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Archive for February, 2010

Data Drives Design

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

For over thirty years, I’ve heard many of the same questions from clients:

“How do I design my warehouse?”

“What’s the best way to store our materials?”

“Which way should I run my racking?”

And the answers always sound the same:

“What does the data say?”

“What unique characteristics of your business are critical for us to know so that we can optimize your layout and help you operate at Peak efficiency?”

The size of your business and the complexity of your processes will help us determine how deep a consultant or integrator needs to “dig” in order to best help you; in short, the days of “winging it” are long gone — we need to let Data drive the Design.

Bob Giberson

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Time to say goodbye…

Friday, February 19th, 2010

picture-123Today we just did a verbal review of all that we have covered in the last week. I then received a certificate to certify my completion of training and service for the Fuji product, and I said goodbye to the good people of Fuji and thanked my trainer for such a great program.

I have had such a wonderful time. It has been a good educational experience and I have to say “thank you” to the good people of Fuji. They couldn’t have shown me a better time or a greater experience.

Thank you again to everyone involved!

I am now on the way to the airport to begin the long journey home!

I would like to say goodbye and thank you, Japan! I hope that I can experience you again!!picture-1121

All the best!

Darren

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Final fun in Japan

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Oh thank heaven!

Good morning, Everyone!

This was, unfortunately, the last full day of training.  Mainly, we reviewed everything we have done in the last 4 days.  We spent quite a large portion of the day going through the customer’s software and testing it in “auto” mode.

I was able to take the covers off of one of the robots and go over all of the mechanical parts, motors, gearbox, bearings, greasing points, fittings, air lines… the works!  The Fuji product is very well designed.  Everything is easily accessible and not over-engineered.  I am very much looking forward to doing the “auto” teaching on-site and leaving them to enjoy the robots!

Tomorrow we will be getting the robots ready for shipping.  I will do a final inspection when we have finished, and they will then be crossing the “pond” for a period of approximately 2 ½ weeks to arrive on the west coast during the second week in March.

I have attached a photo that you might recognize.  It doesn’t matter where you are in the world… you can always stop for a “Slurpee!”

All the best!

Darren

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Japan, continued: The robot puts on a show.

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

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Good Morning, Everyone!

Today I really got a chance to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I was able to do manual teaching of the robot, set it into “auto mode,” and then sit back and enjoy the show!

I also reviewed what was done in the last few days. We have now started with the “auto teaching”… it’s coming much more easily to me, as I’ve already got the “manual teaching” under my belt. I was able to set the program in the main board as well as all the drives and also to upload the program to the PLC on one of the panels. As a test, we set an output for the error light to come on at start up, just to make sure everything was in the proper working order.

I was able to do the “manual teaching” of different layers and patterns and then test it all in auto when I was finished. I have to tell you, there is nothing like seeing this robot picking and depositing in “auto” after you have calculated all the pick up and drop off pallet positions and layout!

All the best!picture-071

Darren

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Japan, continued… Successful product testing and more fun training!

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

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Hello, Everyone!

Today our client arrived in Tokyo for the testing.  We tested the two different products and pallet positions: it went very well, and our client was very pleased.  He approved the project, and I have to say that he is an extremely clever and very nice gentleman.  I have assured him that PeakLogix will provide them with the high level of Customer Service and Support they deserve.  I am very much looking forward to making this a big success for his company, Fuji, and PeakLogix.

I was able to do a P-Cal set-up on my own today during training.  We practiced box position adjustments and went through the upload and download of the software: .exe, .mot, .fal, rss.  I also was able to, again, set up with pallets at an angle to the pick up conveyor.  We also went over the pick up points and the difference between pallet 1 and pallet 2 in initial settings, and how pallet dimensions in initial settings relate to Edit Block Data.  It has been another very productive day, and I look forward to tomorrow!

The food here is spectacular!  (I know this because it “winks” at me before I eat it!)

Have a good day and all the best!

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First day in Japan: Training!

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Good morning!

Today was spent entirely in training.  I arrived at the Fuji Robotics facility in Sanyo Onada City and was first given a tour of the facility, starting from the basic assembly of the materials and ending at our own robots.

My trainer is an electrical engineer with a Masters in hardware and software.  He spent the morning explaining how the robot and control panel will look upon delivery.  We then moved on to the control panel components and hardware.  We went through all the different PC boards and communications wiring.  He explained the difference between the FA-30 and FA-100 boards as well as between the .exe system version file and the .mot and .fal files.

We then got into the physical set up of the robot.  I couldn’t stand it anymore…..I finally got my hands on the robot!  With proper instruction and care, I started with setting the dip switches on the boards of a new panel, and was in heaven at this point.  Then, we went through the proper way to run the wires of the robot, 3 phase, ground connections, and so on.  I was able to manually move the robot with the new and improved teaching pendent.  I was also able to set up a manual layout and try it in auto when I was finished.  I managed not to break anything, and the layout I had made turned out rather well.  After the set up, we reviewed the sequences once again to make sure they were buried somewhere in my head.

Towards the end of the day, we went over box position adjustments.  All of the numbers started running wild in my head, and it became very difficult to keep track of them.  Tomorrow we start with software downloads, and then I get to set up some more pickup/pallet positions.

It has been a very productive day, thanks to a great trainer and a fantastic product!
Speak with you all tomorrow!

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Darren Saxon coming to us live from Japan…

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

picture-1Hello, Everyone, and welcome to Japan!
I just landed at Tokyo International Airport. The 14-hour flight was not as bad as I thought it would be; I had never flown with ANA before, but I would recommend it to anyone traveling to the Far East. Currently I am awaiting my connection to Fukuoka, where I will meet up with the general manager of Fuji robotics. He will be escorting me to the hotel, where I am sure my bed is calling. It is 5:00 p.m. now and you are 14 hours behind me… so have a wonderful Sunday, and I will be in touch again tomorrow!
All the best!

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Bob watches hockey and waxes philosophical:

Monday, February 8th, 2010

In eager anticipation of the Super Bowl yesterday, hoping to get my sports mojo flowing, I switched on the NHL telecast of the Pittsburgh versus Washington as I worked around the house. What a great game. The visiting Penguins jumped to a 4 to 1 lead and then lost in overtime, 5 to 4. That was fun to watch but what struck me about the game was that the two best players in the league were matched against one another, the Cap’s Alex Ovechkin and the Pen’s Sidney Crosby who, combined, scored 5 of the 9 goals in the game. They are incredible to watch. The announcers were singing their praises throughout the game, their incredible hand-eye coordination, their size, their eyesight and then the thing that I heard loud and clear that stopped me cold. It was how hard they both work at their game. They work harder than most everyone else in the league and because of that (at least in some large part), they’re the best. Hard Work can sound like…. “Practice makes Perfect”…… “The Early Bird Catches the Worm”…..”The More that I Practice, the Luckier I Get”……but to me it all boils down that there are no easy ways to succeed. No get rich quick schemes. It’s all about working hard and doing the little things that others refuse or are too lazy to do. We all have unique gifts but it’s Hard Work and the commitment to doing it that distinguishes the average or good from the great.

crosbyovechkin

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PeakLogix Welcomes Darren Saxton

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Darren Saxton has joined PeakLogix!  You may know Darren through previous experience with him at VNA International, Cleco Systems, FKI Logistics, or Schaefer Systems International.  While he has moved along, he’s still ready and able to meet all service and support needs on any systems you purchased in the past.  And in his new project management role at PeakLogix, Darren will be able to offer you additional or expanded options, from basic racking to fully automated systems.  PeakLogix is happy to have Darren – an employee as dedicated to strong customer service and support as they are!

Questions, comments, or just want to say “hello?” –

Darren’s new contact information:  (804) 302-1505 or dsaxton@peaklogix.com

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