Engineering.com’s roundup of recent advanced manufacturing news.
Tesla warned to fix factory air quality violations
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s independent Hearing Board has ordered Tesla to correct air quality violations at its electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Fremont, Calif. A written order is expected to be issued this week to compel Tesla to stop frequent and ongoing violations from the paint shop operations at the facility. The agency accuses Tesla of emitting harmful precursor organic compounds and toxic air contaminants directly into the atmosphere without proper abatement, resulting in 112 Notices of Violation since 2019. In a press release, the agency says Tesla’s recurring violations result from a variety of causes, including Tesla’s thermal oxidizer or related components of the abatement system breaking down, causing emissions to automatically be vented directly into the atmosphere without proper abatement. The agency also says Tesla shuts the abatement system down when there are problems with other equipment in the paint shops.
Verisurf, Scantech team up
Verisurf Software, Inc. and Scantech Digital, Inc. have partnered to combine Verisurf’s model-based inspection, measurement and reverse engineering software with Scantech’s 3D scanners and optical trackers. The result is single-source consultation, quoting, transactional support and relationship management for complete inspection and reverse engineering solutions. Verisurf’s measurement software is built on a full-featured 3D CAD/CAM platform committed to intelligent Model-Based Definition (MBD) to enable metrology workflows in a seamless CAD environment and maintain model-based digital continuity. These application suites will be bundled with each Scantech 3D scanner or optical tracker for scan data analysis for inspection and quality reporting, mesh-to-surface and solid modeling for reverse engineering workflows.
Simsol joins Siemens Xcelerator
UK-based digital twin technology firm Simsol has joined Siemens’ Xcelerator, an open digital business platform designed to speed up the digital transformation of industry. Manufacturers will now be able to access Simsol services from the global Siemens Xcelerator marketplace. Simsol provides digital twin solutions based on Siemens Plant Simuation and Process Simulate software to simulate factory automation to integrate robotics, control, motion and safety for automated and human operators.
JCB breaks ground in San Antonio
JCB has begun work on a new $500-million factory in San Antonio, Texas, the biggest investment in the company’s history. Work on the 720,000 sq. ft. factory is now under way on the 400-acre site. It will be the company’s second largest plant, rivalled only by JCB’s world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, England, and create 1,500 new jobs over five years. The factory will make Loadall telescopic handlers and aerial access equipment, with production scheduled to start in 2026. The factory will also have the capacity to expand and build other products in the future. JCB employs 19,000 people globally and has 22 factories around the world.
Ansys adds Makersite to Granta
Makersite, a German product lifecycle intelligence software developer, has announced a strategic partnership with engineering simulation software company Ansys to integrate Makersite’s AI-powered solution with Ansys’ Granta software. Makersite’s platform combines AI with data from more than 140 material, process, and supplier databases to help designers understand the impact of materials and process choices in the design phase. Makersite’s material databases and Ansys’ Granta software will simulate various product iterations and scenarios without ever having to build a product in practice.
Mitsubishi Electric nabs Guinness World Record
Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has been awarded a Guiness World Record title for the fastest robot to solve a rotating puzzle cube (commonly known as a Rubik’s Cube). The Mitsubishi team used its TOKUI Fast Accurate Synchronized motion Testing Robot (Tokufastbot) to beat the previous record of 0.38 seconds with a time of 0.305 seconds. Mitsubishi says the achievement demonstrates the technical capabilities of the motors, power semiconductors and related technology developed and manufactured by its Component Production Engineering Center. The Tokufastbot performs a 90-degree rotation time of 0.009 seconds thanks to the rotation mechanism built by Mitsubishi Electric’s compact, high-power, signal-responsive servomotors and a color-recognition algorithm developed with proprietary AI technology. The high-speed signal connection and inter-device control are achieved by servomotors as well as a PLC, industrial PC, touch panel display and cameras.
