Industrial Automation and Motion Control Blog | The Knotts Company

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Topics: technology, Robots, Universal Robots, cobots

Topics: industrial automation nj/ny, automation solutions, robotics, technology, electric cylinder, motion control

Topics: cost savings, technology, improvement, knotts company, customer service, sales process, sales tools

Topics: industrial automation nj/ny, robotics, technology, electric cylinder, motion, motion control, assembly, automation, sensor, controls, vision, automated inspection, ethercat, industrial vision

Using pneumatic motion control is not only a safer and cheaper way of operating equipment, but it is also more reliable, much simpler to use, and it can even be used in the case of a power failure.

Topics: manufacturing, technology, pneumatic motion control, air cylinder

Welcome to Automation 101, a weekly "tips and tricks" post where we will discuss technologies and programming of today's top automation products.

Topics: cost savings, manufacturing, industrial automation nj/ny, technology, automation control, electric cylinder, motion control

It is becoming an increasing important question when building automated machines. What is best for my application? Pneumatic or Electric actuator.  Both actuators have their pros and cons.  When it comes down to it, there are a handful of reasons why to use one over another.

While they are different as night and day, the way you size them is very similar.  You just need to know some basic information to start the decision process.

• Load
• Speed or cycle time
• Stroke

Once you know this information you can size your cylinder as needed.  Beyond that information, air and electric start to differ.

Air will never be replaced.  No matter what anyone says, air does have its place and it has some key features that eclectic just can’t match up to.

• Speed
• Power
• Size
• Simplicity

To get an air cylinder to move faster, the air flow needs to be increase.  The size of the unit versus the power it puts out can’t even be matched by an electric cylinder.  If all you need is two points then air is the way to go and simple compared to electric.

Like air, electric cylinders do have their merits.

• Multiple Positions
• Overall Cost
• Acceleration and deceleration
• Accuracy and Repeatability
  

These are just a few aspects that air can’t match electric.  With an electric cylinder, you have complete control over the acceleration and deceleration. An application example for acceleration and deceleration is handling of liquids or fragile materials.  Electric cylinders give you the ability to program and control multiple positions with high accuracy and repeatability.  And last, there is the ‘Green’ factor.  The overall operating cost of electric can be anywhere from 1/3 to 1/10 the cost of air.  

So overall they both have their benefits over each other and it really comes down to if it fits the application.  If they both fit the application, then it really just comes down to what the user prefers as well as the application.  Air or electric?

Topics: cost savings, manufacturing, cost effective, industrial automation nj/ny, technology, electric cylinder, air cylinder, knotts company

If video killed the radio star, then technology has definitely done the same to the traveling salesman. In today’s world of eco-conscious everything and instant information in the palm of your hand, the traveling salesman with papers, catalogs and brochures has been replaced by state-of-the-art gadgets and gizmos.

At The Knotts Company, we’re always on the cutting edge of the latest trends in the industrial automation industry, but we’re also ahead of the curve when it comes to getting you the information you need when you need it most.

We are now delivering information to our customers at lightning speed with the use of smart phones, iPads, tablets, notebooks and more. We can provide you with real time, person-to-person information—no delays, no call-backs needed.

There is no need to waste time rummaging through paper catalogs or deciphering literature on DVDs and PDF files.

The Sales Force at the Knotts Company can deliver accurate information and get you order quotes on the fly. We are always looking to improve the way we do business with you so that you can get what you need when you need it most.

Want more information? Use our contact page to get in touch with us.

Topics: industrial automation nj/ny, technology, core competencies, knotts company, quick response solution, sales process, sales tools

In order to differentiate yourself from the competition, you must engage in life-long learning.  Even if you are currently at the top of your game and leaving your competitors in the dust, you won’t be for long.  Every day new technologies, products, and ideas are reshaping the way we do business and interact with each other.  Just think about the fact that you are reading a blog post on the internet that only five years ago could have been only a random emailed message with no real target audience.  If you go back ten years, you would be throwing a postcard in the trash without even giving it a second look.  To say that stagnation and complacency are dangerous is an understatement.

Topics: resource, external resource, outsource, outsourcing, technology, core competencies, learning, improvement

In these times of economic uncertainty, outsourcing has become a popular option to have a small, or sometimes not so small, set of components assembled off-site.  “Outsourcing” used to mean cutting local jobs, but not today.  A more accurate term in today’s market is external resource.   Using external resources offers many benefits to your business.  Below is a short list detailing the top reasons companies have shifted to using external resources.

Topics: cost savings, manufacturing, cost effective, industrial automation nj/ny, resource, external resource, outsource, outsourcing, technology, core competencies, assembly