In the dynamic realm of automation, Autoblocks™ Cloud emerges as a transformative solution, reshaping the way we approach and manage machine operations. Explore the key facets that define Autoblocks™ Cloud's impact on seamless connectivity, intelligent insights, and unparalleled control.&nbsp;Seamless Connectivity Unleashed:Autoblocks™ Cloud eradicates geographical constraints, providing a universal solution for accessing machine data. Whether proximate or distant, experience real-time monitoring and control, fostering flexibility and efficiency.&nbsp;Insights that Drive Efficiency:Enter a new era of data-driven decision-making with Autoblocks™ Cloud. Access valuable insights through detailed analytics and comprehensive reports, gaining a holistic perspective on machine performance. This intelligent approach empowers businesses to optimize operations and enhance overall efficiency.&nbsp;Scalable Solutions for Dynamic Growth:Recognizing the evolving nature of businesses, Autoblocks™ Cloud offers scalable solutions that grow effortlessly with operations. Customized to unique needs, these cloud solutions ensure adaptability, enabling businesses to expand without limitations.&nbsp;Security at the Forefront:In an era where security is paramount, Autoblocks™ Cloud prioritizes the confidentiality and integrity of data. Robust security measures guarantee peace of mind, allowing businesses to focus on innovation with confidence.&nbsp;Autoblocks™ Cloud stands as a beacon of progress in the automation landscape. As businesses navigate Industry 4.0 complexities, this intelligent cloud-based solution charts a course for a future where connectivity is seamless, insights are profound, and control is unparalleled.&nbsp;Embrace the power of empowerment. Elevate your operations with Autoblocks™ Cloud - where innovation meets automation for a smarter, more connected future.

Autoblocks™ Cloud emerges as a transformative solution, reshaping the way we approach and manage machine operations. Explore the key facets that define AutoBlocks Cloud's impact on seamless connectivity, intelligent insights, and unparalleled control.

Empowering Automation: AutoBlocks Cloud Redefines Connectivity and Control

Autoblocks™, a trailblazer in the field of machine building, is making waves with its recent rapid developments and customer-centric approach. Fueled by invaluable feedback from users, the company is not just meeting but exceeding expectations in its mission to make machine building more affordable and scalable.&nbsp;Key Features Unveiled:&nbsp;In the span of just a few weeks, Autoblocks™ has introduced a range of exciting features that are reshaping the landscape of machine building:&nbsp;<ul><li>Improved HMI Home Screen:</li></ul>Autoblocks™ has enhanced the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) home screen, introducing an icon-based navigation system. This user-friendly interface promises a more intuitive and streamlined experience for operators, ultimately boosting efficiency and ease of use.&nbsp;<ul><li>APP Based Station Configurations:</li></ul>The introduction of application-based station configurations marks a significant leap forward in Autoblocks™' commitment to innovation. An upcoming app will empower users to effortlessly configure their stations, offering a level of flexibility and customization that was previously unparalleled.&nbsp;<ul><li>Eco-Friendly Autoblocks System:</li></ul>Noteworthy among the recent features is the eco-friendly nature of the Autoblocks™ System. Customers are raving about the recyclable components, underlining Autoblocks' dedication to sustainable practices. This not only aligns with current environmental concerns but also positions Autoblocks™ as a socially responsible industry leader.&nbsp;Customer Feedback:&nbsp;The driving force behind Autoblocks™' recent strides is the invaluable feedback received from its customer base. The company recognizes the importance of listening to its users, and their input has played a pivotal role in shaping the latest developments. The positive response to these new features underscores Autoblocks™' commitment to delivering solutions that truly resonate with its clientele.&nbsp;Upcoming Developments:&nbsp;The excitement doesn't stop here. Autoblocks™ hints at more updates in the pipeline, urging customers and enthusiasts alike to stay tuned for what promises to be even more groundbreaking innovations. As the company continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in machine building, the anticipation for what comes next is palpable.&nbsp;For those eager to learn more or explore how Autoblocks™ can cater to their specific needs, reaching out is as easy as ever. The company invites inquiries and discussions, encouraging interested parties to contact them at info@autoblocks.co. Whether you're a current user or a potential collaborator, Autoblocks™ is open to connecting and sharing more about its revolutionary advancements.&nbsp;Autoblocks™' recent announcements showcase a company not just at the forefront of technology but also one deeply attuned to the needs and preferences of its user base. With a commitment to affordability, scalability, and sustainability, Autoblocks™ is proving that machine building can indeed be a dynamic and user-centric industry. As the journey of innovation continues, Autoblocks™ remains a name to watch in the evolving landscape of automation and technology.

Autoblocks has introduced a range of exciting features

Recent Developments and Customer Feedback by Autoblocks

Advancements in Machine Building

There’s a new robot in town. Actually, there are two of them.They’re small but mighty. In fact, numerous universities and robotics labs already use their predecessor for high-level research. That original robot, the AgileX LIMO, was a game-changer when it came to an affordable and flexible platform. Boston University currently has a fleet of LIMOs running custom algorithms and simulations related to how real-world autonomous vehicles will interact in the Smart Cities of the future. (It’s really cool research, and you can read all about it <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/boston-university-uses-agilex-limo-for-research/" target="_blank">here</a>.)That first LIMO was truly a ground-breaker – and remains an excellent R&amp;D research platform. But now, AgileX has taken things further. Two new versions of LIMO offer advanced hardware, software, runtime – and capabilities.Below: The original LIMO that started it all…<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk5MzAzMjcwNzgyLUxJTU8gb24gcm9jay5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">Main Features</h3>Before we get into the significant changes incorporated into the new models, it's worth looking at some of the strong features common to all members of the LIMO family. For starters, each LIMO has four steering modes: Omnidirectional steering, tracked steering, Ackerman and four-wheel differential.All LIMOs are equipped with obstacle detection. Multiple onboard sensors can pick up on the size, distance and location of obstacles, allowing the robot to navigate its environment without conflict. The newer LIMO models have significant enhancements here, which we'll explore in a moment.Despite their relatively small size – so small an untrained eye might potentially mistake them for a toy – the LIMOs feature a robust, all-metal build and powerful motor. They also feature powerful onboard EDGE computing suitable to pretty much any R&amp;D requirements.&nbsp;<h3>Who Uses the LIMO robot?</h3>There are really two main categories of users, with the first being those in the educational field."This is a great tool for anyone looking to learn ROS, because they can do all of the advanced concepts – obstacle detection, SLAM, teleoperation, to name a few," explains Luke Corbeth, Head of InDro's R&amp;D Sales Division."And we make that really simple through our improved documentation. We’ve basically built a course around it, so it can be used for teaching students."The other main group of users, of course, are on the research side of things."It’s almost always used in labs for multi-agent systems or multiple robot projects. Because it’s multi-modal, when you're doing a multi-agent system it can be homogenous or heterogeneous, meaning you use different steering in different robots simultaneously."Dimensions of all versions of LIMO are identical, as seen below.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk5MzA0NjE2MTM4LUxJTU8gVGVjaCBTcGVjcyBmb3IgV2V2b2x2ZXIgUG9zdC5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">Meet the New LIMOs</h3>The original LIMO is still a great robot – and is currently in use by many universities. But AgileX didn't rest on its laurels. In response to the availability of new technologies – along with a wish-list from existing clients – the company has taken things further with its new LIMO PRO and the LIMO ROS2."Obviously as research in autonomy advances, so do the computational requirements," explains Corbeth. "So it’s very important as a robotics manufacturer to stay ahead of the curve so that the hardware meets up with the current research requirements of the day."To that end, the new versions feature upgrades on computational power, sensors and run-time."The big difference is in compute – we're moving from the Jetson Xavier to the Jetson Orin Nano on the LIMO PRO and the INTEL NUC on the LIMO ROS2. Both of these are actually massive upgrades."The Orin Nano is a very powerful EDGE computer. That power translates into more stable multi-sensor data fusion and speed with SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) processing.Speaking of SLAM, the LIMO PRO and LIMO ROS2 come with a new LiDAR unit. While the original LIMO used the very capable EAI X2L unit, the new versions come with the EAI T-mini Pro."Plus, the battery in the new unit goes from an hour of run-time to 2-1/2 hours – with a standby of four hours," adds Corbeth.&nbsp;<h3>SOFTWARE</h3>Not surprisingly, the two new versions also feature some software upgrades. The LIMO PRO and ROS2 versions come with Ubuntu 20.04 (the original LIMO runs version 18.04). In terms of ROS (Robot Operating System) libraries, the first generation LIMO is outfitted with ROS1 Melodic. The LIMO PRO features both ROS1 Noetic and ROS2 Foxy. The LIMO ROS2 has ROS2 Humble onboard.Already have some of the first-generation LIMOs in your lab? No problem."The new models can co-exist with the original LIMO," says Corbeth. "And if the computing demands are higher than previous applications, it makes sense of have a blend of models."The graphic below outlines the feature sets of the three models:<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk5MzA2MzQ4ODk4LUxJTU8gQ29tcGFyaXNvbiBDaGFydC5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">INDRO'S TAKE</h3>InDro Robotics has a lot of clients who have put the original LIMO to use in labs and educational institutes across North America. Boston University has a very large fleet of LIMOs deployed – hard at work on multiple research projects related to Smart Cities and autonomous vehicles. They've proven to be a robust, cost-effective tool for high-level research.And now, with the fresh release of LIMO PRO and LIMO ROS2, there are two more affordable options."This is a significant development for anyone looking to expand their current fleet of LIMOS, as well as those who have been waiting in the wings for an upgrade," says Corbeth. "These are incredibly powerful and versatile robots/research tools, with the added bonus that the entire line is very affordable."If you're interested in learning more, InDro Robotics is the exclusive distributor of AgileX in Canada, as well as a distributor for all of North America. We have built excellent documentation and manuals to assist users ranging from beginning to expert – and all of that added value and support comes with every purchase made through InDro.For more information from a robot expert, contact Luke Corbeth <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/connectwithanexpert/" target="_blank">here.</a>

Bringing Advanced Abilities to Research and Development

LIMO Pro Robot and LIMO ROS2

The Power of PrecisionThe heart of any automated system is its ability to precisely control movement and operations. Autoblocks™ has taken this to the next level with the Turn Block™ indexing table, which offers unmatched capabilities for managing operator loading, robots, power, air, communication, and safety.&nbsp;Build and Price Your MachineAt Autoblocks™, we put the power in your hands. You have the ability to design and price your machine according to your specific requirements. With Turn Block™ indexing tables available in two sizes – 24" and 36" – you can tailor your automation setup to meet your exact needs.&nbsp;Key FeaturesHere are some of the key features that make Turn Block™ a standout choice for manufacturing automation:&nbsp;1. Customizable Control:Program the speed, direction, and angle of indexing to meet your specific manufacturing needs.This base block serves as the control center for machine power, safety, air, and communication, providing a streamlined and efficient operation.&nbsp;2. Coordination at Its Best:Seamlessly coordinates operator loading and interfaces with up to 3 machine blocks, ensuring a synchronized workflow.&nbsp;The table is available in acrylic, aluminum, and steel, offering flexibility for various applications.&nbsp;3. Durability and Stability:The Turn Block™ is built on a strong and stable steel bench-top chassis, complete with locating pins for precision processes.Electronics are housed in an easily accessible, removable drawer for hassle-free maintenance.&nbsp;4. Safety First:Designed with safety in mind, the Turn Block™&nbsp;is light curtain and door switch-ready and prewired for added convenience.Part presence sensors enable effective part tracking, enhancing the overall safety and efficiency of your operations.&nbsp;5. Data Traceability:Stay in control with data traceability using a bar code scanner and data capture/retrieval.Easily mount machine enclosures directly to the Turn Block™, streamlining your manufacturing setup.&nbsp;6. Speed &amp; Torque:With a maximum table speed of 20 RPM and a maximum torque of 5.4 in-lbs. at max speed,&nbsp;Turn Block™&nbsp;ensures both speed and precision in your manufacturing processes.&nbsp;7. Warranty:Autoblocks™ stands behind its product with a 12-month warranty against manufactured defects, providing peace of mind for your investment.&nbsp;In a world where efficiency, precision, and adaptability are essential, Autoblocks™&nbsp;Turn Block™ indexing table offers a cutting-edge solution that empowers manufacturers to take their automation to new heights. Whether you're looking to enhance productivity, improve safety, or streamline your processes, Turn Block™&nbsp;is the answer.&nbsp;Autoblocks™&nbsp;continues to lead the way in industrial automation, and the Turn Block™ indexing table is a testament to their commitment to innovation and excellence. As industries evolve, Autoblocks™ remains at the forefront, offering solutions that redefine manufacturing automation. Build and price your machine today and experience the future of automation with Autoblocks™.

Explore our automation building blocks for soldering, brazing, screw fastening, induction, assembly, inspection and much more.

In the ever-evolving landscape of manufacturing and automation, efficiency and precision are paramount. Autoblocks™ understands this fundamental need and has introduced the groundbreaking Turn Block™ indexing table, a game-changer in the world of industrial automation.

Introducing Autoblocks™ Turn Block™ Indexing Table: Revolutionizing Manufacturing Automation.

Welcome to the New World of Automation - Building Blocks for Fast and Affordable Automation!I&#39;m thrilled to take you on a journey through the evolution of AutoBlocks, an innovation designed to transform the landscape of industrial automation.In the realm of industrial automation, the last five years have seen a remarkable journey of innovation and transformation. Our team embarked on this path with a clear vision - to explore the boundaries of manufacturing and robotic automation. Drawing from the deep expertise of Fancort in advanced manufacturing, we envisioned a novel way to cater to the unique needs of clients in the Electronics and Aerospace sectors.Our journey was characterized by relentless passion and the pursuit of innovation. We undertook the ambitious task of constructing machines of increasing complexity. This endeavor has been not only enriching for our team but also instrumental in creating cutting-edge solutions for some of the world&#39;s foremost manufacturers.However, amid these successes, we encountered a significant challenge. The complexity of our systems, while delivering exceptional performance, limited our capacity to reach a broader market. It became apparent that there was a pressing need for scalable, semi-custom solutions that didn&#39;t demand exorbitant budgets or extended timelines.Conversations with industry peers revealed a common theme - the absence of a structured approach in the automation industry. It was akin to a child given a vast assortment of building blocks but no blueprint. The potential was immense, yet the outcomes often lacked sophistication.In response to these challenges, we are proud to introduce a pioneering solution - AutoBlocks. This platform represents a fundamental shift in how we perceive automation. AutoBlocks is built on the foundation of modular components, including indexing turntables, motion-additive machine blocks, and specialized application kits. It embodies the essence of flexible, scalable automation.Our collaboration with industry giants like Epson and Cognex signifies the beginning of a promising journey. But this is just the start. Our pipeline is teeming with exciting additions set to debut in early 2024. AutoBlocks is poised to become the preferred platform for future-proof automation solutions.AutoBlocks transcends being a mere product; it symbolizes the future of industrial automation. We invite you to join us on this transformative journey. Together, let&#39;s usher in a new era of innovation, efficiency, and accessibility in the realm of manufacturing and robotics.

Welcome to the new world of Automation - Building Blocks for Fast and Affordable Automation! 

A New Era in Industrial Automation

Part 2 of our dexterous robotic hand series. 

Dexterous Robotic Hands Part 2: How the Shadow Dexterous Hand is Revolutionizing Robotics

Achieving precision in PID tuning yields remarkable outcomes, such as increased system efficiency, responsiveness, and overall operational performance

PID tuning represents a key aspect of control systems, influencing the performance and stability of diverse industries' operations. By adjusting the proportional, integral, and derivative constants, a PID controller minimizes error and ensures the control variable aligns with dynamic system changes. Achieving precision in PID tuning yields remarkable outcomes, such as increased system efficiency, responsiveness, and overall operational performance.

Mastering PID Tuning: The Comprehensive Guide

With its intuitive visual representation and logical structure, ladder logic resembling to electrical relay circuits, ladder logic programming has become a standard in the field to develop complex control systems

Ladder logic programming, a graphical language inspired by electrical relay logic circuits, has been a vital tool in industrial automation systems since their early days. Developed to simplify the programming and control of complex machinery like assembly lines and manufacturing equipment, ladder logic programming's intuitive visual representation and logical structure have made it a standard in the field.

Ladder Logic Programming: A Comprehensive Guide

Robotic arms in the industry based on PID loop 

This guide delves into the basics and components of PID control, implementation, application examples, impacts, challenges, and solutions aiming to provide readers with a thorough understanding of this integral concept.

PID Loops: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Implementation

Electric machinery parts manufacturing in industry 

This guide delves into DFM's principles, implementation process, impacts, and challenges, aiming to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of this integral concept.

Enhancing Industrial Processes through Design for Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Guide

<h2 id="isPasted">Some Historical Perspective</h2>The relationship between physical engineering and the programmable computer is as old as the computer itself. The reality is that, for most of us, crunching lots of numbers by hand is frustrating, time-consuming, and error-prone.The British government of the 1820s agreed, opting to fund the early development of Charles Babbage&#39;s difference engines. These were visually striking machines: large mechanical computers, some capable of solving 7th order polynomials, that were intended to dramatically reduce the cost of production of tabulated trigonometric and logarithmic functions &mdash; the kind that were incredibly useful to scientists, engineers and navigators in the immediate aftermath of the Industrial Revolution.Fast forward to 1945, and we see the first glimpse of modernity: ENIAC, the world&#39;s first programmable, electronic, general-purpose digital computer. If you&#39;re curious as to what was it designed for, the answer is the computation of artillery and mortar firing tables; a task that involves exactly the kind of Newtonian mechanics calculations that will be familiar to any undergraduate mechanical or aerospace engineering student (see: Mayevski&#39;s <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Trait%C3%A9_de_balistique_ext%C3%A9rieure.html?id=jE_zAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y" target="_blank">Trait&eacute; de balistique ext&eacute;rierure&nbsp;</a>, or the US Army Ballistic Research Laboratories&#39; <a href="https://asset-pdf.scinapse.io/prod/77299953/77299953.pdf" target="_blank">The Production of Firing Tables for Cannon Artillery</a>).Just a decade or so after ENIAC, IBM drew up its first specifications for a new programming language, The IBM Mathematical Formula Translating System, familiar to many of us as FORTRAN. Developed expressly for science and engineering, FORTRAN is a true titan of the scientific computing world. If you&#39;ve ever fired up MATLAB, analysed a load-case with an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_element_method" target="_blank">FEA</a> package, or run some new geometry in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_fluid_dynamics" target="_blank">CFD</a> &mdash; then it&#39;s almost certain that FORTRAN is involved in that stack somewhere, even six or seven decades on.<hr><h2 id="isPasted">Why Software Matters For Hardware</h2>The advantages of using digital computers in the physical engineering disciplines are both marked and multifarious, and I hope somewhat obvious.At a low level, these advantages can be quite straightforward. They include things like providing engineers with the ability to perform large numbers of calculations with little to no risk of human error. Think of something like repeated matrix multiplication, perhaps as part of a kinematics problem. How confident would you be in getting every step of that calculation right, without accidentally picking up a value one row down or one column across from where you intended? Thankfully, with the help of a few lines of FORTRAN, MATLAB, or Python, the computer can perform these calculations on your behalf, perhaps billions of times, without the threat of inconsistency or human error. At least... <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_FDIV_bug" target="_blank">almost all of the time.</a>At a higher level, however, these advantages are even more pronounced. They are the culmination of decades of work across several disciplines; the output of engineers, scientists and mathematicians who have designed, implemented, and shared computational techniques that address a myriad of challenging problems &mdash; from solving partial differential equations at scale, enabling modern FEA and CFD, through to the development of boundary representation solid modelling techniques that enable modern CAD systems. The convergence of these technologies has revolutionised engineering; accelerating development cycles, reducing the need for physical testing, and helping the world&#39;s engineers improve the quality and performance of everything from ships to spacecraft.As an illustration, think of the draughting process. For many engineering professionals who started their careers prior to the 1990s, draughting work would have still involved a drawing board, pens, and paper, cellulose, and/or linen. In the event of a mistake, the draughtsperson would have had to break out the scalpel or Tipp-Ex to &#39;erase&#39; the error, or issue an entirely separate drawing amendment to be paired with the original documents. With modern CAD systems, minor drawing modifications completed prior to release go completely unnoticed, and subsequent amendments can be as simple as a quick tweak and a brief change order &mdash; no redrawing of anything, no folder of amendments.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjg1NTI3MDQ5MjY0LUhXRHJhd2luZ09mZmljZS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption id="isPasted">The Harland &amp; Wolff Drawing Office, Belfast, at some point during the 1960s or 1970s. My father served part of his apprenticeship in this room a decade or two later. Maritime Belfast/National Museums Northern Ireland</figcaption>Better yet, imagine the difference in resource requirement and development cycle times for something like a turbocharger. If every minor tweak to blade or housing geometry requires an entire manufacture, assembly, and balancing routine before the new design makes it to the gas stand, every iteration will fall weeks behind and cost significantly more to explore than its simulation-driven counterpart &mdash; where a design change could make it to CFD in a matter of minutes. This is before we even consider the introduction of something like mathematical optimisation into this loop, where the responsible engineer could define their objective function, their variables, and their constraints, and conceivably let the computer play tunes with the geometry, feed that into the simulation, interrogate the results, then rinse and repeat until it reaches an optimum. Ultimately, well correlated models, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_models_are_wrong" id="isPasted" target="_blank">even if wrong</a>, are incredibly useful.<hr><h2 id="isPasted">Why Hardware Matters for Everyone</h2>So computers are wonderful tools, and so are the niche software packages we run on them, but so what? Well, I believe we now find ourselves at a critical point in both the trajectory of engineering as a discipline, and in its utility as a mechanism for improving our lives as a species. We have a lot of *very* active engineering fields right now, with a lot of important problems to address &mdash; and in the end, at some point, somebody has to actually make stuff to make things better.For example, it seems to me that we are standing but a few feet forward of the starting line in a new, privately funded space race. We have seen SpaceX engineers repeatedly achieve nothing short of a triumph of control engineering: reversing a rocket onto a barge in the ocean, opening the door to reuse, and as a result, both dramatically reduced space access costs and dramatically increased launch cadence. We have companies like SpinLaunch working to yield orbital access mechanisms that help escape <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition30/tryanny.html" target="_blank">the tyranny of the rocket equation&nbsp;</a>.We have a burgeoning paradigm shift in personal transport, with electric cars, scooters, and e-bikes encroaching further and further on the internal combustion engine&#39;s long-established territory.We have additive manufacturing evolving into a serious, cost-competitive manufacturing technique that can achieve geometries beyond the reach of traditional subtractive approaches, and we have generative design technology helping engineers produce mathematically optimised, often organic-looking solutions to pressing design problems. To see the power of these two in concert, just look at <a href="https://www.czinger.com/" target="_blank">Czinger</a> and <a href="https://www.divergent3d.com/" target="_blank">Divergent</a>.And, of course, we have ever more compelling incentives to overhaul the majority of our civilisation&#39;s energy infrastructure, pushing us to diversify the means by which we generate electricity, fostering the development of improved wind, solar, and &mdash; I hope &mdash; nuclear technologies.In short, we&#39;ve got a lot of real-world engineering to tackle, and plenty of hardware to build.<hr><h2 id="isPasted">Software is Eating the World</h2>Ultimately, it strikes me that the way in which we develop the physical systems around us is changing, and not all our tools yet accommodate this.Despite the arrival of an entire range of engineering software systems in the latter part of the last century, these were typically specialised products, often designed to form improved but effectively like-for-like replacements of an existing way of accomplishing a given task, whether that was replacing the draughtsman and his drawing board with a CAD workstation, or replacing a complex, <a href="https://twitter.com/CalumDouglas1/status/1550594001874698246" target="_blank">stiffness-altering oil pressure measurement apparatus&nbsp;</a>around a bearing with a CFD case.As a result, we find ourselves at a point where, as a profession, we&#39;re equipped with some extremely impressive tools; tools that can help us build the shorter iterative loops that are required to yield accelerated system development.However, it feels like we&#39;re still using these revolutionary tools, developing the technology that is critical to our species&#39; future, inside an operational framework that was designed for slide rules, drawing boards, and row after row of draughtsmen packing a tobacco smoke filled drawing office.Our systems are heavily siloed, our teams often fragmented. We struggle to collaborate across teams, sites, and time zones. We have vast and unstructured knowledge bases that are full of effectively undiscoverable data, put beyond the reach of those who don&#39;t know exactly where to look. And we struggle for visibility &mdash; of tasks, responsibilities, upcoming changes, and most importantly, of our data.Even the big players recognise this. Dassault push <a href="https://discover.3ds.com/reduce-non-value-added-work" target="_blank">research</a> that shows engineers spend 34% of their time performing &#39;non-value-added&#39; work; dominated by the amount of time spent just looking for stuff, trawling through network drives and cluttered inboxes. This same research shows that engineers are typically working with outdated information 20% of the time &mdash; imagine a full day a week, every week, for every member of your team, just being thrown away because of bad input data. This pattern has to change.In fact, for newer hardware companies, I think some things have *already* changed. <a href="https://a16z.com/2011/08/20/why-software-is-eating-the-world" target="_blank">Software is eating the world&nbsp;</a>applies not only to the electronic control of fuel injectors and ignition coils, but to the adoption of software-like management practices, with a focus on short design-build-test loops. I may hate the confusing, jargon-heavy nomenclature of &#39;agile&#39; methodology, but there is some method in the madness.<hr><h2 id="isPasted">Better, More Collaborative Software for Engineering Teams</h2>The future that I see is one where we not only have specialised tools for specific parts of the engineering cycle, but we have a central, engineering specific hub; an operating system that ties these things together.We want to see the world&#39;s physical engineering teams build better products faster; to achieve shorter development cycles, to iterate faster, and to better leverage their internal knowledge &mdash; so that they can achieve their goals, whether that&#39;s kinetic launch, faster cars, or greener energy.We think this will be brought about by transforming how hardware teams communicate, collaborate, and manage technical knowledge. That means better, more connected software; software that focuses on resolving the productivity-killing shortfalls in current engineering process. We think hardware teams should have technical communication mechanisms that are fast, painless, and traceable; that allow new hires to find the information they need, without requiring someone else to go rooting through their inbox for half an hour. We think engineers should be able to see what colleagues are working on, how these items are prioritised, and what&#39;s coming next. We think engineers should be able to annotate drawings, share calculations and schematics, and offer opinions on proposed solutions &mdash; all in real-time, wherever they are, with all that data stored and indexed for easy discoverability down the line.&nbsp;Above all, we think engineers should have a single source of truth to work with; a repository of version-controlled design values, simulation outputs, and performance targets &mdash; whether those are scalar values, or n-dimensional maps.In the end, what we want to see is engineering teams moving beyond the pain of e-mail ping-pong with spreadsheets and presentations, to stop scrawling performance differentiating IP over paper drawings that are destined for the shredder, and to start letting the computers handle the busywork.

Betty Jean Jennings and Fran Bilas at the main ENIAC control panel. Moore School of Electrical Engineering. U.S. Army, ARL Technical Library Archives

The recent history of our physical engineering disciplines is intertwined with computing. The future is too. 

The Future of Hardware is... Better Software

This comprehensive guide aims to provide engineers with a solid foundation in material handling automation concepts, technologies, and best practices.

Material Handling Automation: A Comprehensive Guide for Engineers

Process control is a strategy used to monitor and adjust control variables of industrial processes to achieve the desired output. Integration of artificial intelligence will help operators bring more accuracy to complex tasks. 

Understanding Process Control: An important technique for industrial processes

<h1 id="isPasted">Castellations: How to Use Them in PCBA Design</h1>Many advanced system designs have criteria that require mounting an existing module onto a new PCBA. The best approach is to use a solder interface called castellations or a castellated edge. Semiplated copper indentations along the side of a PCBA provide both electrical and structural mounting support for a board-to-board interface. There are several applications for this type of interface. We will review what castellations are, why they get used, and several design considerations for castellated edges.<h2>What are Castellations</h2>Connectors on rigid PCBAs do not use pins or solder balls. Instead, castellations bring the circuit nodes to the outside PCBA edges without any extra hardware. Copper traces intended for connection to the outside follow the board&rsquo;s edge. A hole gets drilled through the PCB within the copper trace. &nbsp;Its other names include annular rings or plated holes.When the board gets separated from the array, the PCBA will get cut along its edge through these openings, forming a partial copper cavity&ndash;a castellation&ndash;which is electrically connected within the module circuit. Using these copper castellations as solder connections, the module can attach to a larger system board.<h3>Why are Castellations Used</h3><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1667831150744-1667831150744.png" alt="castellated electrical connections" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Castellations provide electrical connections from one PCBA to another. Smaller boards often serve as modules that provide a specific function to the system. For instances such as FCC-certified RF radio electromagnetic frequencies that get tested to specific standards, this can be especially useful. In this way, each module can get tested for known operation before the final system assembly. Castellations also facilitate debugging during prototyping by bringing all module nodes into an accessible area. &nbsp;This facilitates an easy SMT process for mounting modules.<h3>Designing with Castellated Edges</h3><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1667831150616-1667831150616.png" alt="castellated edges" class="fr-fic fr-dii">PCBA design for castellations for SMT modules and system boards requires some minor planning. With some foresight, most CAD design layout packages can accommodate castellated edge designs.A normal via process applies for developing the castellated holes on the PCBA edge. Holes get drilled through copper plating traces that extend beyond where the board edge will be eventually cut. Once the edge is cut to separate the PCBA from the rest of the array, these vias will resemble semicircle copper cylinders that span the thickness of the PCBA. It is possible to create castellated holes using small cutouts and lead-in holes. &nbsp;However, the most common method is to cut a via within a copper trace in half.Design attributes for castellated holes include:<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1667831150855-1667831150855.png" alt="enig surface finish" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><ul><li>Use appropriately sized vias larger than 0.5 mm, if possible.</li><li>An ENIG surface finish is typically used for castellated vias to permit reduction of the diameters, but this design decision will depend upon the module&rsquo;s application.</li><li>To apply maximum solder paste to the top and bottom of the module, make sure you use the largest pad available.</li><li>Allow for the proper spacing of the break tabs at the interface between the edge of the PCB and the rest of the array</li></ul>PCBAs on which modules will be mounted must have a footprint that is large enough to accommodate soldering castellated edges. The pads should be the largest dimensions allowed by the layout tool since their purpose is not only for electrical connection to the system but also for the structural mounting of the module. The area beneath the module must be kept free of components and other through-hole mountings since the module must sit flush with the PCB. By using solder paste on the pads and solder masking where appropriate, the proper solder volume can be applied without the risk of cold or weak joints. Work with your CM partner during your project development to understand any other criteria needed for castellated mounting within your design for manufacturing (DFM) plan.<h3>Conclusion</h3><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1667831150353-1667831150353.png" alt="conclusion" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Integrated functional modules can be produced on a single assembled PCB using castellations that can be stacked on a larger board for a second assembly. The castellations provide both electrical and structural connections for the module as an SMT device. The SMT assembly process for a castellated module is like that of other surface mount devices. Visual and electrical final test inspection can be accomplished on all castellated nodes after mounting, unlike other types of packaging with hidden pins.During the design process, ensure that large annular rings are used both on the surface as well as the inner layers to strengthen the structure of the interface. Work with your CM partner to establish the use of the ENIG surface finish for the best results. Finally, ensure that there is proper spacing for the break tabs that separate the PCBA from the array. This interface is critical to the success of the castellations.<h4>Let&rsquo;s Work Together</h4><a href="https://macrofab.com/rfq/?utm_content=four-reasons-your-electronics-development-team" target="_blank">Request a Quote</a>

With some foresight, most CAD design layout packages can accommodate castellated edge designs. 

Castellations: How to Use Them in PCBA Design

Wevolver, in partnership with <a href="https://growthgarage.mcam.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Growth Garage</a>, the business accelerator from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, Mitsubishi Chemical Europe, and &nbsp;Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates, invited engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, startups, companies, and students to submit their ideas, technologies, and products as part of the 2022 Circular Economy Challenge.&nbsp;The challenge looked for innovators throughout the plastics circular economy who want to make use of advanced low carbon footprint engineering plastics or have developed innovative recycling technologies for advanced engineering plastics.The challenge was open to participants in two key areas: 1. Recycling Technology and 2. Products &amp; Parts.&nbsp;The Circular Economy &nbsp;Challenge received over 60 entries from 17 countries. The Wevolver community vote had over 700 votes.&nbsp;Congratulations to all finalists and winners!<hr><h2 dir="ltr">The winner of the Circular Economy Challenge</h2><h2 dir="ltr">Category 1: Recycling Technology</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Jeosal Materials Research Corporation</h3>Canada<a href="https://jeosal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://jeosal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeosal Materials Research Corporation</a> is a developer of economically viable, and ecologically sustainable solutions for the recycling and reuse of fiber-reinforced plastics from various sources including the automotive, aerospace, marine, and construction markets. Recovered products are channeled towards new applications in original or new markets.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our business model is designed specifically for the recycling of fiberglass from marine vessels and reuse of the recovered products. It has the added advantage of successful deployment for fiber-reinforced plastics from other sources.&nbsp;In this model, we rely on specifically modified and enhanced recovered fibres and resin powder for unusual end-uses to ensure an economically viable and environmentally responsible venture,&rdquo; describes Jeosal Materials Research Corporation&rsquo;s CEO, Osayuki Osazuwa.&nbsp;Jeosal Materials Research Corporation will receive $25,000 of support from Growth Garage and their partners to test the technology at scale and strengthen their business model.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2ODg0OTMwLUplb3NhbC1NYXRlcmlhbHMtUmVjeWNsZS1UZWNobm9sb2d5LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 302px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Examples of the Jeosal Materials Research Corporation technology. Image credit: JMRC.<h2>The winner of the Circular Economy Challenge Category 2</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Internode</h3>United States<a href="https://www.intermode.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Intermode</a> manufactures and produces small robotic vehicles which they lease to customers for the purpose of automated delivery. The robots are designed to recapture some portion of their material value at end of life for reuse in future robots.&nbsp;&ldquo;Coming from an automotive background, I know interior and exterior engineers can choose a huge range of different plastics to best target cost per individual component, but that can lead to a series of plastics that are individually &quot;recyclable&quot; but extremely difficult and cost-intensive to do so without tearing it down to small pieces.&nbsp;We intend to engineer the vehicle to maximum value and performance over its life lifecycle. We&#39;ve designed the vehicle to be modular to easily break it down for recycling and keep materials pure for as long as possible,&quot; explains Internode Co-founder and CEO Arnolld Kadiu.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&#39;d like to investigate two different types of plastics. Structural fiber-reinforced thermoplastics to over-molded metal parts and UV stable thermoplastics to either thermoform or injection mold vehicle exteriors.&rdquo;Intermode will receive $25,000 of support from Growth Garage and their partners to build prototypes and work with the challenge partners to strengthen their business model.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA3MTEwMDk3LU1vZGFsLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Intermode robot. Image credit Intermode.&nbsp;<h2>Wevolver Community Vote winner</h2><h3>Wannes Van Laerhoven&nbsp;</h3>Belgium<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/wannes-van-laerhoven-a79596238/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wannes Van Laerhoven</a> proposes a solution that recycles old tires and processes them into a filament suitable for 3D printing airless tires that can be used for various purposes.&nbsp;&ldquo;I have already done tests with a filament made from recycled car tires and the results are promising. There is good elasticity and better grip than on the other TPE and TPU filaments I have tested without the rubber from car tires. The print quality is also much better than expected and surface quality is even better than the filaments without added rubber. Even though it&#39;s 3D printed with FDM it is very hard to see the printed layers unlike the normal TPE shore 45D printed prototype.&rdquo;The airless tire can provide a good damping effect because the lattice structures used in the tire have good energy-absorbing properties. This causes a more enjoyable ride for applications in micro-mobility and mobility devices such as wheelchairs.&nbsp;Wannes Van Laerhoven will receive $10,000 of support from Growth Garage and their partners to develop their idea further and create a working prototype.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MDE4NDc4LWFpcmxlc3MgdGlyZSAoMSkuSlBHIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The proposed airless tires. Image credit: Wannes Van Laerhoven&nbsp;<h2>Student Vote winner</h2>Wannes Van Laerhoven also won the student prize. He will receive a further $5,000 in support from Growth Garage to develop his project, create prototypes and strengthen his business plan.&nbsp;<hr><h2>The Circular Economy Challenge finalists</h2>The finalists of the challenge impressed the judges with their innovative designs and cutting-edge approach to the circular economy.&nbsp;<h3>AirGo</h3>An AI-assisted technology that accelerates the process of metal replacement reliably and quickly predicts the anisotropic properties of highly complex reinforced thermoplastic components.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MDY3MDk5LUFpckdvLUF0bGFzICgxKS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Examples of the prediction process: Image credit: AirGo.<h3>Diamond Hard Surfaces</h3>A low-temperature processing technology that enables the coating of thermoplastics such as PEEK, PEK, and Polyimide materials with a hard wear-resistant coating.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MDc3NjkxLUNocmlzIEhfV2Fsa2VyX0RpYW1vbmQgSGFyZCBTdXJmYWNlcy5qZmlmIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A coated object. Image credit: Diamond Hard Surfaces.<h3>Interface Polymers</h3>Polarfin&reg; diblocks connect dissimilar plastics in recycled plastic blends allowing the recycling of multilayer films and mixed plastics which are currently uneconomic to recycle.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA3NDgxNDY0LTQuLVBvbGFyZmluLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Polarfin&reg; diblocks illustrated. Image credit: Interface Polymers.&nbsp;<h3>RD Physics</h3>Remanufacturing loudspeakers using 3D printing. That means disassembling old loudspeakers and reusing the components in a new product.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MTIxMDM1LW1pdHN1YmlzaGlfY29udGVzdF9SRFBoeXNpY3NWb3RpbmcuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The recycled loudspeakers. Image credit: RD Physics.<h3>BCIRCULAR</h3>Provides a solution for the recycling of composite materials using an innovative, sustainable, energy-efficient, closed process that treats 100% of the composite materials to produce high-quality carbon fibers without releasing contaminant emissions.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA3Njk2NjY1LTYuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Applications of the BCircular technology: Image credit: BCIRCULAR.&nbsp;<h3>3D Seed</h3>Recycles/grinds up recycled plastic which feeds directly into 3D printers - enabling objects to be created directly from waste.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pRpYYKXwqOg?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> <h3>Intermix Performance Materials</h3>A set of novel, highly potent compatibilizers to improve recycling efficiency for two of the most widely used plastic materials, polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA3OTA3NzY4LXBsYXN0aWMtYm90dGxlcy5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3>The Fotostax Motion&trade;️ &nbsp;</h3>Instantly capture and print moving and 3D photos directly from your phone using a phone case printer. This product is designed to be modular and upgradeable and to use recycled materials.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1655274710510-ezgif.com-gif-maker+%284%29.gif" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3>Healix</h3>Transforms used ropes and nets (HDPE and PP) from fishing and farming into pristine circular polymers for the global manufacturing supply chain.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MjQxMTQ4LXdhbGRlbWFyLWJyYW5kdC0zTmNSbW04OFBiWS11bnNwbGFzaC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Healix is tackling plastic waste from the fishing industry. Image credit: Healix.Wevolver will follow the winners and finalists as they advance their technology and products. Sign up for our newsletter and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wevolverapp/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">social media</a> to get the latest updates.&nbsp;Thank you to everyone that entered the challenge, the jury, and the supporters.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">About the sponsor: Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials &amp; Growth Garage</h2>Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials is a leading global manufacturer of high-performance materials in the form of semi-finished products and finished parts. The company has locations in 20 countries and more than 2,800 employees. Its specialty engineering thermoplastics and composites are superior in performance to metals and other materials and are used in a wide range of applications, primarily in the capital goods industry. The company is continuously developing new areas of applications in close cooperation with industry leaders in a wide variety of customer markets. The Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Group is well prepared to further expand its market leadership position.Growth Garage is a business accelerator program from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials. Our mission is to support and grow new ideas using our technologies and advanced engineering materials to help tackle some of today&#39;s biggest engineering challenges. We are offering the opportunity for engineers and innovators to pitch us their ideas and receive manufacturing support and services.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjIxNDA2NjIxLW1jYW0gbG9nbyBiYW5uZXIgYm90dG9tLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

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