Troubleshooting: Solving problems happens quickly when issues are immediately confronted. The Kaizen system holds the belief that alternatives available on the spot solve problems faster than traditional ways of lengthy meetings in isolation. Immediate troubleshooting solves production problems by reducing lead time. At times, there are temporary solutions which may be improvised resulting in a permanent change to the process. Basically making sure you solve problems quickly and with innovative ideas is key here.
The Kaizen system provides multiple benefits. Principles of the system are cemented in common sense. The most important ingredients are composed of communication, the participation of all employees, and a desire to change. Changes don't require extreme measures, mathematic calculations, or scientific research. Employees are required to remain keenly observant which largely contributes to the benefits of the system. The Kaizen benefits are grounded in the efforts of employees, by and large by their own attitudes towards the place they work and the company where they work.
How Glass CNC Machining Works
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CNC (computer numerical control) milling machines evolved from numerically controlled machines developed to create precision rotor blades for helicopters in the 1950s. In the early 1970s, these machines began to be controlled by computers running programs to operate the various motions of the milling tools.
Basically, glass CNC machining automates everything a human operator would have to do to manually mill a piece of glass via information input into the CNC program. Then, the machine replicates with great precision each action to mass produce milling or cutting of glass at a rate and accuracy that cannot be duplicated by a human operator.
Motion Control with CNC Machining
Glass CNC machining utilizes at least two-and as many as four-directions of motion that can be directly programmed by the software. These are called axes. An axis may be a linear direction or circular. The more potential axes a CNC machine is capable of, the more complex and expensive the machine is. Axes are usually designated by letters. Typically, linear axis are designated X, Y, and Z. Circular or rotary axis are normally A, B and C.
Software for CNC Programming
The computer program utilized in glass CNC machining is written in a language called G-Code. The program issues instructions to stepper motors that convert electronic signals into highly accurate mechanical movements that guide the milling tool. The format of the language is configured in sentences and the CNC controller executes the instructions sequentially, one step at a time. A series of words specific to CNC programming communicate to the milling or cutting machine what it's supposed to do.
The words are based on letter addresses that represent certain functions like feedrate and spindle speed, for example. The desired axis motion is indicated by A, B and C or X, Y and Z. Grouped together in a particular sequence, CNC words compose a command that can be compared to a sentence the CNC controller "reads." Most glass CNC machines can be programmed to perform complex milling and cutting operations with glass utilizing a total of 50 common CNC words.
Execution of Glass CNC Control
The CNC control reads the program and executes the commands to the milling tool, actuating the required functions, driving axis motion and following all instructions in the program. Programs can be edited if errors are encountered by the CNC control and dry runs can be executed to verify the program before actual production begins.
Basically, glass CNC machining automates everything a human operator would have to do to manually mill a piece of glass via information input into the CNC program. Then, the machine replicates with great precision each action to mass produce milling or cutting of glass at a rate and accuracy that cannot be duplicated by a human operator.
Motion Control with CNC Machining
Glass CNC machining utilizes at least two-and as many as four-directions of motion that can be directly programmed by the software. These are called axes. An axis may be a linear direction or circular. The more potential axes a CNC machine is capable of, the more complex and expensive the machine is. Axes are usually designated by letters. Typically, linear axis are designated X, Y, and Z. Circular or rotary axis are normally A, B and C.
Software for CNC Programming
The computer program utilized in glass CNC machining is written in a language called G-Code. The program issues instructions to stepper motors that convert electronic signals into highly accurate mechanical movements that guide the milling tool. The format of the language is configured in sentences and the CNC controller executes the instructions sequentially, one step at a time. A series of words specific to CNC programming communicate to the milling or cutting machine what it's supposed to do.
The words are based on letter addresses that represent certain functions like feedrate and spindle speed, for example. The desired axis motion is indicated by A, B and C or X, Y and Z. Grouped together in a particular sequence, CNC words compose a command that can be compared to a sentence the CNC controller "reads." Most glass CNC machines can be programmed to perform complex milling and cutting operations with glass utilizing a total of 50 common CNC words.
Execution of Glass CNC Control
The CNC control reads the program and executes the commands to the milling tool, actuating the required functions, driving axis motion and following all instructions in the program. Programs can be edited if errors are encountered by the CNC control and dry runs can be executed to verify the program before actual production begins.
Designs to be made for the first SimpleBotics robot
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Three years ago, I came up with an idea of a business centered around robotics. So when I go off to college, I could start a company (Just like Jobs and Woz). The result was SimpleBotics. As of now, I believe it is appropriate to start thinking about an actual product. This is why I, along with a few others, will be taking the necessary steps in making this product actually exist. The real question is, will you buy one? Please vote below
