In Advanced Manufacturing Development over the last 25 years, we have learned about the importance of part machining. In our experience building assembly lines for the automation industry, precision, quality, and timing of the machined components are all critical factors when creating a machine. A single mistake can delay the completion of the project or create hidden problems that endanger production months down the road.
Machining Solutions from AMD
For this reason, Advanced Manufacturing Development decided to create a best-in-class in-house machining shop and quality department that manufactures more than 95% of every machined component we use. With time, our clients started approaching us looking for a reliable provider of machining services.
In 2019, we started offering machining components to third parties independently from our automation division. Today, we run a competitive machining facility with over 20 CNC machines. We concentrate on the manufacturing of medium size pieces (dimensions up to 64” x 32” x 30”) with tolerances up to 0.001” and lead times as low as 5-10 days.
Contact Advanced Manufacturing Development
As the industry continues to face demand for faster, smarter, and more complex parts, we are committed to applying our technical knowledge and project management skills to design based on your specifications and requirements. To request a quote for your project or learn more about the CNC services we offer, contact us today.
Since 1996 Advanced Manufacturing Development has been providing custom assembly solutions that are tailored to each customer’s particular need and are financially feasible in order to help improve safety, reliability, and profitability.
For over 25 years AMD has created cutting-edge manufacturing solutions, implementing only the highest standards in quality, design, and functionality. Positioning itself in the automated system integrator industry as a company that adapts to customer specifications and applies the best practices. What set us apart from the competition is how every project is unique to each client’s specifications, with whom we work closely to address the challenges their organization faces today in their assembly line and develop machines that ensure exactly what they envision, with higher quality production, completing tasks efficiently, accurately, and with a high degree of conformity and repeatability.
Through all these years, our success is measured by the performance of our solutions and the satisfaction of our clients. We do not stop until we have ensured the machines meet the desired production requested outputs. Our engineers conduct simulations, provide training on the operating and programming of the equipment to facilitate the integration system into the facility, select the appropriate solutions for specific applications, and provide full-service delivery if necessary.
We have spent years developing our team of professional’s in-depth knowledge of all assembly components, continuously improving, and complying with the applicable regulations. Our experienced engineering team at AMD can construct anything from an individual assembly station to a complete manufacturing line with balance on a technological level and engineering experience.
As the industry continues to face demand for faster, smarter, and more complex parts, for integrated automation solutions, AMD will keep creating cutting-edge solutions, maintaining our competitive edge and passion for engineering.
JuanErdmann, CEO, and founder of AMD stated, “I am delighted that from the beginning I have been able to see how a professional team with years of experience has been formed and keeps growing and thriving. In a quarter of a century, we have managed to consolidate ourselves as a leading company, in which we have developed more than 1500 very exciting and challenging projects. Our team of people is very diverse in many aspects and that shows how we continue to innovate and develop constantly. It is a dream to have created a company where people can share their passion for engineering.To all our clients, thank you for considering us as a supplier for your applications all through these years.”
Advanced Manufacturing Development (AMD) provides turnkey services for your global rollouts by standardizing vision inspection systems, so you can guarantee ship dates and comply with all international and domestic guidelines. We create repeatable solutions, which are tested thoroughly before they roll out nationwide or worldwide. We take standard systems and select the right camera, mechanisms, lighting, and other hardware and software for the application.
Our vision inspection systems fit your precise setup, enabling you to adhere to all local standards without having to redesign anything. Standardization creates consistency across inspection programs, system controls, mechanical setup, and electrical components.
As vision system specialists, we focus solely on creating solutions that are custom-designed, programmed, and fully automated for use in every system on your plant floor. AMD works directly with you to create a vision inspection system to address your unique needs, deliver the best achievable pass/fail rates, and reduce liability.
When you partner with AMD to integrate your machine vision systems, you gain access to the following benefits:
Customized solutions
High degree of precision (inspection and verification)
High speed/high production rate applications
Improved repeatability (GR&R)
Stringent pass/fail rates
Quality, purpose-built systems that are long-lasting, low maintenance, and reliable
Detailed and documented system designs that can be repeated to multiple plant locations and/or lines
4 Things to Look for in a Vision Integrator
When looking for a machine vision integrator, there are four important things to look for:
1. Excellent Client Relationships
Ask for references from other clients and contact them about their experiences on past machine vision projects. A good machine vision integrator will be responsive and collaborative with the client to best meet their needs.
2. Feasibility Lab
A high-quality machine vision integrator will have a feasibility lab to thoroughly develop the scope and specifications of a machine vision job. This lab will have the ability to create a miniature version of the proposed system and will be able to test and retest it to reach the optimal design.
3. Front-End Engineering
The goal of front-end engineering is to completely understand the client’s expectations of their vision inspection technology. This includes any pass/fail rate success criteria and custom specifications.
4. Project Management and Technical Expertise
Ask the references about the integrator’s project management and technical expertise. It’s also important to make sure the integrator can provide examples of past projects and discuss in detail about the challenges and progressive steps of your machine vision system project. Adept project managers and technical experts are necessary for successful outcomes, speed, and cost management.
Machine Vision Integrator Applications
Machine vision integrator applications include:
Robot guidance. Vision-based solutions work to guide the movements and positioning of robotic systems. This cuts the need for hand tooling and labor. For example, a robot using a vision system can correctly pick parts from a conveyor belt, even if the parts are not in a fixed position. They can also load parts onto worn or deformed pallets without the risk of crashes and spills.
Defect detection. Vision systems can detect defects, such as cracks, porosity, voids, etc., on the surface of parts to improve quality and reduce scrap.
Assembly verification. These systems can verify the presence of objects within a given area. This ensures that all pre-programmed objects are in their precise spots within a given location for both manual and machine assembled components.
Part identification. Part identification ensures that correct parts are present and tracks the item throughout the assembly process. Examples include Datamatrix, 1D Barcode, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and more. This provides full-scale traceability throughout the manufacturing/assembly process and reduces nonconformities.
Contact Advanced Manufacturing Development (AMD)
Partnering with the right machine vision distributor can provide added value and peace of mind when it comes to meeting your application and business objectives. At AMD, we are committed to applying our technical knowledge and project management skills to design the vision systems based on your specifications and requirements. To learn more, contact us today.
A variety of applications may benefit from the use of robot system integrators. The integration process entails programming and equipping industrial robots to perform automated manufacturing tasks. A robot integrator is a company that works to understand customers’ robotic system requirements, develop automation plans, and put those plans into action.
Functions and Benefits of Robotic System Integrators
Robotic systems integrators offer many advantages through the tasks they can perform. A reliable integrator will be able to:
Conduct a study on the feasibility of a project
Provide tips to help increase cost-effectiveness
Select the appropriate tooling, work cells, and robots for a particular application
Train operators on programming robotics and work cells to facilitate automation
Assist with the integration of the robot system into the facility
Ultimately, robot integrators will be able to provide complete packages and improve automation for a wide range of facilities. As a result, companies see several key benefits of integrating robotics into production lines and other systems. Specific advantages include:
Improved accuracy, consistency, and repeatability
More efficient production
Reduced production and labor costs
Improved quality and cycle times
Some industries that benefit from working with robot integrators include companies in the automotive, consumer goods, appliances, eCommerce, and medical industries, among others.
Industrial Robotics vs. Collaborative Robotics
Depending on the needs of each application, there are two types of robotic systems available to integrate into different facilities.
Industrial Robotics
Industrial robotic systems are designed to perform repetitive tasks in a variety of industrial facilities. Industrial robotics can consist of multi-axis robotic arms, automated cells, automated guide vehicles, or conveyance. Today, these systems are highly scalable and flexible to meet the specific needs of various applications. Operators can also easily reprogram these systems in the event of increased demand, product changes, or seasonal changes. This combined accuracy, flexibility, and scalability makes industrial robotics ideal for use in worldwide production lines of low to high volume.
Some of the applications for industrial robotic systems include:
In collaborative robotics integration, integrators install robots and other technology to improve automation to complement employee efforts, as opposed to replacing them. Collaborative robots, or cobots, present certain potential difficulties when integrating them alongside employees. For example, employees may need training around proper safety measures when working near robotic arms to minimize the risk of injury. This is why it’s important for companies to work with integrators that have sufficient experience in consulting and planning to successfully integrate these systems.
Both industrial and collaborative robotics can be beneficial depending on the application, making it important to select the right system with the help of an experienced robot integrator.
Automate Your Facility with the Help of Advanced Manufacturing Development
At AMD, we can help you automate operations using turnkey and build-to-print assembly solutions based on each of our customers’ needs. Our internationally located engineers can conduct consultations, develop proofs of concept, and integrate third-party machinery to provide the automation you need for improved efficiency and lower production costs.
If you would like to learn more about AMD’s capabilities and get started on a custom robotics integration solution for your facility, contact us today and we’ll connect you with one of our experts.
Hot plate welding is a method of joining thermoplastic parts in a permanent, molecular, and frequently hermetic bond. During the process, a heated table called a platen is heated to a specific temperature. Next, the two joining surfaces are brought into contact with the platen for a precise amount of time in order for them to melt before being joined together. A proper hot plate welded joint will be just as strong, if not stronger, than other areas of the part.
Almost any thermoplastic material can be joined using hot plate welding, which has led it to be a frequently chosen solution for numerous applications. In cases where uniform weld flash, hermetic seals, or multiple parts per cycle are necessary, hot plate welding is frequently chosen as the preferred method.
What Is the Process of Hot Plate Welding?
Hot plate welding is a direct thermal contact process that creates a clean joint. This process allows nearly any shaped part to be joined together while eliminating the need for glues, adhesives, and solvents. It can be performed horizontally or vertically, and it can be used with complex geometric shapes, curved surfaces, and internal walls.
As mentioned above, hot plate welding utilizes a heated platen. Once heated to a specific temperature, the plastic parts that are being welded are pressed against the plate to melt and soften the joint interface. To complete the weld, the melted parts are immediately pressed together.
Hot plate welding is a very forgiving process where parts are bent or deformed due to the injection molding process. If parts are taken out of the mold at high temperatures, the contractions of the plastic while cooling can bend or deform the parts. In a hot plate welding process, the parts welded are pressed against a metal plate that has the desired shape. From there, the plastic melts and takes the form of the hot plate so any deformation is corrected for a perfect result. This is particularly useful as the parts get bigger because it is more difficult to maintain tight tolerances.
With some type of plastics, the adherence of the melted plastic to the hot plate becomes a problem. To solve this the hot plate is sometimes coated with Teflon or other materials that prevent adherence. Another option is bringing the hot plate to a position very close to the part so that radiation from the plate can melt the material without actually touching it, thus not having the opportunity to adhere.
In our machines, we analyze the size and shape of the part and include as many heat zones as needed on the heat plate to obtain a uniform melted surface on the plastic parts. Each heat zone has independent temperature control. Another feature is that the movements of the parts and the heat plate are servo-controlled giving the process precise dimensional control of the melted material surface and the final pressing position of the welded components. We can also make the heat plate horizontal or vertical depending on the characteristics of the parts to be welded. We have made machines with different welding plates in different positions that weld at the same time. This applies to parts like automotive intake ducts that have many PCVs ports and connections that need to be welded in different locations and orientations.
When to Use Hot Plate Welding
There are several welding methods to consider when joining plastics; however, there are certain circumstances where hot plate welding is the preferable solution. If you are working with large components, or if the product has a complex geometry, hot plate welding would be the most effective joining method. It’s also an excellent choice for applications that don’t tolerate loose particulate or applications requiring a high-strength or hermetic seal.
In addition to these instances, many components can benefit from the low-stress, high-strength nature of hot plate welding. It is an effective method for small parts with simple geometries, and it is frequently used with injection-molded components. It is also ideal for joining plastic pipes in applications where a completely leak-proof seal is required.
Hot Plate Welding Solutions from AMD
Advanced Manufacturing Development (AMD) offers welding automation packages tailored to each customer’s exact specifications. Our knowledgeable engineering team can offer weld process recommendations that optimize your productivity and functionality. If your application involves plastic materials, our hot plate welding machines can provide a solution that fully meets your needs.
AMD is located in Texas, where our team of over 100 engineers creates expert automation solutions. We deliver excellence in manufacturing and can provide customers with the best possible prices through the use of our Mexican manufacturing facility. For more information on the welding solutions we offer and how we can meet the needs of your application, please contact us today.
Numerous industries rely on vision measuring systems as part of quality assurance processes. Vision measuring systems use a camera, lighting source, and intelligent detection software to closely measure the work performed in various processes to ensure it was completed within acceptable parameters. For example, the automotive sector might use a vision measuring system to measure the sewn seams found in automobile upholstery for seam quality and color.
As a world leader in metrology, Advanced Manufacturing Development (AMD) can provide you with a vision measuring system to help you ensure the products you manufacture are of the highest quality. Each of our system’s components are designed using the latest computer-aided design (CAD) techniques, ensuring the best performance from your new system. We use only the best materials and components available to facilitate flawless performance and long service life from the equipment we produce.
We equip each system with powerful, built-in vision probes for a crystal clear view and precise measurement each time. Our design incorporates contact probes to further extend the equipment’s measuring capabilities. AMD’s dedicated analysis software efficiently measures and interprets results, so your plant can keep pace without sacrificing impeccable quality.
What Can Vision Measuring Systems Accomplish?
Vision measuring machines — also known as video measuring machines or optical measurement systems —help you identify potential defects faster and with better accuracy. These measuring systems help manufacturers across numerous industries to meet measurement goals and verify the quality of their processes. Machines are available with different optical zoom capabilities and sensor options for measuring two-dimensional and three-dimensional parts.
In the automotive industry, vision measuring systems verify that complicated assemblies are aligned properly before they leave the plant. By taking detailed measurement and analyzing the results, these machines allow you to measure every detail and certify that the component meets internal and industry standards. Common applications include the automated assembly of electric vehicle motors, as well as the seats, windows, and many other components of the vehicle.
Vision Measuring Systems Solutions
Manufacturing relies heavily on complex miniature components that require careful measurement. An increasing demand for accuracy in production will require manufacturers to invest in technology that reduces operator error and lowers defect rates. As technology advances, expect increasingly intelligent optical measuring systems to emerge that feature minimal measurement programming, high-resolution field-of-view measuring, and increasingly intelligent automated capabilities.
If you are looking to invest in a vision measuring system for your facility, evaluate your options based on the technology, knowledge, and expertise available to you from the manufacturer. Vision measuring systems are highly customizable to the needs of numerous industries and applications, so make sure you find a machine that is tailored to the needs of your team and your operation.
Vision systems can do much more sophisticated measurements like checking all the components are present, that there is no pollution in a process, parts are assembled in the right order, etc. In these types of systems, you do not get an actual measure of a part, but you do get information that lets you determine if a part is good or bad.
AMD Vision Measuring Systems
At AMD, our systems and personnel are up to date with the latest functions and trends in metrology solutions and technology. We ensure your new vision measuring system continues to operate accurately and efficiently with regular software updates. During our sales process, our team is happy to provide you with benchmarks and sample reports so that you can evaluate the track record of our systems prior to purchasing. We want you to have complete peace of mind that our machines and team will provide you with uncompromising quality and support. Check out our other test systems we manufacture.
AMD has been creating cutting-edge manufacturing solutions since 1996. We have the products and experience to help your facility meet the demands of the modern world. Contact our team to learn more about our vision measuring systems.
Ultrasonic welding is a process for joining together thermoplastics and nonferrous metals. Workers carry out this process on ultrasonic welding machines, loading parts into the device automatically. Once loaded, an ultrasonic sonotrode produces high-frequency vibrations to gently melt the two pieces of material together. After finishing the process, the worker then removes the newly formed unit. More than one sonotrode may be used in this process depending on the size and shape of the components being welded.
Advantages of Ultrasonic Welding
Ultrasonic welding’s use of high-frequency vibration provides a safer alternative for joining materials together. Due to the lack of heat required for the process, it does not carry the risk of burning that a torch would. Ultrasonic welding keeps the welding precise by melting only the points necessary to create a near-seamless joint between the two parts.
The ultrasonic welding machines used in these processes are exceptionally user-friendly, robust, and simple to maintain. The parts used on these machines are modular in design, allowing for easy integration and replacement in the event of malfunction. Spare parts are readily available and tested for quality, which significantly decreases equipment downtime and operation standstills.
In terms of manufacturing, ultrasonic welding has many advantages in relation to automation. Ultrasonic welding machines have a high processing speed that prioritizes efficiency without compromising on the quality of finished products. Depending on the complexity of the weld, cycle times can easily reach up to 60 cycles per minute and beyond with individual welding times lasting between 80 and 450 milliseconds. Additionally, the lack of a warm-up period for an ultrasonic welding machine means less time spent waiting for a machine to be ready for use.
When is Ultrasonic Welding Needed?
The main use for automated ultrasonic welding is the joining of plastics, particularly for electronic connector assemblies and other high frequency/high energy applications. Ultrasonic welding is gentle enough to work with both harder plastics and more delicate materials like foam. This makes it possible to join together different parts that might otherwise be destroyed with other bonding methods. Additionally, assemblies involving soft metals or those with lower melting points can benefit as well, as the low temperature of ultrasonic welding is less likely to damage the material or cause it to undergo undesirable reactions.
Learn More Today
The uses and benefits of ultrasonic welding are quite numerous, offering a safe and simple way to join soft or rigid plastics and other materials such as foam and nonferrous metals. Ultrasonic welding machines are designed for quality output and easy upkeep, ensuring smooth operations with minimal downtime.
Advanced Manufacturing Development is one of the premier companies providing made-to-order turnkey welding automation packages. We tailor each order to the needs of the customer, and we are able to make modifications to equipment and programming as desired, with features like touch screens, camera systems, and much more available upon request.
For more information, or to get started on your automated ultrasonic welding solution, contact us today.
Laser marking leaves a permanent mark on a surface using a concentrated beam of light. Laser marking includes a wide range of applications that use UV light, green laser, continuous-wave, pulsed, and fiber technology to create concentrated light energy. Fast and easily automated, laser marking can permanently label a range of materials, from paper to steel.
Numerous industries rely on lasers to mark goods and parts with graphics, identification codes, lettering, and machine-readable data like barcodes. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the many applications for laser marking and how incorporating a marking system into the production line provides a competitive advantage for manufacturers.
How Laser Marking Systems Are Applied
As the demand for part identification and traceability grows in product design and development, laser marking proves to be an essential and growing component in various industries. Manufacturers and other industries rely on marking machines for direct part labeling and identification applications. Often these identifiers must comply with government regulations and international industry standards.
Laser marking systems can reliably mark surfaces with minimal shape limitations, including curved, soft, hard, flat, convex, and concave surfaces. Marking systems offer an ideal direct part-marking solution for almost any automated production line. Custom laser marking solutions can integrate into virtually any process flow, providing an ability to easily apply logos, text, numbers, graphics, dates, and other markings.
The following materials are ideal for laser marking:
In Advanced Manufacturing Development over the last 25 years, we have learned about the importance of part machining. In our experience building assembly lines for the automation industry, precision, quality, and timing of the machined components are all critical factors when creating a machine. A single mistake can delay the completion of the project or create hidden problems that endanger production months down the road.
Since 1996 Advanced Manufacturing Development has been providing custom assembly solutions that are tailored to each customer’s particular need and are financially feasible in order to help improve safety, reliability, and profitability.
Juan
A variety of applications may benefit from the use of robot system integrators. The integration process entails programming and equipping industrial robots to perform automated manufacturing tasks. A robot integrator is a company that works to understand customers’ robotic system requirements, develop automation plans, and put those plans into action. 
