Photo courtesy IMTS.
At this year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), the Smartforce Student Summit was a hub of innovation and enthusiasm, attracting more than 14,000 students who seemed eager to explore the latest advancements in manufacturing technology.
The Smartforce Student Summit, which was held in the lower level of the East Hall at this year’s event, put the latest in manufacturing technology from the highest profile industry exhibit partners on display to provide educators and students with fun and engaging learning experiences centered around the industry’s vision of the “manufacturing technology classroom of the future.”
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM occupations are projected to grow 10.4% compared with 3.6% for non-STEM occupations. As an increasing number of the nation’s youth consider manufacturing careers, the Smartforce Student Summit was designed to inspire students who are seeking an education in STEM that leads to a career path in manufacturing.
Among the many exhibits in the Student Summit was Kawasaki’s Astorino, an educational 6-axis robot based on 3D printing technology. Programmable in AS-language, it facilitates the preparation of classes with ready-made teaching materials and is designed to be easy both to use and repair. It also gives the opportunity to learn and make mistakes without fear of breaking it.
Key features include:
- 99.5% 3D printed
- Precise to 0.1 mm
- Max payload of 0.5 kg
- Compatible with Kawasaki Robotics programming language
- Easily available 3D-printed spare parts
- Linear track, machine vision and more options available
- Training material, technical documents and CAD files included.
The robot’s launch has garnered significant interest, and it offers a direct pathway from training to industrial applications, such as transitioning from Kawasaki to Toyota.
