Can Automation Save American Manufacturing?
In the latest episode of our podcast, Innovating the Industrial World, Cross CEO John King sits down with former Automation Group President Lynn Crump to discuss challenges facing manufacturing plants in America as they compete to stay in business.
Discover how automation and collaborative robots are future-proofing jobs and driving innovation in the manufacturing industry. From addressing labor shortages, misconceptions of robots, strengthening the economy, and much more, don’t miss out on this insightful episode as we talk about paving the way for a more resilient manufacturing sector in the U.S.
What's New at Cross
Cross Company works with a variety of manufacturers whose components go into machines all over the world. Our partners are frequently innovating in their specific areas and this month, we wanted to highlight a few of the clever things they are doing. Here are three case studies which showcase their unique capabilities in their chosen technologies.
Bell-Everman Case Study: Custom Motion System to Test Solar Arrays for NASA's Artemis Program
NASA’s Artemis Program is developing a space station to send humans back to the moon. It will be powered by a Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) module, which utilizes large solar arrays of advanced, multi-junction solar cells to generate 60 kilowatts (kW) of power.
NASA’s Artemis Program is developing a space station to send humans back to the moon. It will be powered by a Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) module, which utilizes large solar arrays of advanced, multi-junction solar cells to generate 60 kilowatts (kW) of power.
Cross partner Bell-Everman designed, engineered and fabricated a custom motion system that enables the Angstrom Designs solar simulator heads to test the PPE’s solar panels. To ensure the simulator heads are fully calibrated, they also built the I-formation gantry robot that calibrates and validates the simulator performance against solar cell standards.
Red Lion Case Study: Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches for High Availability under Rugged Conditions
Cross partner Red Lion recently worked with a sports timing technology company, MYLAPS, to provide Sixnet® series SLX managed industrial Ethernet switches which enabled both status monitoring and real-time race time display.
MYLAPS manufacturers accurate and reliable timing and data collection systems to racing associations. Critically, their systems have to work well outdoors in a variety of climates. The Red Lion SLX-6RS-5CC-D1 Ethernet switches have an operating range of -40°C to 85°C, making them excellent choices for the 40 field boxes which make up the network ring used to send time and date data to the central control system for processing.
With a compact footprint, the switches are easily accommodated in the field boxes. Each switch has six ports: Four 10/100BaseTX RJ-45 ports and two 100 BaseFX single-mode 20km fiber ports with SC connectors. The solution supports both half and full duplex operation.
Rotomation Case Study: Custom Rotary Pneumatic Actuator to Fill Irregular Bottles with Caustic Material
Cross partner Rotomation recently worked with a manufacturer of custom packaging machinery to design a custom combination gripper-rotator to fill a uniquely shaped bottle with caustic toilet bowl cleaner.
The unique challenges posed by the bottle’s distinct shape required reorienting the bottle by 45° to align the nozzle upwards, enabling standard filling and capping without compromising efficiency. The corrosive nature of the cleaning material necessitated components which could withstand the hard environment without sacrificing performance or longevity.
Did you know?
Calibration Provider Not Getting Your Equipment Back Fast Enough?
Calibration is an essential part of compliance in the consumer products industries, almost a cost of doing business. But if your calibration provider isn’t getting your equipment back to you in a timely manner, you have the extra cost of purchasing and maintaining spare equipment while it’s out.
Cross Precision Measurement is a full service, ISO 17025-accredited calibration provider with twenty labs across the Southeast and Midwest, including our newest labs in Atlanta and Charleston. We are accredited in over 150 different parameters and can perform NIST-traceable calibration on literally thousands of types of equipment. Critically, 90% of the equipment we calibrate is turned around in 7 days or less.
Don’t carry the cost of spare equipment because your calibration provider is too slow. See how Cross Precision Measurement can help!
Cross Provides Tangible Value for You
Improve Efficiency
For high-speed assembly and handling processes, the SLD linear direct axis from Cross partner Schunk provides dynamic, heavy-duty axes with electric linear direct drive.
With high drive forces (up to a maximum of 2.4 kN) and a load rating of up to 106 kN, the SLD improves productivity by enabling shorter cycle times. It is also highly reliable with almost no wearing parts for a long service life in many applications. Options include a modular encoder system, pneumatic holding brake and further motor slides.
Improve Efficiency
7th axis robot transfer units (RTUs) are becoming essential for expanded reach and flexibility for robotic systems. Cross partner Bell Everman’s ServoBelt™ Linear Drive supports multiple, independently controlled carriages to operate multiple robots on the same motion axis, enhancing productivity and flexibility.
The system also supports unlimited travel lengths, making it possible to design long RTU axes that accommodate several robots working simultaneously. Built using standard, off-the-shelf components, these RTUs minimize costs and meet aggressive lead times without the complexity and expense of custom solutions.
Reduce Risk
Looking for an electronic valve with lasting, low leak performance in your high pressure applications? The EHS valve series from Cross partner Clippard may be the answer.
The EHS features substantial cross sectional o-rings, proven poppet designs, and strategic placement of mounting hardware outside the flow path. It prioritizes both safe functionality and the reduction of potential leak points in higher pressure (up to 1,000 psig) applications.
