Background Having proper nip roll alignment is crucially important for high-volume printing press machines. Five minutes of run time on misaligned rolls can result in thousands of dollars in damaged product. Depending on the size and location of the nip, taking nip measurements can be difficult...

Background Most electronic assembly processes are performed by high-precision robotic systems. These systems are tasked to properly move and insert delicate components onto a circuit board. As a result, the assembly robots must be checked frequently for changes in alignment that can occur with...

Background The food packaging industry must always maintain high standards for their packaging seals. These standards are to protect the consumer from tampering and/or receiving damaged product. Sealing bars are used to properly seal two parts of a package in a high temperature environment, and...

Background Ultrasonic welding machines are used to create uniform seals, which are vitally important for containing products like contact lenses. In the ultrasonic welding process, thermoplastics are bonded together through the use of heat and applied force. A damaged seal can result in leaky...

Background Many rheumatologists perform joint assessments by manually exerting pressure on an area with their thumb or two index fingers to elicit a response. It is generally assumed that fingers will "blanch" at around 4 kg/cm2 of force, which is then used as a benchmark for the physician to...

Optimize Medical Device Functionality Challenge Manufacturers and researchers continuously strive to validate or improve efficiency and accuracy of medical devices and precision tools. Whether evaluating the effectiveness of a surgical apparatus or ensuring the fit of a health-monitoring device...

Smart Ambulatory Device designed with FlexiForce™ Sensors Background: According to the present edition of World Population Ageing, globally, the number of older adults (aged 60 or above) is expected to more than double from 841 million people in 2013 to more than 2 billion in 2050. This increase...

FlexiForce™ Sensors Improve Hand Rehabilitation Device In 2013, a group of bioengineers and rheumatoid specialists in Cagliari, Italy designed a low-cost medical device that monitors the hand rehabilitation of patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Sclerosis (SS). The device...

Speech Pathologists Track Progression of Patient’s Speech Therapy with FlexiForce™ Traditionally, speech pathologists evaluate the health of orofacial muscles by asking a patient to contract their tongue against an imposed object, such as a gloved finger. In recent years, pathologists have sought...

Tactile Feedback in Surgical Applications In recent years, robots have become an increasingly viable part of minimally invasive surgery. They offer improved range of motion in laparoscopic techniques. The drawback has been that robots have lacked the sense of touch, or haptic feedback, that is so...