The Latest News From Sure Controls
How to Improve Web Tension Control in Your Plant
As a plant manager or engineer, you understand how important web tension control is for your production process. If the web tension is off, it can lead to material waste, machine damage, and general frustration. But what can you do to improve web tension control? Let’s take a look at some tips and techniques for […]
Running with Lean Crews? It’s Time to Automate
Did you know a collaborative SCARA robot can complete the work of three to five people depending on the task? It’s true – and they offer additional benefits such as improving worker safety, reducing cycle time and ultimately increasing production and quality. Plus, collaborative SCARA robots offer a faster ROI than other automation solutions. Depending […]
Viatran & Sure Controls – A New Partnership
Sure Controls is proud to announce a new partnership with Viatran. Viatran is a worldwide leader providing innovative pressure and level transmitters. Their high accuracy transducers and rugged pressure transmitters provide repeatable measurements over a wide range of pressures and temperatures. Viatran pressure sensors offer mV/V, voltage and 4-20 mA outputs along with a variety […]
Sure Controls Partners with Watlow®
Sure Controls is proud to announce a new distribution partnership with Watlow®. Watlow® is a designer and manufacturer of complete industrial thermal systems. For 100 years, Watlow’s commitment to innovation has created a steady stream of new products, a devoted and capable workforce, and constant growth. They strive to deliver value to customers by following […]
Control Techniques & Sure Controls Announce Distribution Partnership
Sure Controls is proud to announce our recent partnership with Control Techniques. We are here to supply area manufacturers with Control Techniques’ motors, drives, sensors and software. Control Techniques has a diverse lineup of products to accommodate a variety of needs across multiple industries. At Sure Controls, we understand that automation is crucial to any […]
Tax Section 179 Updates for 2022
What is Tax Section 179 & Who Qualifies? To 179 something, means to deduct its entire cost in the year of purchase on your tax return. Any business that purchases equipment can qualify for Tax Section 179 but it’s particularly helpful for manufacturers looking to offset equipment costs. The Code allows for the full purchase […]
Sure University: Training Today’s Workforce for Tomorrow
To help increase the maintenance and repair skills of your staff and reduce the learning curve for your employees, we offer customized training at our facility or at your location. Our training sessions involve hands-on experience and result in improved staff productivity, better troubleshooting capabilities and reduced machine downtime. We understand the knowledge gap and […]
Coval – Supplier Spotlight
Here at Sure Controls, we understand that automation is crucial to any modern production line. That’s why we carefully select the brands that we carry for our customers. We only work with manufacturers that meet our high standards for quality and reliability. We also make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in manufacturing […]
Red Lion – Supplier Spotlight
Did you know that Sure Controls is your local Red Lion distributor? We’re proud to help area manufacturers source and implement Red Lion products and solutions to make their operation more productive and profitable. Mason Taylor is our Red Lion product specialist. He provides the below overview to help our customers learn a little bit […]
Parker – Obsolescence Update for 690+ Product Line
Parker has begun the obsolescence process of the 690+ product line. Parker made the decision to discontinue the line due to the obsolescence of critical components from their suppliers in addition to product maturity. The last day the AC690+ drives will be available for order is June 30, 2022. Please make sure to note the […]
KAYSUN Case Study – Improving Machine Performance to Increase Profit
Strategic solutions to increase machine performance, solve the labor challenge and improve the bottom line. Company Profile Established in 1947, Kaysun has become a go-to partner for the design and development of highly engineered plastic products and assemblies. Kaysun constantly reinvests in sophisticated technologies, equipment and talent to remain at the cutting-edge of material science, […]
Siemens Solution Upgrade – Customer Success Story
Learn How Amcor Neenah Flex Plant increased machine performance and improved the bottom line with a Siemens solution. Company Profile: Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care, and other products. They develop and produce flexible packaging, rigid containers, specialty cartons, closures and services. […]
SCARA Robots – The Key to Boost Your Plant’s Efficiency
Many Midwest manufacturers are looking for new, cost-effective automation solutions in the challenging labor market. Sure Controls robotics engineers and technicians can partner with you to optimize your operation and improve your bottom line. SCARA robots may be the key to yout success! What is a collaborative SCARA robot? The SCARA acronym stands for Selective […]
EPack by Eurotherm – New Product Spotlight
Sure Controls is proud to announce new EPack Power Controllers by Eurotherm are available to all our customers. This new product was designed for efficient power control for electrical heating applications and fast integration. To help our customers learn more, we asked Sure Controls Technical Support Specialist Tanner Wideen the following common questions about the […]
Meet Ione Dyer
Manufacturers are continuing to struggle with the labor shortage, Sure Controls is committed to partnering with our customers to find innovative solutions to keep plants running and growing. Our associate Ione Dyer is a big part of that. Ione joins the Sure Controls team as our Electrical Designer and Training Coordinator. A big part of […]
Mason Taylor – Employee Spotlight
All manufacturers are talking about it — the part shortage. It’s been a huge obstacle for many of our customers and business partners. While there is no easy fix, a creative approach to sourcing parts can go along way in furthering a project, especially in the robotic and automation space. That’s where Mason Taylor comes […]
Precise, Repeatable Control and Your Winder
Every manufacturer’s goal is precise, repeatable control. Whether you’re coating, printing or laminating, your winder plays a crucial role in overall efficiency. Tension controls are key to both the quality of the product and reliability of the machine. To better help our customers and business partners, Sure Controls developed a comprehensive web handling teaching tool. […]
Cobots vs. Robots – The Future of Manufacturing
Midwest manufacturers are waking up to the benefits of plant automation. While robots have been popular in European plants and U.S. East and West coast operations, the Midwest has been a bit slower to adopt them. The labor shortage has provided a significant nudge toward investigating and implementing robotic solutions across various industries. One […]
Calibration: An Important Key to Productivity
Every manufacturer wants to increase productivity. On this week’s blog, Sure Controls In-House Controls Technician Luke Nagrant explains how calibration can help you achieve that goal. He breaks down his top tips for avoiding downtime. The Need Calibrations of instrumentation, sensors, and other equipment is one step in standard preventive maintenance. During calibration, a zone […]
Cast Film Extrusion Lines: How to Achieve Optimal Control
Stretch films are essential in the packaging industry as they provide a versatile and high-quality solution for packing products safely and economically. The film is produced by a flat die extrusion process where AC motors and variable speed drives significantly ensure high-quality output. The process starts with the extruder, a pump that melts and transports […]
Extruded Aluminum: A manufacturer’s best friend
Special Guest Author: Bob Kroll Have you ever seen or built a workbench made from 2×4 lumber and a plywood top? The material is easy to work with, fairly sturdy and adaptable to just about any size needed. Now imagine making this same workbench out of steel. Things begin to get a little more complex. […]
IoT and the Future of Manufacturing
Over 85 percent of U.S. manufacturers are already delivering, or planning to deliver, products with IoT capabilities. Considering the promise of IoT, this should come as no surprise. Manufacturers are moving quickly to IoT-enable their products because of the exciting new capabilities IoT technologies deliver. For example, equipping off-road industrial equipment with telematics systems that […]
Navigating the Digital Transformation & Talent Challenge
If you ask a manufacturing executive to describe their biggest challenge, they will probably say it’s attracting and retaining labor. The labor shortage has proved to be a significant concern for all manufacturers. But, perhaps the struggle is felt most acutely by manufacturers who were resistant to automation and the digital transformation. A 2018 report […]
Tax Section 179: What Manufacturers Need to Know
What is Tax Section 179 & Who Qualifies? To 179 something, means to deduct its entire cost in the year of purchase on your tax return. Any business that purchases equipment can qualify for Tax Section 179 but it’s particularly helpful for manufacturers looking to offset equipment costs. The Code allows for the full purchase […]
Luke Nagrant: Employee Spotlight
October is Manufacturing Appreciation Month. Over the past 30 years, the industry has evolved and the digital transformation has made new careers and new opportunities. To explore some of the new roles, we’ve spotlighted different employees all month long. For the final week, we are featuring Luke Nagrant. We asked Luke a few questions to […]
Logan Krueger: Employee Spotlight
October is Manufacturing Appreciation Month. Over the past 30 years, the industry has evolved and the digital transformation has made new careers and new opportunities. To help shine a spotlight on some of the new roles, we will be spotlighting different employees all month long. This week, we are featuring our Robotics Solutions Manager Logan […]
Ryan Worzella – Employee Spotlight
October is Manufacturing Appreciation Month. Over the past 30 years, the industry has evolved and the digital transformation has made new careers and new opportunities. To help shine a spotlight on some of the new roles, we will be spotlighting different employees all month long. This week, we are featuring our Customer Experience Manager, Ryan […]
Managing Supply Chain Disruptions – How Sure Controls E-store and Repair Service Can Help
The global supply-chain problems have been grabbing a lot of headlines lately, and for good reason. Part shortages and surging prices are threatening the economic recovery. While Western economies have largely moved past shutdowns and other pandemic-related restrictions, many Asian countries are still experiencing lockdowns. As a result, they can’t meet the demand for products […]
Lasindu Datunarachchi – Employee Spotlight
October is Manufacturing Appreciation Month. Over the past 30 years, the industry has evolved and the digital transformation has made new careers and new opportunities. To help shine a spotlight on some of the new roles, we will be spotlighting different employees all month long. This week, we are featuring our Robotics Engineer Lasindu Datunarachchi. […]
Manufacturing Appreciation Month : Setting the Record Straight on the Top 3 Myths
October is National Manufacturing Appreciation Month so it’s a great opportunity to reflect on the growth of the field as well as re-evaluate some of the common misconceptions. The manufacturing industry has quickly evolved over the last three decades. While previously described as “dumb, dirty and dangerous” those misconceptions have been shattered. It’s hard to […]
Winter Plant Preparedness – Top 5 Tips
In the Midwest, everyone loves fall. But, we know what comes next. Snow, ice and brutal temperatures are on the way. Leading up to the winter months, manufacturers will perform routine checks on all facility heating systems. And, this year, you may want to perform those checks sooner rather than later. The supply-chain disruption will […]
Can a Beer Machine Help Solve the Knowledge Transfer Crisis?
It’s no secret that U.S. manufacturers are currently facing several serious challenges. And, labor shortages are at the top of the list. Many manufacturers are looking to automate where possible and beef up their recruiting efforts. Attracting and retaining talent is certainly key to the success of any organization. But, most manufacturers are realizing it’s […]
Labor Shortage Got You Down? Meet M.A.C ™
Currently, one of the biggest challenges for any manufacturer is finding and keeping employees. It’s no secret the manufacturing industry was hit hard by the labor shortage. According to a report from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, the COVID-19 Pandemic resulted in the loss of over 820,000 manufacturing jobs. Nearly 500,000 jobs remain unfilled today. […]
Mobile Autonomous Cobot – Sure Controls’ MAC
The Mobile Autonomous Cobot (M.A.C.) is a combination of a Cobot and an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR). When combined, the robot can serve functions including machine tending, pick-n-place, inventory tracking, mobile palletizing, assembly, lab automation, mobile inspection, packing, kitting / pick-to-order. Sure Controls is Omron’s Exclusive partner for MAC solutions to the USA and Mexico. […]
Eurotherm 2000 Series Upgrade Options
The Eurotherm 2000 series of 2200 and 2400 discreet process controllers were released in the mid-90’s and have been a reliable industry workhorse for the last 25 years. As of January31st 2021, Eurotherm has closed the order book on a vast majority of the 2200 and 2400 series of process controllers. While Sure Controls does […]
IPS Structured Aluminum – The Uses Are Many
We use IPS Structured Aluminum for many purposes. Here at Sure Controls, we use it to create anything from machine guarding, tables, and workstations to robotics stands and even unique projects such as the bobblehead stand featured. While the bobblehead stand project was a fun change of pace, many of our manufacturing clients rely on […]
Capacitor Reform – Variable Frequency Drive
Capacitor reform is important. When variable frequency drivers are stored for long periods (typically over eight months), the internal chemistry of their capacitors may begin to deteriorate and need to be reformed before use. If the capacitors are not reformed before the drive is put into use, the capacitors have the potential to fail which […]
Eurotherm EPack Power Products
OEMs and system integrators need to be able to react quickly to customer needs while maximizing resources. Whether replacing an existing product or designing a new process, the design of the Eurotherm Power Products EPack™ power controller has been carefully considered for fast and easy panel installation, commissioning, and integration into wider systems, lowering equipment […]
Freeze Protection – It’s Time to Plan Ahead
With the first snow already in the books here in Wisconsin and many other states, it’s time to be thinking about freeze protection! Anticipating freezing conditions and Cold Weather Planning to protect buildings, equipment, and grounds against freeze damage is a vital part of a Facility Maintenance Program. We can help you solve a wide […]
Which Extruder Pressure Sensor is good for me?
We often have customers ask which extruder pressure sensor is best to use. The answer depends on four factors, Pressure range, Process connection, Electrical output and Capillary configuration. Sure Controls is a highly experienced distributor of Dynisco , who recently posted an article called “Which Sensor is Good for Me?” If you are trying to […]
Cheese, Brats and Heater Failures!!!
Fixing Heater Failures Efficiently in Food Production Heater Failures probably isn’t the phrase you expected. As good Wisconsinites, we all know that it should have said beer. Believe We understand the value of good food and a cold brew here at Sure Controls. In fact, we have an onsite beer brewing machine that even has […]
Sure Controls – Responsive to Our Community
Unequalled Responsiveness At Sure Controls we are very proud to live out our company motto in any way we can. Our motto is “Give a smile to get a smile” It’s displayed on our walls and carried in our hearts – and not just at work. Over the past few weeks COVID -19 has swept […]
Diaphragm Material, How to select
Sure Controls is proud to offer Dynisco products as well as repair and calibration services for them. For over 60 years, Dynisco pressure sensors have been used in various applications around the world. The original patent holder for the melt pressure sensor used in extrusion, Dynisco has remained the world class industry leader in this […]
Infrared Sensor Temperature Measurements
Infrared Sensor Temperature Measurements. In many IRt/c installations, such as paint curing, web drying, printing, etc., the temperature control system must be able to accurately measure materials with a variety of colors. Ideally, the same calibration set-up would be used for all colors, rather than having to calibrate each time a new color is run. […]
Why do Electric SCR Power Controls make sense for Electric Heat
SCR Power Controls and Electric Heat For the past 50 years, analog-based designs have served industry well. However, increasing demand for design flexibility, improved reliability/repeatability and lower costs have made the intelligent SCR power supply an ideal solution for electric furnace users seeking to gain competitive advantage. Intelligent power supplies have many advantages over analog […]
Machine Automation Efficiency – Call Us!
Machine Automation Efficiency Give Sure Controls a call if you’d like to learn more about Eurotherm. Eurotherm and Sure Controls, passionately support our customers with specialist knowledge and experience to achieve process excellence through machine automation efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Frameless Motor Integration
Frameless Motor Integration The following is a quick summary and recommendations on selecting the best feedback device for your motion control application. Int he video below Parker explains the ins and outs of the Parker K series frameless servo motor. Call Sure Controls for more information on which feedback devices can be readily used with […]
Packaging Film, Sheets Expected to Grow Through 2021
Packaging Film, Sheets Expected to Grow at 6 Percent Clip Through 2021 Business Research Company 12/20/2017 as seen in Flexible Packaging The plastics packaging film and sheets manufacturing market, which comprises businesses that convert plastics resins into plastic packaging film and sheet, is worth $104 billion in 2017, according to research by The Business Research […]
Tension Control in Web Handling – Key Components
Tension Control in Web Handling – Key Components Recently, Flexible Packaging had the opportunity to interview Mark Breen of Dover Flexo Electronics New Hampshire. Sure Controls is happy to share this great information. If you are in Wisconsin, Sure Controls is your go to resource for web handling needs. We understand both the art and […]
Managed Ethernet Switch in Manufacturing Environment
Image Blizzard Case Study of a Managed Ethernet Switch in a Manufacturing Environment Blizzard, a leading ski manufacturer based in Austria, was looking for an industrial automation solution to extend manufacturing visibility and control across five machine production stations for wood working, sanding, pressing, assembly and packaging. In addition to utilizing existing hardware, the industrial […]
IoT Retrofits – The Keys to Success
When New Machines Have a Voice, What Will Old Machines Do? 53 Posted by IoT Team on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 Last year, PwC found that 85 percent of U.S. manufacturers are already delivering, or planning to deliver, products with IoT capabilities. Considering the promise of IoT, this should come as no surprise. Manufacturers, including Parker, are moving […]
How to Achieve Optimal Control of Cast Film Lines
Achieving Optimal Control of Cast Film Lines Stretch films are essential in the packaging industry as they provide a versatile and high-quality solution for packing products in a safe and economical way. Film is produced by a flat die extrusion process where AC motors and AC variable speed drives play a significant role in ensuring […]
The Top 4 Questions about MASTERDRIVES to SINAMICS Migration
The Top 4 Questions about MASTERDRIVES to SINAMICS Migration 1. Where can we get Support for existing MASTERDRIVES products? The question often comes up of how long existing installed MASTERDRIVES will be supported. Siemens and Sure Controls have committed to supporting the installed base at least until 2020. However, over time the subcomponents price and […]
Cold Weather Planning
If you weren’t from Wisconsin, you might find it hard to believe that it is snowing outside, and will again on Sunday. Here is some helpful advice on cold weather planning. It’s never too soon to start getting prepared. Anticipating freezing conditions and Cold Weather Planning to protect buildings, equipment, and grounds against freeze damage […]
Precise Automation – Automate 2019 Press Release
Press Release Source: Precise Automation, Inc. Precise Automation to Present the Only Full Line of Industrial Collaborative Robots at Automate 2019 Fremont, California — March 25, 2019 – Precise Automation will present the only full line of industrial collaborative robots April 8 1 1 at Automate 2019, booth 6565 in Chicago, IL (https://www.automateshow.com/). These products […]
Automate 2019 – Free Pass
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Spring is here and we are gearing up to go to Automate 2019. This year it will be from April 8 thru the 11th at McCormick Place in Chicago. Sure Controls is excited to be partnered with 5 robotics partners, the booth numbers are listed below. “You […]
Selecting a Regenerative Blower for Process Heater Applications
Selecting a Regenerative Blower for Process Heater Applications Regenerative blowers are portable, low-pressure air sources that are ideal for use with many Tutco SureHeat Air Heaters. They provide inexpensive, clean, oil free air, and can be easily mounted on equipment. A blower must be able to provide your desired amount of flow even with the […]
The Great Wisconsin Chili Cook-Off
Each year, with the Super Bowl well in the review mirror, the good people of Sure Controls switch their attention from football to the hottest game in town, the Annual Chili Cook-Off. When we say hot, we mean spicy and competitive. This year no fewer than 15 people entered. The chilies ranged from white chicken chili to […]
Common Melt Rheometer Techniques
Capillary Dies in Capillary Rheometer Azadeh Farahanchi, Rheological Scientist, Ph.D 05.21.2018 Capillary rheometer is one the most common melt rheometer techniques to understand flow behavior and rheological properties of polymer materials under typical processing condition. In this test method, the molten polymer sample is forced to flow through an interchangeable capillary die by means of […]
Ensuring Safety and Efficacy in Fluid Infusion for Medical Procedures
Ensuring Safety and Efficacy in Fluid Infusion for Medical Procedures In a broad spectrum of medical procedures, infusing normothermic fluid is the key to better patient outcomes. That’s particularly true in trauma situations when quick delivery of blood products to patients is essential for their survival. In many of these instances, medical professionals rely on […]
Micro-Automation six axis Robot
How much space do you need for a Micro-Automation six axis Robot? If you intend to use a micro-automation six axis robot arm, such as Mecademic’s Meca500 used in this tutorial as an example, you are most probably interested in positioning and orienting the robot’s tool (end-effector) in various locations. Therefore, you’ll certainly want to know […]
What is the Rheological Significance of the Entrance Pressure Drop?
Extensional Viscosity – Rheological Significance of the Entrance Pressure Drop Azadeh Farahanchi, Rheological Scientist, Ph.D Extensional/elongational viscosity measurements (melt strength) are of rheological importance in any plastic stretching process for example blow molding, sheet extrusion, blown film extrusion, fiber spinning, etc. as the plastic is constantly stretching or expanding in such processes. Two polymers […]
How to choose the Right Gearhead
Provide more Torque at Lower RPMs How to choose the Right Gearhead: The appropriate use of gearing in your motion control application can make it run at lower rpms and provide more torque. Should you decide to use a gearhead, available configurations include an in-line or a right-angle gearhead. You must and also decide whether […]
Sure University – Continuing Excellence
At Sure Controls, we pride ourselves in being current. The DNA of our company and services is a continuum of excellence. Any project, from very small to large strategic initiatives is worked on and managed by educated and excellent personnel. Our know-how, attention to detail, and professional acumen bring smiles to our customers every time. […]
Plant Intelligence…and Beer!
It is a (not so) well kept secret that we have a homemade beer machine at Sure Controls. The beer machine is always the highlight of any facility tour we give to our customers. I thought it could also be a very cool way to demonstrate some of our Plant Intelligence capabilities! A few weeks […]
Automation is Everywhere
Fully-Automated Cheese Brine System You might expect a fully- automated cheese brine system when you see a horse pulling a little black buggy like in the picture above the last thing that may come to mind is industrial automation. That was a true statement for me also, until I was involved with a fully automated cheese brining […]
Temperature Control Success Story
Temperature Control Success: Film Tech, a company in Stanley, WI, purchased a used 3 layer blown film line from a company in Ohio. The machine was disassembled and brought to their facility in the spring of 2015. Film Tech requested that a complete controls upgrade be completed on the line due to lapses in documentation […]
Gearing in Motion-Control Designs
What are the Advantages of Using a Gearhead? Estimates say that only about one-third of the motion control systems in service use gearing, although there are good reasons for doing so. For example, when your motion control system must run at 1,000 rpm or less, the use of a gearhead is advantageous. It’s also wise […]
Single Loop vs. Multi-Loop Temperature Controllers
How to Choose the Best Temperature Controller for a Systems Project What works best… Single Loop or Multi-Loop Temperature Controllers? In our experiences as a systems integrator, we use many different types of process controllers, including discrete single-loop controllers (such as the Eurotherm 3216), multi-loop controllers (such as the Eurotherm Mini-8 or RKC SRZ), and […]
Christmas Spirit at Sure Controls
Give a Smile to Get a Smile At Sure Controls our mission is to deliver smiles to receive smiles. We take great pride in our customer service and our ability to go above and beyond. Each year, at Christmas, this mission becomes a little more personal. We look to deliver smiles to families and children […]
Real Time Enterprise Interoperability
OPC-UA Technology Delivers Real-Time Enterprise Interoperability OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) has been a protocol for industrial automation since its release in 2006. It is considered one of the most secure and versatile communication technologies for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). A unique feature is that it is operating system (OS) is agnostic. It […]
Pairing Gearheads with Servo Motors
Pairing Gearheads with Servo Motors Machine designers are increasingly turning to gearheads to take advantage of the latest advances in servo motor technology. Essentially, a gearhead converts high-speed, low-torque energy into low-speed, high-torque output. A servo motor provides highly accurate positioning of its output shaft. When pairing gearheads with servo motors, they enhance each other’s […]
Extreme Industrial Ethernet Switches
Industrial-Grade Ethernet Switches to the Rescue Real life Problem The news this summer has been dominated by the story of the boys soccer team from Thailand that was trapped in a cave. Happily, they were all rescued and are safe now. Now that we know there is is a happy ending, it’s fun to figure […]
Definition of Delivering Smiles!
By Jenni Hansen At Sure Controls, we strive to ensure our customers are smiling! The following are the Webster definitions of two very important, yet simple looking words that we strive to provide to our customers every day! Delivering: Bring and hand over (a letter, parcel, or ordered goods) to the proper recipient or address […]
What is the Best Ethernet Switch for Harsh Environments?
Best Ethernet Switch for Harsh Environments: Industrial IP67 Managed Gigabit Ethernet Switches with PoE+ New Models Offer Bypass Relay, PoE+ Support and Full Gigabit Performance Sure Controls is proud to offer Red Lion Controls, as they are the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking. Red Lion has announced new additions […]
Ethernet – the Backbone of IoT
Ethernet – the Backbone of IoT You would have had to been living in a cave for the last two years if you haven’t heard the constant drumbeat of “Industry 4.0” and “The Internet of Things” (IoT). Admittedly the lure of “easily connectable” and “smart” devices that can be implemented at low cost is […]
What is Robotic Machine Tending?
How Does Automated Robotic Machine Tending Work? Most machine tending is done by humans. Machine shops use their human workforce to load and unload machines and to restart the program once the finished part is out of the way. The tasks are often repetitive and as qualified workers are becoming harder and harder to find, […]
How are Cartesian Robots Different?
Are you curious about the differences between a Cartesian robot and other types of robots? We understand it can be confusing when first hearing about robotic automation, so we’re here to help break down how Cartesian robots differ from other more commonly used models. In this blog post, you’ll find out why Cartesian robots are […]
Fast-to-Deploy Collaborative Robots
Sawyer has been designed to increase performance and adaptability What is a collaborative robot? If you look up collaborative robots on the internet, there are variations of what it is. The literal definition of collaboration is The action of working with someone to produce or create something, which is the exact purpose of collaborative robots. […]
Improved Web Handling – A Success Story
Line 5 at Film Tech Background Film Tech, a company in Stanley, WI, purchased a used 3 layer blown film line from a company in Ohio. The machine was disassembled and brought to their facility in the spring of 2015. Film Tech requested that a complete controls upgrade be completed on the line due to […]
SSD Link is Obsolete; Have you a got a plan? Don’t worry, we have a solution!
By Brian Bobbe Although your current drives and PLC system maybe be working well, do you know for how long and what you’re plan is if you do go down? We completely understand the stress it causes you when you know that your current drive systems are obsolete not to mention it’s tricky to plan […]
Demystifying Automated Data Acquisition – Part Three of Three
By Ken Gifford Have you ever taken someone to Baskin-Robbins who really likes ice cream? Invariably, whenever I take my wife there, she has a pretty good idea in her mind what she has a taste for. However, when presented with the bewildering array of choices available, she has a hard time making up her […]
Brewing a Perfect Beer – The Advantages of Controlled Brewing
By: Josh Beyer For Christmas my wife gave me supplies for making home-brewed beer. This was the perfect gift, because I enjoy craft beers and was looking for a new hobby. This included a 5-gallon Stainless Steel brew kettle and all the supplies to make my first batch of brewskies! Shortly after brewing my first […]
What Are Collaborative Robots?
By: Roger Mahler My first experience with robots was in High School; in the mid 1980s our Industrial arts teacher had purchased a 2 axis pneumatic robot kit. It was made of machined aluminum plate and was controlled by air solenoids fired by an Apple IIe computer. The available actions were axis 0 (base)rotated horizontally […]
Demystifying Automated Data Acquisition – Part One
By Ken Gifford Whenever I am presenting on this topic, I have a little video I like to show. In the video, we see a man driving a cement truck. He seems happy and content with his work while he sits at the stop light. He glances down at a photograph of his wife taped […]
How Does an Inductive Pressure Transducer Work?
What is an Inductive Pressure Transducer? As more and more of today’s industrial processes become automated, the demand for sensors that are capable of meeting the challenge has greatly increased. One important sensor in many modern electrical controls is the inductive pressure transducer. While the name may sound a bit intimidating, in reality, it’s a […]
How to Select a Company for Your Stepper Motor Repair
Let us help teach you how to select a company for your stepper motor repair. What is a Stepper Motor? A stepper motor is an electromechanical device that achieves mechanical movements from conversion of electrical pulses. Rather than continuously applied voltage it is driven by digital pulses. In contrast to the conventional electric motors which […]
What to do when a blown trigger goes unnoticed
The Problem: Blow Plug trigger going unnoticed; a blow plug is a safety device that relieves excess pressure in an extrusion process. It prevents catastrophic failure of the barrel. What happens: The problem occurs in a line running multiple layers of film at one time. The plug blows, the plastic is expelled on to the […]
How to Resolve a Heater Failure
The Problem: Heater failure in a manufacturing process that required precise heat control. What happens: Undetected, product produced may fail to meet quality standards and become scrap. Add to that the lost production time to re-make the poor quality and you have an expensive problem. How to Resolve a Heater Failure: Sure Controls can install […]
What to consider before you purchase a linear motion actuator
A linear motion actuator is a device that creates motion in a straight line. It has applications ranging from industrial machineries to computer accessories. These linear motion actuators are classified on the basis of how it creates the linear motion. Types of Linear Motion Actuators Mechanical linear actuator– it generates linear displacement from a rotary […]
Your profits are off and costs must be lowered, now what?
The Problem: Your profits are off – costs must be lowered Your efforts miss the mark when they focus on areas that don’t deliver the needed return on the investment. Initiatives are launched by guessing where the real problems are in your manufacturing process. Data is costly to collect. Accuracy is suspect. Bottom Line: Waste […]
NIST Traceable Calibration
Who is NIST and what do they do? NIST traceable calibration is an assurance program that certifies that a laboratory or manufacturer is fully equipped to calibrate equipment to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards and that any products offered by that manufacturer will match those NIST-maintained measurement standards. It means that […]
