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How new technology is improving the quality and efficiency of production
By Lee Turner, Farnell Vice President of Product & Supplier Management I
ndustry 4.0 and other initiatives are revolutionising manufacturing, bringing a wealth of new opportunities to both improve quality and reduce costs.
Yet, despite the promise of these new technologies, they were until recently accompanied by questions of cost. Although many companies could not fully contemplate such financial commitments, they can now take advantage of many digital technologies that are transforming even the humblest, everyday tools and techniques.
Even robotics is now more widely accessible, bringing automation to increasingly niche applications. These technologies allow incremental improvements that together can accrue to substantial overall gains in manufacturing efficiency.
Some of the areas that are increasingly using sensors and robotics to help speed production processes or increase quality and yields include soldering stations. With the widespread use of digital controls, the affordability of automated digital soldering stations now gives everyone access to this technology. That’s because digital programming enables automated soldering
stations to be run far more efficiently, improving consistency, precision and quality. One example is the MP740686 from Multicomp Pro, an MCU-controlled soldering iron whose temperatures can be precisely and easily adjusted. The unit has an option for three pre-set or frequently used temperatures and also offers automatic standby, shutdown with smart time setting and password-protected functions. Camera technology is also becoming more cost-effective, allowing microscopic inspection of soldered joints and other interfaces to ensure high quality.
Making simple tools more effective Straightforward hand tools may not seem the most obvious item to benefit from digital technology, but even simple mechanical items such as crimping tools can now use sensors to test for a quality crimp, reducing the chance of inadvertently manufacturing faulty cables.
Similarly, ionisers are now so affordable that they can be deployed throughout a manufacturing facility to reduce static and, therefore, the risk of damage to sensitive components.
One example is the SCS 963E-NO Benchtop 20 MARCH 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
air ionizer, which is designed to remove static charges from non-conductive objects. It removes charges in less than two seconds with no need for grounding wires. For users looking for maximum cost- effectiveness, private label brands now offer high-quality tools and equipment. Suppliers such as Multicomp Pro offer tools, test equipment and a wide range of other products, including multimeters, power supplies and oscilloscopes, probes, leads, and connectors. It also offers electronic and electromechanical components, connectors and cable management products.
Cutting the cost of stoppages Preventing production stoppages is a major priority for manufacturers, so knowing when a machine or device is likely to fail is vital. Motor drives are used in many machines, so carrying out predictive maintenance on these using sensors that can predict, with a high degree of accuracy, when a motor or component will need attention, is essential. One of the major tools that can provide data for a predictive maintenance programme is vibration analysis. Measuring the vibration experienced by a component allows remote condition monitoring, which
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