The show is still goingstrong with more than 1,000 companies set toexhibit new products and services. Everythingfrom CAD/CAM, CNC, and NC software tofluid power, motion control, and test and measurement equipment will be showcased in asmany as 18 focused product pavilions. TheMotion Hall, located in McCormick North, level1, will include more than 100 exhibitors highlighting pneumatic, electromechanical, and hydraulic components and control systems.
NDES, together with the National Industrial Automation, National Industrial Enterprise IT, and National Plant Engineering shows, make up National Manufacturing Week. A cross-functional, multitrack conference program offers more than 120 technical sessions in eight areas covering design engineering, design for manufacturability, automation and control, asset utilization and facilities management, manufacturing process and quality, IT in the enterprise, management in a global economy, and supply chain management.
The program kicks off Monday, March 13, witha keynote address on supply chain managementfrom Dow Bauknight, Global ManufacturingPartner, Anderson Consulting Supply ChainManagement. Other keynoters include IBMSoftware Group's Vice President of BusinessIntegration, William Reedy, PricewaterhouseCoopers' principal consultant Eric Marksdiscussing the Internet and its impact on manufacturing, and A.T. Kearney's Vice Presidentof supply chain and manufacturing, EarleSteinberg, covering asset productivity.
Free Special events such as the NASASolutions Center, Global ManufacturingSolutions Theater, Design EngineeringTheatre, and new Cyber Cafe run throughoutthe show.
For further details or to register, contact Reed Exhibition Co., (800) 840-0678, or check out www.manufacturingweek.com
BACK TO SCHOOL
While at NDES, don't miss out on a unique educational opportunity right at the MACHINE DESIGN booth (401). For the second year running, industry experts and MACHINE DESIGN editors will offer engineers a chance to brush up on design basics through special classroom sessions. Here's a look at the schedule: MDcybercad.com … MACHINE DESIGN, SDRC, Sun Microsystems, and
Part Solutions … 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 13
This new facility on the Web lets engineers download 3D models of standard parts for free.
Assembly by die casting … Fishertech … 12:30 p.m., Monday, March 13
Fishertech will explore how to reduce costs and improve the quality of small component assemblies. They will discuss how to produce strong, accurate assemblies, and save costs using the die-casting technique. Applications include joining disks and gears to shafts, pins to plates, rotors to shafts, drill bit hexes, and forming cable terminations.
Engineering plastics … DSM … 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 13
The classroom will be a discussion of advancements in machinable thermoplastics.
Selecting fluid power components … Clippard Instrument Laboratory … 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 14
Clippard Instrument Laboratory focuses on selecting and using miniature fluid-power components to form a complete fluid-power circuit. Basic devices will be discussed such as two, three, and four-way valves, and shuttle, check, needle, flow-control, and quick-exhaust valves as well as pressure regulators and pilot sensors. Various actuators that can be used with these components will also be covered.
Functional artistry … Enthone OMI … 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 14
The trend in today's plumbing and door hardware industries is to offer a variety of "fashion" finishes that come with lifetime guarantees. This critical combination of form and function will be the topic discussed by Enthone. With nearly 80 years of experience, Enthone will share important aspects of cutting-edge decorative coating technology including unique chemicals, processes, and equipment and how they work together to create functional artistry.
Networking architectures … Opto 22 … 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
Opto 22 discusses three main components that should be considered when implementing open systems through a networking architecture — the physical medium for moving data and connecting devices, the data transport mechanism, and application levels.
Ethernet versus bus-based control … Parker Hannifin, Compumotor Div. … 1:30 p.m., Tuesday,March 14
If you've wondered when to use Ethernet for control orwhat advantages it offers, Parker Hannifin, Compumotor Div. can help. They will offer specific technical examples of Ethernet and diagrams of different connection schemes such as point-to-point, Ethernet client,closed network, and open network. They will also review which bus to choose, how control is accomplishedvia Ethernet, industrial Ethernet standards, and costcomparisons to other fieldbus networks.
Online market for buying and selling parts … Suppliermarket.com … 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
SupplierMarket.com representatives describe this online marketplace that matches buyers and suppliers of manufactured direct materials. Simply upload CAD drawings to www.supplier.com and designate desired vendor qualifications. The line item bidding feature lets designers source every component of their assembly at one time. Watch the bids come in on the part and select the most qualified supplier with the best price. The service is totally free and totally Web-based.
Motors … Oriental Motors USA Inc. … 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 15
Learn about the latest technology from Oriental Motors. A new alpha stepmotor control system uses the "keep in step" algorithm to achieve positioning accuracy. No gain adjustments are required and the system can make short moves quickly.
FEA software … MSC.Software Corp. … 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 15
MSC.Software Corp. will discuss how using motion analysis as a front end to the FEA process provides many benefits. More and more, engineering design tools are becoming available for PCs, including analysis tools such as FEA. Typically, defining the proper motion of an assembly is easy but defining an improper load for an FEA is not. Working Model 4D uses motion as a front end to the analysis process and provides accurate Nastran analysis quickly and easily.
Software tools … Dassault Systemes … 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 15
Dassault discusses how manufacturing companies can use software tools to improve efficiency and cut costs from initial design through manufacturer and delivery of their products. Catia Solutions offers a working model that integrates all departments from engineering to production to marketing. This integration makes it possible to digitally create, manage, and share all information related to a company's products, processes, and resources, thereby optimizing overall performance.
Industrial power supplies … Phoenix Contact Inc. … 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 15
Phoenix Contact will discuss how the evolution of industrial power supplies has increased system performance, reduced space and size requirements, and is now available in primary switch-mode technology. They will also take a look at the differences between existing and future power supplies in the control cabinet, the benefits of a switch-mode design, and the importance of 24 Vdc in industrial applications.
Machine tools and the Internet … MachineWeb.com … 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 15
Join MachineTools.com to discuss the Internet and the machine tool industry's place in the business-to-business e-commerce arena. Take a guided tour through the MachineTools.com Web site to see how it can simplify and expedite current processes in the machine tool market for both buyers and sellers.
TS8 enclosures have a symmetrical frame that lets the enclosures interconnect side-to-side, back-to-front, and top-to-bottom, without the need for an intermediate frame. The profile design lets users install equipment in either an inner or outer level and use the gap between the frame for cable entry, ventilation, climate control, insulation, or EMC protection. The TS8 is backward compatible to the company's original PS 4000 enclosure system. Compared to the previous design, however, frame weight has been reduced by 15% and stability has improved by 30%. The TS8 includes a four-point locking system. On doubledoor enclosures, an integral door mullion has been added to the TS8's lefthand door, securely closing overlapping doors. Locking components activate in the downward motion so the doors won't open independently during transportation or from vibration. Door hinges can be swapped from right to left and rotation reversed. All TS8 enclosure skins are equally bonded using specially developed hardware that is secured to the frame. A new ergonomic latching handle provides reliable contact between the door and the seal with minimal force. Rittal Corp., One Rittal Place, Springfield, OH 45504, (937) 399-0500.