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22 MMS June 2014 mmsonline.com one-off Commentary exemplifed by high-speed, high-defnition cameras that offer improved part recognition capability for picking operations. Offine robot programming tools are becoming more powerful and intuitive, too. In addition, collaborative robots, those that are said to operate safely near humans, might also encourage shops to more closely consider auto- mation. Collaborative robots use advanced force sensing technology to enable them to safely work alongside people without traditional safety fencing. Sensors detect if the robot unexpectedly makes contact with a person, and immediately stops the robot's motion to prevent worker injury. (FANUC will introduce its version at IMTS 2014.) • Automation creates a quality workforce. Automation can lead to modest pruning of person- nel who lack the desire to grow their skills. Con- versely, it presents opportunities for others who are motivated to advance, and can ultimately lead to additional hiring. Automated machine shops require robot cell attendants, programmers and maintenance technicians. These are quality posi- tions that can be flled by retrained people who previously loaded and unloaded machines. Those who improve their skillsets become higher-value assets for a company. They also are more likely to be committed to the business, knowing they pos- sess the level of skills that provide greater job security. And it doesn't hurt that their paycheck is bigger, too. Of course, this requires an investment in training, but shops that are proactive enough to employ automation likely are also willing to develop effective internal training procedures. Examples of automation being applied at suc- cessful shops are found in our Robots and Auto- mation Zone at mmsonline.com/zones/robots- and-automation . Automation will also have a large presence at IMTS with the return of the Industrial Automation North America show, which launched at IMTS 2012. Take advantage of these and other resources and consider how you might leverage automation to grow your business, develop a more talented workforce, and better position your shop to win work that is returning to our shores. DID YOU KNOW… "PRECISION BY DESIGN" IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL SPERONI TOOL PRESETTING & MEASURING SYSTEMS Stay in the know at bigkaiser.com/presetting. HIGHER PERFORMANCE. GUARANTEED. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: + Modularity: The modular design allows for a variety of confgurations—offering customized solutions in standard products, and guaranteeing compatibility with future upgrades + Repeatability: The pearlitic cast iron design provides thermal stability—guaranteeing precision and repeatability, and eliminating the need for frequent recalibration + Longevity: Over ffty years of experience manufacturing future-proof technology through product evolution—so you can be sure your machine will never be obsolete + Unparalleled Accuracy: Critical components not manufactured by Speroni are carefully selected—Heidenhain ® scales, Schneeberger ® guideways, etc.—in order to guarantee +/- .00008" precision 0614_MMS_one-off.indd 22 5/14/2014 9:59:37 AM