Bird-Doggin' the Internet

Industrial Machinery

By Dr. Steve O'Neil, N'Fusion, Inc.

The industrial machinery field is another of those hybrid creatures whose components cover a multitude of sins: design issues, connectivity and control issues, management and metrics issues, and infrastructure. While most designers and machinery buffs see early applications in the mining and transportation industries, earlier machinery innovations appeared in the weapons, textile, and farming industries. Ironically, while early machinery initiatives were undertaken to increase throughput, enhance piece-to-piece uniformity, lower costs, and automate repetitive tasks, a premium has appeared in recent years on flexibility, portability, multiple uses, and speed to market. While these various goals are not necessarily incompatible with each other, the emphasis on customization and speed has brought other technologies into play. Specifically, competitive advantages are seen in machinery which has successfully been integrated into ERP systems (with its accompanying impact on supply chain partners), addressed control issues, and has the ability to forward integrate with new software, design, ancillary equipment, and enterprise management tools. The Web, of course, is becoming an increasingly common medium for integrating, supplying, and configuring all of the above. More and more, however, these solutions also are becoming increasing buried in proprietary, subscription-based, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions.

Locate impartial information at Manufacturing Extension Partnership

In past columns we looked at some of the early tools incorporated into the industrial machinery landscape such as CAD and FEA. Many of these articles can be found on the Designfax Web site at http://www.designfax.net and on the "Engineering Links" section of the Micro Mo Electronics site at http://www.micromo.com/06links.asp. Now we are entering the area of Virtual Manufacturing and product simulation models. In these environments, Virtual Manufacturing (VM) is the use of computer models and simulations of manufacturing processes to aid in the design and production of manufactured goods. For early work in this area, including a database of VM research projects, VM manufacturing tools, and agile manufacturing techniques check out the Virtual Manufacturing Web Site at http://www.isr.umd.edu/Labs/CIM/virtual.html. New tools and ones on the horizon are to be found at the frequently updated Computer Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory of the University of Maryland at http://www.isr.umd.edu/Labs/CIM/. Included are current news, new technology releases, NSF research initiatives, and links to research and educational resources. A good overview of the discipline of industrial machinery mechanics in factories as well as other business can be found of the Industrial Machinery Mechanics site at http://icpac.indiana.edu/career_profiles/31480-0.html.

Connectivity and Control initiatives are also one of the hot areas today. These include PLC, CNC, and motion control technology, system integration, communications networks, and manufacturing cells. Many of the popular networking solutions and interest groups have also been profiled in past articles. Providers of these solutions are rampant on the Web. In fact, I would estimate that roughly 90% of the more than 40,000 machinery pages on the Web are those of machinery builders, rebuilders, retrofitters, and brokers. If you want some quick digests, try The Applegate Directory at http://www.apgate.com/elec/names_m.htm for electronic machinery. Search Equipment List at http://www.avisa.com/cgi-bin/equipment.pl lets you search for equipment by manufacturer name and model, primarily in the semiconductor equipment area. For general machinery and used equipment, almost any combination of words on search engines and directories will gave you hundreds. Yahoo even has sections for design, fabrication, manufacturing equipment, and many more.

Run the gamut at EEVL Manufacturing Engineering

Perhaps the hardest thing to find on the Web is reliable and impartial information on technology, associations, and assistance resources. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) was an organization set up a few years ago by NIST to address this lacuna. Located at http://www.mep.nist.gov/, the program consists of a nation-wide network of technology centers offering technical assistance and the newest practices particularly to small and medium sized businesses. Some of the case studies posted on their site include product evaluation, CE Mark advice, machining, materials management, and 3-D prototyping. Some other good links to industrial machinery resources can be found on the AutoDesk site at http://www3.autodesk.com. They also have direct links to professional groups such as ASME, American Design Drafting Association, SME, etc. Other machinery resources, by category (e.g. farm and garden, metalworking, industrial, etc.) can be reached through the Internet Business Directory: Industrial Machinery and Equipment at http://www.okdirect.com/Biz/3/3500.html.

For the broadest coverage, try the EEVL Manufacturing Engineering site at http://www.eevl.ac.uk/manuf_eng.html. Here you will find links to the gamut of manufacturing systems and design aids. Included are machine tools, automated machinery, material handling, and robotics. There are also sections on Mechatronics, rapid prototyping, and CAD/CAM/CAPP issues. A good companion site is the Washington State Technology Education Association Hot List at http://www.camas.wednet.edu/chs/netlinks/tech/. While this site is designed primarily for teachers and students, it has many useful links to state associations, publications and Listservs, safety, and numerous topical areas.

Steve O'Neil, Ph.D. is President of N'Fusion, Inc., an editorial and Internet consultancy which aids technology companies in integrating their print and online strategies, improving advertising and branding accountability, and building end-to-end e-commerce solutions. The company is headquartered in the Tampa Bay, FL area with offices and affiliates throughout the US, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. Steve can be reached at stephenjo@earthlink.net or 727-742-9169.