The Roboticist Chronicles: Recent Episodes
ARC Specialties
Automation improves people's lives. Allowing ‘bots to do the dirty, dangerous and monotonous work lets people be safer, more efficient, and work on more creative endeavors. Find out all the ways how on The Roboticist Chronicles, an ARC Specialties podcast. Listen Notes
Calling all future automotive engineers! This episode dives into the world of Baja SAE with Jackson Baker, a sophomore mechanical engineering student at Texas A&M. Jackson recently served as chief engineer for his university's Baja team, leading the design and construction of an off-road vehicle to compete in a grueling endurance race.
Tune in to hear Jackson discuss:
- His internship experience working with Dan Alford at Arc Specialties [mention episode time stamp if relevant].
- The challenges and triumphs of leading a Baja SAE team [mention episode time stamp if relevant].
- How his team's car performed, achieving an impressive 18th place finish overall and 4th in design [mention episode time stamp if relevant].
- His plans to return as chief engineer next year [mention episode time stamp if relevant].
This episode is packed with inspiration for any student interested in automotive engineering or design competitions. Get ready to get dirty and learn what it takes to succeed in Baja SAE!
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In this episode of the Roboticist Chronicles, your host Dan Allford invites Jean Rabatin, a distinguished industry expert from Yaskawa Motoman, to share her wealth of experience in the realm of robotics and automation. Jean recounts stories from her early days in the field and sheds light on the challenges of integration spanning over two decades. Uncover the fascinating evolution of robotics, examine its influence on employment, and grasp the significance of adaptability. Tune in for a captivating discussion that navigates through the historical, current, and future landscapes of automation.
GET IN TOUCH WITH JEAN RABATIN:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-rabatin-1423558/
ABOUT YASKAWA MOTOMAN
Yaskawa Motoman, established in 1989, stands as a premier robotics company in the Americas. With a global footprint of over 540,000 Motoman robots, 18 million servos, and 30 million inverter drives, Yaskawa offers automation solutions across diverse industries. Their extensive product line includes 150+ robot models and pre-engineered "World" solutions, featuring application-specific work cells. Partnered with sister companies, Yaskawa Motoman is dedicated to delivering top-notch quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. As a subsidiary of Yaskawa Electric Corporation, a global leader since 1915, Yaskawa Motoman continues to drive automation excellence with a wide range of industrial robots and a commitment to customer success.
For more information, visit Yaskawa Motoman (www.motoman.com)
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Join us on a thrilling adventure as The Roboticist Chronicles Podcast hits the road! In this special episode, we're on location at the FABTECH Expo in Chicago's McCormick Place, immersing ourselves in the world of welding technology. Johnny Tyler and Dan Allford take you through the expo, reuniting with old acquaintances and forging new connections, all while uncovering the latest innovations in the field.
Special thanks to the industry leaders who shared their insights: Maximiliano Falcone from PushCorp, Michael Sharpe from FANUC America Corporation, Tom McElligott from ATI Industrial Automation, Charlie Adams from KUKA, Bob Rochelle from the Gudel Group, Douglas Hixon from ABB, and Sam Noland from Miller Electric Mfg. LLC.
Don't miss out on this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the future of welding technology! Subscribe now and share your thoughts with us.Watch this episode here!
Join us for an extraordinary episode recorded live at Fab Tech 2023 in Chicago! We're honored to host the legendary Sam Kiser, a friend, and mentor in the world of welding. Sam recently clinched the prestigious Laurence Savage Award for his groundbreaking work, and he's here to share his incredible journey.
In this episode, Sam unveils the fascinating story behind his award-winning invention, the Inc l 52 rms s t a, a game-changer in welding technology. From battling ductility deep cracking to finding innovative solutions using tantalum and nickel alloys, Sam's expertise shines through over six decades of dedication.
Get ready for a captivating conversation with a true pioneer in the field. Sam's wealth of knowledge and passion for metallurgy will leave you inspired and informed. Don't miss out on this deep dive into the logical world of alloys, elements, and the marvels of metallurgy.
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Welcome to The Roboticist Chronicles, where we bring you stories of innovation in robotics and automation. In this episode, we welcome Esteban Vazquez to the podcast. Esteban wears many hats at ARC Specialties being a welder, fitter, and now installation tech. We dive into Estaban's blossoming career and talk about what its like being a "Dreamer" in America.
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Welcome to The Roboticist Chronicles, where we bring you stories of innovation in robotics and automation. In this episode, we're on location at OTC 2023 in Houston, Texas, one of the largest oil and gas conferences in the world.
Joining us today is Bryan O'Neil, the Director of Global Offshore & Power Generation Segments at Lincoln Electric, a company that is leading the charge in additive manufacturing. Bryan will discuss how Lincoln Electric's additive solutions are transforming the manufacturing industry and driving innovation in the oil and gas sector.
Later in the episode, we'll be joined by Patrick Boster, PE of Stress Engineering Services, a company that specializes in advanced engineering solutions. Pat will take a deep dive into the additive solutions that Lincoln and Stress Engineering are working on together and how they are revolutionizing the way we think about manufacturing.
From cutting-edge technology to real-world applications, this episode of The Roboticist Chronicles is not to be missed. Tune in to learn more about the exciting world of additive manufacturing and how it's shaping the future of robotics and automation.
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From the floor of the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, TX. Dan Allford is joined by Matt Gresens , Sr. District Manager at FANUC America Corporation.
We are joined by Ryan T. Zboril, CEO of Pitts & Spitts. Pitts & Spitts is an American fabrication that shop that focuses on smokers and grills. Pitts & Spitts offers a full family of products including traditional offset smokers, wood pellet grills, charcoal grills, travel grills, combination pits, fire pits and much more. To help you achieve BBQ greatness, we also offer high quality wood pellets, a line of Texas spices, and other high quality, handpicked accessories.
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We join Stuart Shepherd at the #HowToRobot booth at Fabtech 2022 in Atlanta, GA. to discuss how #HowToRobot is connecting those in the market for robotic solutions to the large network of robot suppliers who can help get the job done.
Check out the video here.
In this episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, Todd Buster, president of Horizon Development & Construction, stops by H.A.T. Studio to discuss commercial building on this installment of Dan's Business Secrets.
In this episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, Chris Tomlinson, columnist for the Houston Chronicle, stops by H.A.T. Studio to discuss journalism on this installment of Dan's Business Secrets.
In this episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, Aaron Lloyd, Managing Attorney at Lloyd & Lorkowski, PLLC, stops by H.A.T. Studio to discuss corporate law on this installment of Dan's Business Secrets.
In this episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, Dan Allford jumps into The Wayback Machine, joined by an old colleague, Wayne Mausbach P.E.. Follow along as they reminisce on how they met, competing for work in the rock bit industry, past technologies, and other memories.
In this episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, Barrett J. Gibson, of Colliers-International, stops by H.A.T. Studio to discuss the purchasing of commercial real estate on this installment of Dan's Business Secrets.
In this episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, we take a trip to downtown Houston where we visit John S. Egbert of Egbert, McDaniel & Swartz. John joins Dan for this installment of Dan's Business Secrets to discuss patent law. John and Dan have been in business with each other for well over 25 years cumulating in four patents and two trademarks.
The Roboticist Chronicles Podcast: Dan's Business Secrets Episode 00
I have been an entrepreneur since 1983. Historically 90% of start-ups fail. I have yet to bankrupt one (knock on wood). People ask me how I did it. So we are going to do a series on Dan's Business Secrets or Dan's BS for short.
Since I learn from others I will have numerous guests on the podcast. I will host experts on leadership, banking, insurance, law, technology, and even how to buy electricity. All of them are both friends and mentors. They will share with you the same things they taught me.
But this first episode is my laundry list, stream of consciousness catalog of topics that I plan on exploring in future episodes.
I hope you enjoy it. When you are 64 years old I hope you will have as many good memories of struggles, successes, and failures as I have.
ARC Specialties thrives on problems, send us yours!
- Dan Allford
Join your favorite roboticist as he sits down with Bruce Arnold, President of Advanced American Technology Inc.. Advanced American Technology does government contracting with the Department of Defense. Bruce Arnold, originally from Orange, Texas, has many years of experience in manufacturing engineering.
Dan Allford welcomes Trey Parrish of Bird Dog Solutions LLC. to the team in today's episode. Trey Parrish' Owner/President of Bird Dog Industrial Solutions LLC., has been in or around the welding industry for 20+ years and met Dan during a company turn-around on the west coast. This merger will help ARC Specialties introduce more automation into the oil and gas industry.
Trey Parrish
Mobile: 803-448-4510
Email: trey@bdindustrialsolutions.com
Contact Johnny Tyler (johnny@arcspecialties.com) if you are interested in being a guest on The Roboticist Chronicles.
This episode of The Roboticist Chronicles is brought to you from the show floor of FABTECH 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Dan sits down with his fellow exhibitors, BUG-O Systems, ATI, and XIRIS Automation, and discusses the tradeshow's state since the pandemic and what new exciting products and initiatives are on the horizon.
On this week’s episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, Dan Allford is joined by Matthew Brinkman, President of Welding Consultants LLC..
On this week’s episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, Dan Allford is joined by Cameron Serles, President of XIRIS Automation, Inc... As they talk about the history of arc video monitoring, the various technical applications involved, and how XIRIS does it differently, and why it is better.
Join Gary Kowalski, Senior District Manager at FANUC AMERICA, and Dan Allford, President of ARC Specialties, as they reminisce on some of their past projects. They will go over some of their failure, successes, and proudest achievements in the robotics industry.
What is good fit-up? And why is it crucial to the success of a welding project?
Dan Allford, President of ARC Specialties and the host of Roboticist Chronicles, meets with Dave Hebble, ARC Specialties’ Technical Services Manager, to expand on the idea of fit-up and explain it to the rest of the company. The two have worked together since the late 70s, with Hebble acting as Allford’s mentor ever since.
You can trace a lot of robotic system failures to poorly fitted parts, explain Allford.
“With machining, you impose your will on the part. You take the part and you remove everything you don’t want… In welding, the part imposes its will on you. In other words, the shape of the part we can’t change – we just have to deal with it.”
Hebble also touched on defining the scope and flow of a welding project before getting started on it. “What is good fit up?” he asked. “Good fit up means something different to each person, so before you start, that needs to be defined.”
Allford added that, to him, fit up meant three things: joint accuracy, fixture accuracy and robot accuracy. All of those things could potentially add even more confusion to the process, emphasizing the importance of defining the flow.
“Before you can figure out which problem to fix, you’ve got to figure out which problem you have,” he said.
Subscribe to ARC Specialties’ Roboticist Chronicles podcast to learn more about the nuts and bolts of robots, automation, and the implications of an evolving machine workforce.
Because they deal primarily with physical products, anyone in manufacturing knows that the industry as a whole has taken a hit from the effects of the pandemic. “But COVID isn’t the only crisis that has occurred in the robotics industry,” revealed Robert Little, Founder, and CEO of ATI. “What people are not familiar with is the decline in automotive since 2017 – a decline worldwide in the investment in automotive robotics.”
Oh boy. Now they’ve really gone and done it. Arc Specialties President Dan Allford always enjoys getting a little spicy on The Roboticist Chronicles, but in this edition it’s a full-on spirited debate with host Tyler Kern. You may have heard back-and-forth about lockdowns, which most nations have implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to stem the spread of the deadly virus, but very few started with a three-pawed lion in Zambia.
Johnny Tyler, Marketing and Design Specialist at Arc Specialties, has seen many companies adopt an unambitious marketing strategy – or, worse, not even draw out a strategy at all – rather than invest resources in something that can make even a small company a globally known name in the internet age.
Every business approaches how they work in a unique way. Each has a philosophy and culture, and each approach has its merits; some more successful than others. But why? On this episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, we talked business philosophy with Dan Allford, president of ARC Specialties.
ARC Specialties has sound technology, but they still need a corporate structure to execute it. Allford, who had years of technical training but only one business class, wanted to create something that worked at ARC Specialties. Instead of reading books on the latest fads, he followed people. And one that inspired him the most was Lockheed Martin’s founder Kelly Johnson and his Skunk Works philosophy.
What is Skunk Works? It is the name of Lockheed’s Advanced Development Program and has become a business philosophy applied to many, many industries. It’s based around creating groups within an organization and allowing them a high degree of autonomy.
“What I appreciate about Johnson and Skunk Works is that it’s about empowering project managers and giving them the ability to control their destiny," Allford said.
While working in automation and robotics, you might assume that it isn’t people-centered. The human portion, or the "team," is the most significant part according to Allford.
“We reward people based on what they create, not who they manage,” he said. “A good manager hires the right people, gives them a task, tools, resources and lets them do what they do best.”
That’s how ARC Specialties runs, stripping out layers of bureaucracy and focusing on the task. It also allows the company to remain nimble in the marketplace and exchange ideas. It even allows Allford's employees to tell him when he’s wrong!
From its inception in 1983 to now, ARC Specialties has become a case study in the growth of an American entrepreneurial endeavor. Company President Dan Allford took the business out of a garage and has since turned the automated manufacturing systems provider into an international enterprise. On the first episode of The Roboticist Chronicles, host Tyler Kern sat down with Allford to explore the history of ARC Specialties and analyze how its trials and tribulations reflect growth and challenges within the industry. Continuity and steady growth kept ARC on an upward trajectory over the decades, and Allford said that sometimes it is not about what a company does, but what it does not do. “As long as you keep your mistakes commensurate with the size of your business, you’ll survive. So, while we were small, we made small mistakes, and we survived,” Allford said. ARC has endured the globalization of manufacturing which has seen jobs leave the United States, but Allford said the industry is entering a renaissance in America today. Certainly, that is a welcome sight to Allford, who after almost forty years still has an unwavering passion for welding and manufacturing. “I still like building things,” he said. “The only thing better than building something is building something that builds something.” After creating jobs in more than 20 countries, Allford’s greatest build may not be a product but an exemplary company.
As integrated solutions like automation, robotics, and process development become more and more integrated in the manufacturing industry, we decided to sit down with Dan Allford, President of ARC Specialties, to get some insight on his industry and break down just why “manufacturing became cool again.”